The South Coast, a magical place where salty sea breeze mingles with the tantalizing aroma of craft beer. From the busy Wollongong area in the North, to the picturesque Pambula in the South, the region is a haven for beer lovers that’s not to be missed in 2024.
Get ready to embark on a mouthwatering journey of Golden ales and bitter pilsners, to milky stouts and red IPAs. Each brewery is unique, offering a distinct flavor, story, and ambiance that encapsulates the essence of the South Coast.
Whether you’re a seasoned beer aficionado or just starting to explore the world of craft brews, join us as we take you on a tour, showcasing five great South Coast breweries on this sun-kissed stretch of coastal paradise. If you’re looking for a more luxurious day out, you might want to check out our pick of the best wineries on the South Coast here.
What makes a Good Brewery
We have picked the best breweries based on their selection of craft beers, availability of good food, and the general ambience of the venue. Other variables we’ve considered are whether or not the brewery hosts any entertainment events, if it’s child and pet-friendly, and not the least its location and popularity.
We believe these are the things that make a brewery great and have done our best to compile this list as objectively as possible.
Five Barrel Brewing
Address: 318 Keira St, Wollongong NSW 2500, Australia ( Get Directions )
Five Barrel Brewing is one of the most recognizable names when it comes to breweries on the South Coast. Their taproom offers sixteen beers on-tap and packaged beer for those of you who’d like to take some home. It’s open every afternoon of the week with longer hours from Thursday to Saturday.
Food is available from the Five Barrels Food Truck from Thursday to Sunday serving 10 styles of burger, wings and fries. The menu is simple yet effective, beers and burgers are pretty much a match made in heaven.
Five Barrel Brewing is in the heart of Wollongong, its lively atmosphere makes it the perfect place to spend an afternoon with good friends and great beers.
Jervis Bay Brewing Co
Address: 3 Duranbah Dr, Huskisson NSW 2540, Australia ( Get Directions )
About 3 hours South of Sydney in the scenic area of Jervis Bay, you’ll find Jervis Bay Brewing Co. This brewery is really well established, only a few minutes from the center of Husky and regarded as one of the best-rated breweries on the South Coast.
Our favourite thing about Jervis Bay Brewing is the atmosphere, with its great beer garden and cool vibe. The venue is incredibly child-friendly, equipped with a playground for kids to climb and enjoy. Seating is both inside and outside with plenty of umbrellas for those sunny days. Pets are welcome at Jervis Bay Brewing Co. There’s even a wall of polaroid pup pics showing how all inclusive this brewery is.
When it comes to beer, there are 10 unique kinds – ales, IPAs, porters, lagers, and more. If you come hungry, the “5 Little Pigs” food truck offers various snacks and main meals on site.
The brewery is open from Wednesday to Sunday with a special event each day- a trivia night, an open mic, live music, or a games night. It’s perfect for a fun and eventful family evening.
Swordfish Restaurant & Brewing
Address: 187D Jacobs Dr, Sussex Inlet NSW 2540, Australia ( Get Directions )
Located on the edge of Sussex Inlet, almost touching the water, the Swordfish Restaurant & Brewing is rather new. It opened in December 2022 and has already made a name for itself among both foodies and beer connoisseurs alike.
The three things that define Swordfish Brewing are: craft beer, fresh produce and local ingredients. The tap-beers are brewed on-site, the share menu and wood-fired pizzas are cooked to perfection – everything is sourced locally!
With an A1 location, ample seating and plenty of parking, Swordfish Brewing is a ‘must try’ as you explore the South Coast. It’s also pet-friendly so feel free to bring your pooch. Swordfish Restaurant & Brewing is open from Wednesday to Sunday, with trivia Thursdays and a weekend cocktail happy hour from 4 till 5pm.
Wombat Brewery
Address: Unit 6/1/3 Coller Rd, Ulladulla NSW 2539, Australia ( Get Directions )
Established in 2022, Wombat Brewery is the dream of owner operator Aaron McKay. A passionate home brewer, Aaron spent 10 years perfecting his craft for friends and family before opening Nano brewery to the public.
Although Wombat Brewery is a smaller brewery on our list, it’s big on flavour. With an innovative list of beers, there’s something to appeal to most craft beer lovers. Try the crowd favourite Wombat Viking Ale, or take your tastebuds for a walk with the Wombat Deez-Nuts Coconut IPA, they are all good.
A great place to ‘knock back a few’ in Ulladulla, Wombat opens Thursday to Sunday from midday. Food and music is available on weekends but check the website to stay up-to-date with times.
Camel Rock Brewery Bar and Grill
Address: 200 Wallaga Lake Rd, Wallaga Lake NSW 2546, Australia ( Get Directions )
When it comes to unique breweries, Camel Rock has something that sets it apart from all others. It’s the only brewery in Australia to reside inside a holiday park, namely, Wallaga Lake Holiday Park on the Sapphire Coast.
The brewery was founded in 2017 inside the historic Allowah House, a building first built in 1917 on the grounds of BIG4 Wallaga Lake. After a spectacular renovation, the retro brewery with American influences was ready to-go.
Camel Rock Brewery is about 8 minutes drive from Bermagui, a short walk from Camel Rock Beach and is the perfect brewery for travelers. What other brewery has accommodation, pool, playground, mini-golf and watersports? Come out for a beer or stay for the weekend, Camel Rock Brewery opens Wednesday to Sunday from 11.30am.
There you have it – our shortlisted selection of the best Five Great Breweries on the South Coast. Between them, they offer over 50 unique craft beers brewed on-site, tasty food and some great atmosphere to enjoy it in. Not much of a beer drinker? Read our page on The Top South Coast Wineries for 2024.
