Discovering the Margaret River Region’s beer has never been so much fun.
With the highest concentration of microbreweries in the state, beer lovers are spoilt for choice in the Margaret River Region.
Even more so with its new 135km Craft Beer Trail, where you will discover a Saison, Stout, Kolsch, Lager or Pale Ale around every bend in the road as you weave your way from Busselton to Margaret River.
Local writer Danielle Costley got out on the trail to bring you a taste of what to expect at each brewery featured along the trail.
Let the kids cut loose in the playground while you sit lakeside in Cheeky Monkey‘s country style beer hall with a tasting paddle of your favourite selections. Try the Session Ale, Pale Ale, stout or cider with a generous serving of beer battered fish and chips, grass-fed beef burgers, or Korean gochujang pork ribs with thick rice noodles.
Set in the rolling Yallingup Hills, Wild Hop is a relatively new family-run brewpub with an ever-changing list of small batch seasonal beers brewed on site. There’s usually a traditional Czech pilsener or pale ale to be enjoyed whilst sitting on the shady deck overlooking the brewhouse and distant hopyard. The food is woodfired, with seasonal produce such as roasted and smoked meats, or tuck into a brewer’s bun.
Set on a picturesque family farm, Eagle Bay Brewing Co. produces an impressive range of craft beers, including a Kolsch, Pale Ale, Cacao Stout and a beer-wine hybrid called Sparkling Cider Ale. Purchase a two-litre growler filled with your beer of choice – and take it home. The menu features a selection of share plates, as well as more substantial fare such as sticky beef shin with Chinese omelette.
Sipping a pint of craft beer overlooking a lake and basking in the summer sunshine is what you can expect from Black Brewing Co.. An interesting selection of ales can be tasted here, such as the Bao Bao Milk Stout and a farmhouse Saison.
The region’s oldest brewery, Bootleg Brewery is the perfect place to visit for an introduction to some of Margaret River’s multiple award-winning ales, such as the Raging Bull or the Tom’s Amber Australian ale. It specialises in some seriously delicious craft beers, with creative small batch releases such as the Flaming Youth, with a hint of coriander and sea salt. The food is equally impressive, with smokey wings, nachos, beef short ribs, burritos and meaty burgers.
The usual suspects can be found on tap at Beerfarm‘s rustic brew shed, but it is also very clever at handcrafting small batch releases such as the Berlinner Weisse made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes, or a barrel aged American Barley Wine.
Head brewer Doug Whiteside is the brains behind the development and production of The Grove’s ales and is constantly engaged in creating new tastes and flavours. His love of craft beer, especially in the field of real ale has led to the company’s latest range of four brews. Try the rounded, red House Ale (like an American pale ale) or the intriguingly-named Gangster Stout, redolent with roasted malts, coffee and chocolate overtones. There’s an IPA and a ‘boring’ beer too – all worth trying.
Situated within the township as Margaret River’s only “urban” brewery, Brewhouse remains ensconced by towering forest. Its Inji Pale Ale is a local favourite, as is the Bastard Brown ale with its burnt biscuit and toffee malts. The food offering is impressive, whether it’s squid salad, fish and chips, pizzas, or pork tacos.
Book into Cowaramup Brewing Co. for an immersive brewing tour, ending with six-beers matched to food. There’s a Bavarian-style Hefeweizen, a German-origin noble hop Pilsener, and a fruity Lightsign Summer Ale.
Beers at CBCO Brewing in Margaret River are crafted to suit the weather, celebrations, quirks, habits and CBCO’s unique take on things. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, they’re sure to have something for everyone. Try the Southwest Sour Tropical for something new, or their hugely popular Pale Ale.
If you’ve been to Dunsborough, you’ll be aware that Occy’s is in the heart of the town, and seems to be a permanently popular fixture for many. It’s got a dog-friendly beer garden, serves up huge plates of pub food and with an ever-changing 18 beer offering under the watchful eye of owner brewer and beer master Bill, it’s hard to think of a more convivial place to spend a few hours on a summer’s day. Bill’s beer, brewed on his cattle farm, is made with filtered rainwater, and is preservative and finings-free.