Melbourne’s craft beer scene spans from historic inner-city venues to modern suburban taphouses, with many offering food, live music, and unique atmospheres alongside their craft brews.
Determining the “best” brewery can be subjective, as it depends on individual preferences and tastes. However, some breweries in and around Melbourne are highly regarded for their quality craft beer, innovative brewing techniques, and inviting atmospheres.
Stomping Ground Brewery, Collingwood – Melbourne
Location: 100 Gipps St, Collingwood VIC 3066
Established by the team behind the multi-award winning Local Taphouse beer bars and GABS Beer, Cider & Food Festival, Stomping Ground Brewing Co is an independent brewery established in 2016. They focus on brewing a wide range of high-quality beers while providing an exceptional beer experience for visitors.
Wolf of the Willows
Address: 39 De Havilland Rd, Mordialloc VIC 3195
They specialize in producing small batch, handcrafted beverages ranging from easy-drinking pale ales to barrel-aged beauties and thirst-quenching boozy sodas, with all beers brewed on-site at their 15 hectolitre, 3-vessel brewhouse. The taproom features an outdoor beer garden, casual open-plan indoor dining, 16 rotating taps of house-made beer and hard seltzer, plus an in-house kitchen serving beer-friendly share plates and pub favorites.
Don’t miss “The Big Tinnie” which is Mordialloc’s answer to Australia’s famous big attractions, standing proudly at the brewery.
Mountain Goat Beer, Melbourne
In 1997, two friends, Dave and Cam, founded Mountain Goat Brewery with a simple goal: to create better-tasting beers. Starting in a shed in Richmond, they experimented with ingredients and techniques until they perfected their craft. Today, Mountain Goat is known for its flavorful brews and innovative spirit, a testament to their determination and passion for great beer.
Hop Nation Brewing Co.
Location: Footscray
They specialise in quality, small batch beers and are located just 50 metres from Melbourne’s Maribyrnong River Bike Trail.
Kaiju Beer
Address: 27 Hume St, Huntingdale VIC 3166
Founded by brothers Nat and Callum Reeves, Kaiju! made waves in 2013 with a Double IPA so popular it caused a statewide Simcoe hops shortage, establishing them as Australia’s original hopmasters. Brewing from their Dandenong South facility, they’ve built a reputation for bold, hop-driven beers and creative limited releases. Their Cerveza Crisp Lager recently won Best Australian Style Lager at the 2025 Australian International Beer Awards. The brewery features Kaiju! Beer & Pizza, serving their full range of craft beers alongside quality pizzas in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
Deeds Taproom & Kitchen
Location: 4 Paran Place, Glen Iris Melbourne, Victoria, 3146
Listed among the best brewery bars for 2024. This industrial-chic brewery is stocked with towering fermenting tanks that you can view and admire from anywhere in the venue, so you can watch the magic unfold while you sip on the fruits of our labour.
White Rabbit Brewery
Location: 221 Swanston St, Geelong VIC 3220
White Rabbit’s journey began in Healesville in the Yarra Valley in 2009, where it quickly became a beloved craft brewery known for its dark ale and white ale varieties. In 2015, the brewery relocated to a stunning new home in Geelong, transforming a historic 1930s warehouse into a state-of-the-art brewing facility and cellar door. The move allowed White Rabbit to significantly expand production while creating an impressive visitor experience.
White Rabbit offers their core range including the iconic White Rabbit Dark Ale and White Ale, alongside seasonal releases and barrel-aged specialties only available at the brewery. The venue includes a full restaurant serving modern Australian cuisine designed to pair with their beers, a spacious beer garden, and regular brewery tours that take you behind the scenes to explore the fermentation process and barrel-aging program. It’s become a must-visit destination for beer enthusiasts exploring the Geelong region.
Phillip Island Brewing Co., Philip Island – Melbourne
Location: 1821 Phillip Island Rd, Cowes VIC 3922
Philip Island Brewing Co specialises in creating unique small batch hand crafted beers unlike your standard lager.
Moon Dog Brewing
Locations: Abbotsford, Preston and Footscray
Moon Dog Brewery in Melbourne is a creative haven for beer enthusiasts. Known for pushing the boundaries of brewing, Moon Dog offers a unique range of bold and innovative beers that defy convention. Besides the beers, Moon Dog are popular for their delicious range of feezers – fresh & fruity alcoholic seltzer!
Bodriggy Brewing Co. – Abbotsford, Melbourne
Location: 245 Johnston Street, Abbotsford, VIC 3067 Australia
Bodriggy Beer officially launched in 2016, though on-site brewing didn’t begin until 2018 following the transformation of a former automotive LPG conversion center into a sprawling brewpub complex. Today, the venue features 64 taps pouring craft beers, wines, and limited releases, complemented by creative cocktails, exceptional Latin American cuisine, and live music that brings the space to life.
Hepburn Springs Brewing Co., Hepburn Spring – Melbourne
Location: 12 Forest Ave Hepburn Springs Vic 3461
With 16 beers on tap, Hepburn Springs Brewing Co is the perfect space, both indoor and outdoor, to relax and enjoy your visit in a scenic, country environment.
Molly Rose Brewing
Location: 279/285 Wellington St, Collingwood VIC 3066
The venue features a Chef’s Table tucked between the kitchen pass and pilot brewery, plus won Best Brewery Bar 2024 at the Australian Bartenders Awards. Combining the service and atmosphere of a wine bar with diverse beer styles, Molly Rose has created an entirely new brewery experience for Melbourne.
Opened in 2019 in a Collingwood backstreet, Molly Rose is led by founder and brewer Nic Sandery, whose goal is to brew and serve a diverse range of beer to as many wonderful people as possible. Before launching, Sandery traveled extensively through Japan, the US, England, and Germany to understand not just brewing techniques but beer culture in each place, then worked at Victorian wineries to learn winemaking mentality.
Hop Temple, Ballarat
Location: 24-28 Armstrong Street North, Ballarat Central. Down the laneway
Step into Hop Temple Ballarat and discover a craft beer lover’s paradise. Boasting an impressive selection of over 200 craft beers, Hop Temple proudly holds the title of Victoria’s largest and finest craft beer destination. But Hop Temple is more than just exceptional drinks – it’s an experience. The venue comes alive with engaging entertainment that transforms an ordinary night out into an unforgettable occasion. Join in on their popular musical bingo nights, where great tunes meet friendly competition, or unleash your creativity at their Paint Your Mate sessions, where artistic expression and laughter go hand in hand.
Whether you’re catching up with old friends, celebrating with family, or making new connections, Hop Temple provides the perfect backdrop for memorable moments.
TAR BARREL Brewery & Distillery
Location: 72 Watt Rd, Mornington VIC 3931
Launched in 2020 with a commitment to “The Spirit of Local”, the name comes from a well-known Peninsula corner where Stanleys and Red Hill roads meet. Historically the same spot where tar barrels were stored during local road construction. The venue features award-winning craft beers (8 on tap), a whiskey and gin distillery (the Peninsula’s first four-grain whiskey producer), famous wood-fired pizzas, and smoked BBQ meats, all embracing local ingredients and traditional methods.
St Andrews Beach Brewery
Location: 160 Sandy Rd, Fingal VIC 3939
This family-owned brewery sits on a stunning 92-acre property in Fingal that once housed champion racehorses, including three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva. The former stables have been transformed into unique private dining areas where visitors can relax in a past Melbourne Cup winner’s box while enjoying freshly brewed beers.
All beers, ciders, and seltzers are brewed on-site, with the property growing its own hops and featuring 8,000 apple and pear cider trees in a move towards sustainability. The venue offers Modern Australian cuisine, wood-fired pizzas, a spacious beer garden, live music on weekends, and dog-friendly outdoor areas.
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