There’s no doubt that as the weather warms up and we head into the spring/summer seasons, the Onkaparinga region is one of the prime spots to be. Whether it’s touring the local McLaren Vale wineries with friends, heading out for a solo surf sesh in Sellicks, or enjoying an Aldinga beach-house getaway with the family, the area is no doubt one of our state’s most popular locations for a reason.
Another motive for heading south of the city (do you really need one?) is the recent surge of local breweries and tap houses that have opened and are planned for 2024 in the City of Onkaparinga, making it not only one of the most renowned regions for great South Australian wines but also a new hot spot for the best local brews.
Joining favourites that include Ekhidna Beers, South Coast Brewing Co, Vale Beer Company, and Swell Brewing are new kids on the block Penny Red Beer Co, Beer No Evil, and Snapper Point Brewing, who are all making their mark on the South Australian brewing scene.
Penny Red Beer, located on a vineyard in McLaren Vale with spectacular views, is owned and operated by Jess and Craig, who both originate from the UK and arrived in Australia 8 years ago.
‘When we first arrived in Australia, my partner Craig started making beer at home for friends as a hobby’, says Jess. ‘He always received positive feedback and loved what he was doing, but it wasn’t until he was encouraged to enter various beer competitions where he received great feedback from the judges, that we decided to take it more seriously.’
Penny Red Beer opened at Easter this year and has already won four Royal Adelaide Beer & Cider Awards for their brews this past July. ‘Our Iced Coffee Stout has quite a following, as does our Milk Stout’, says Jess. ‘We usually have 10 taps on offer at once, but we like to change up our beer lists as often as possible, also aligning with seasonal changes, so there’s always something new to try.’
This intimate craft brewery (which is also dog friendly!) is already loved by the locals, and Jess is proud of what they’ve created at the space. ‘Whilst it’s a small taphouse, we make it work, but it’s a cosy environment with a real local feel which is what we were always hoping for’, says Jess.
With a permanent food truck on site featuring locally made pizzas and various other guest food vendors, there’s also live entertainment every Sunday throughout winter (with more planned throughout the summer season), delivering the chilled acoustic vibes that add to the already laidback atmosphere.
‘Just like our brew, we often change up our food offering, inviting caterers in to do various events’, says Jess. ‘We’ve also recently started canning, so we’ll soon be selling takeaway brew from our taphouse, with the potential to stock in small boutique stores down the track.’
Another one to put on your local beer radar is Beer No Evil Brewery which has just opened.
Located in Lonsdale and sharing the space with fellow craft brewery Lone Gum Farmhouse (owned by Ryan Bickley), is husband and wife duo Paul and Julie-Ann Sparks and their heavy metal/rock-inspired brews that take collaboration to a new level.
‘I tried out the whole musician thing for a long time back when I lived in the UK, and so this is combining two of my passions which is kinda cool’, says Paul.
Arriving from the UK 14 years ago, Paul’s interest in craft beers kicked off when he worked at the Earl of Leicester in Parkside. He’s been brewing his Beer No Evil beers out of other breweries for the past 3 years, recently relocating to Lonsdale in the last 2 months.
‘Lone Gum Farmhouse do a lot of sours and farmhouse ales, and they also have a distillery, so Ryan will be doing gins, vodkas and even their own wines’, says Paul. ‘In addition to our beers, we’ll also be offering a lot of house beers—house lagers, ciders, pales—combined from both breweries, so we’ll have a bit of everything.’
The indoor venue, with a capacity for 200 people, will work with local food vendors to have food trucks on-site, with eventual plans for live entertainment. ‘Initially, we’ll be open Thursday to Sunday with the plan to open from 11 am-10 pm on Fridays and weekends’, says Paul.
Having won several awards at both the Australian Beer Awards and the Adelaide Beer & Cider Awards, Paul believes that his original brew, River of Insanity, is still the most popular. ‘It’s a west coast IPA and the first I ever made—everyone loves it’, says Paul.
And with beers inspired by the likes of Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne and heavy metal band Jinjer from Ukraine, Paul is excited about future collaborations with the music industry. ‘We’ve made beers for a local band, a vinyl store based in Prospect, and I’m currently in talks with a record label in Melbourne about creating a beer for them’, says Paul.
These are just a few of the newest brew kids on the block in the Onkaparinga region, with more to look out for in the new year! Check out our list below, and make sure you head down south for a good feed, cold brew and chilled vibes to support SA’s local brew scene.
Support local businesses in the South by following @gosouthgolocal on Instagram and www.gosouthgolocal.com.au
CITY OF ONKAPARINGA BREWERIES
Beer No Evil – Lonsdale
Ekhidna Beers – McLaren Vale
Goodieson Brewery – McLaren Vale
Gulf Brewery – Lonsdale
Lone Gum Farmhouse – Lonsdale
Mephisto Brewing – Happy Valley
Penny Red Beer Co. – McLaren Flat
Shifty Lizard Brewing Co. – Willunga
Snapper Point Brewing – Aldinga Beach
South Coast Brewing Co. – Willunga
Swell Brewing – McLaren Vale
Thug Life Brewery – Happy Valley
Vale Beer Company – McLaren Vale
COMING SOON
Drifters Brewery – Port Noarlunga
Ill-intentions Brewery – Cherry Gardens
New local breweries arrive in City of Onkaparinga - Glam Adelaide
Read More
No comments:
Post a Comment