Your Guide to the Craft Beer Scene on the Gold Coast

Join the expanding community of beer frothers at Fortitude Brewing Co. With 15 taps spouting a heavenly array of brewed-on-site beers, you won’t want to leave until you’ve tried them all. If you’re designated driver, no worries – there’s plenty of filled growlers and packaged beer available for takeaway. We were especially impressed by the live music in the beer garden. If you’re like us and want to visit again, and again – pick up one of their memberships and receive discounted beer, food and invites to tasting events.

A colourful brew house in the heart of Miami – it’s hard to miss this warehouse of delicious summer IPA brews, sour flavours and kombucha blends. If you’re not already frothing over Lost Palms’ unique vibes, come for the artist-designed cans and packaging – this brewery is a major stand of the local art community. We love the life this craft beer house brings to the industrial area of Miami. Not to mention they’ve also unleashed a brand new menu with extended and revamped burger offerings.

It’s pretty clear why this brew house has hopped its way into our books as one of the Gold Coast’s best breweries. With a rough-luxe vibe and frothy goodness poured out of four metallic pour tanks – we rate Precinct Brewing Co very highly. It’s a fully functional brewery with delectable beer made onsite and delivered via twelve taps and also directly from the tanks. Our favourite has got to be the berry sour, but if you’re more of a pacific ale or lager kinda beer lover – there’s plenty of rotating flavours to smash.

An oldie but a goldie – after 18 years in business, it’s easy to say husband and wife duo Peta and Brennan Fielding know good craft beer. Located in Burleigh’s industrial estate, Burleigh Brewing Company has plenty of flavours to try, as well as live music and food truck meals to relish. Taste famed brews from Hef, Bighead and Tropical Pale Ale, or branch out and sip on limited-edition concoctions from their trial beer system.

A healthy time out with friends – now that’s a vibe we can get around. This non-alcoholic brewery is the perfect place for those who want to sip on delicious craft beer to their hearts content, without worrying about tomorrow’s hangover. Sobah is normalising a good time without the need for alcoholic beer or wine. Taste unique, flavour-packed brews with native ingredients all day long. Sobah is the place to go for sun, surf, and a fresh, crisp drink without the headache.

A household name across the country, work your way through the rotating roster of experimental batches at Balter. Founded in 2016 with the Balter XPA by legendary local pro surfers and mates Mick Fanning, Bede Durbrudge, Scotty Hargrave (head brewer) Josh Kerr, Stirling Howland (brand director), Ant Macdonald (GM), Sean Ronan, and Joel Parkinson. Balter’s Currumbin-based cellar door is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday. Don’t miss their Sunday Sesh food trucks, exclusive beer samples, and live tunes.

From launching their first beer, the eggnog stout, in 2014 to opening an award-winning brewery in the years after – Black Hops was started by three local lads with a dream. For an intimate and welcoming cellar door head to the original brewery and tap room in the residential area of Burleigh Heads. For a large upscale production brewery and taproom, head to the main venue, Black Hops II, in Biggera Waters. Bring your dog along to either venue, grab a tasting paddle and have a tipple from their huge range of beers flowing out of 16 taps.