Seven Victorian craft breweries to order from this summer

This local brewery specialises in creating small-batch handcrafted beers. If you’re the type that likes trying something new each time you go out for a drink, then this one’s for you. Phillip Island Brewing Co offer a range of beers created with specialty yeasts, hops and malts, and add different Australian native fruits and plants to create a truly Australian drop. Some are infused with local shiraz, like the Black Cockie, or there’s the Chicory Stout, which has notes of roasted chicory. There's a Phillip Island Survival Pack on its site that offers a bar mat, two stubby holders and a selection of its bottled beers. One such beer is the Koala Pale Ale. The profits from this beer go towards supporting the wildlife and habitat conservation of Phillip Island’s colony of koalas. How could you say no to helping those cuddly little tree huggers?

Paper Scissors Rock is located in Halls Gap at the base of the Grampians National Park. The town is usually a hotspot for tourists and was greatly affected by the pandemic. Like many, the microbrewery went digital with its offerings. The brand itself has a strong Aussie rock influence and it shows from its hand-horn logo to its range of black merch available to purchase online. Its canned beers are adorned in psychedelic illustrations and its session beer, Stone Cold Hazy, sports a Bowie-esque label while the beer contains citrus and fruity notes owing to Azacca and Huell melon hops. Be sure to sample the Normal Beer too – an Australian pilsner combined with traditional ale malts to produce a full strength bitter ale.

If you’re off to the Otways or the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne, you’re bound to have driven past or stopped off at Forrest Brewing Company. It provides the perfect pitstop for those who have been driving for a while and are looking for a pint of respite. Usually a popular microbrewery, it now markets its diverse range of beers via the website. The Block Splitter is a crowd favourite – it’s an imperial stout that owing to its high alcohol content will keep you warm so you don’t need to chop wood for a fire. Hence the name. It has dark malts with a solid body, but if that seems too intense for you, there’s also a light-bodied beer with notes of vanilla and apricot called the Silvertop Lager.

It’s a hot day. You’re not in the mood for a beer, but not in the mood for a cocktail. Say hello to Blackman's Brewery's Lemon Sour Sorbet. Made using Torquay's seawater, the brew is complemented by lemony notes and a softness owing to lactose. It's like an alcoholic lemon sorbet and is due to be released into the world from November 18 onwards. The brewery has two locations in Torquay and along the Bellarine Peninsula, and even offers a subscription which includes a six pack of Blackman's beers and a fresh loaf of Zeally Bay sourdough bread that can be delivered to you every Friday.

While Moon Dog World in Preston takes you away to an island paradise with its artificial lagoon and beach chairs, the OG Brewery in Abbotsford gives you all that a brewery has to offer plus its newly extended outdoor seating. The company has been incredibly innovative during lockdown and is selling its new range of hard seltzers featuring a creamy coco mango flavour (like a low-calorie sparkling piña colada) and a bunch of beers like the popular Lagoona Matata Sour Ale and the Old Mate Pale Ale. There’s even the Pub in a Box, which comes with a bar mat, housemade beer nuts, two glasses and a selection of 14 of its much-loved tinnies. 

Two Birds Brewing are an example of women kicking butt in the male-dominated industry of beer. 9 years it has grown to a range of five beers (and now cider!) that are brewed all year round. Experimental limited releases are also a favourite of ours, with a new beer flying out every few weeks. There's the classic pale ale, or the newly announced Watermelon Chirpy. It’s a light and refreshing alcoholic soda with hints of, you guessed it, watermelon. The Spotswood-based brewery is currently accepting bookings so you can round up the troops, or purchase its Birdhouse mixed packs, which come with cider or beer to enjoy at home. 

Hawkers Beer is an award-winning independent brewery based in Reservoir. It was established by Mazen Hajjar who also created the Middle East's first ever craft brewery, Lebanon's 961 Beer. The team create no-nonsense IPAs, pale ales, pilsners, lagers and stouts with crisp, clean, minimal packaging. You can also find the largest solar array on a brewery in metropolitan Melbourne there, and it has actively worked on reducing its electricity consumption.