Quirky stuff you never knew about our breweries

Reckon  you’re a down south craft beer geek?  Know everything there is to know about the breweries in Your Margaret River Region, which, by the way, boasts the largest concentration of breweries in any one region in Australia?  Think again. To celebrate International Beer Day on August 7, we challenge you to a face-off in down south brewery know-how. Ready, set, BEER!

Colonial Brewing Co

Bet a pint you didn’t know that: Colonial’s mid-strength (yet surprisingly full flavoured) ‘Small Ale’ is the first and only beer in Australia to come in a vessel with a 360-degree removable lid. The ring pull helps lift the entire roof off the brew, with an amazingly smooth edge; so it’s just like drinking it out of a glass!

Bet a middy you didn’t know that: They serve $10 pizzas from 6pm on Friday nights.

Cheeky Monkey Brewery & Cidery

Bet a pint you didn’t know that: They serve the most bacon-tastic burger in the south west (or possibly the southern hemisphere) – the Cheeky Triple Bacon Burger incorporates grilled bacon, bacon mayonnaise (apparently that’s a thing?), and bacon jam.  Get. In. My. Belly.

Bet a middy you didn’t know that: All their beer is made with Margaret River rainwater.

Occy’s Food and Brews

Bet a pint you didn’t know that: They have had 175 styles through their 18 taps since they moved to Dunsborough in November 2013. They’ve also got what they call a ‘mongrel’ tap, which hosts a new project beer every couple of weeks.

Bet a middy you didn’t know that: They make hopped tequila in house, using several varieties of hops, and use it to make cocktails.

Cowaramup Brewing Co

Bet a pint you didn’t know that: They claim to be the smallest microbrewery in the southern hemisphere!

Bet a middy you didn’t know that:  The venue is dog friendly but has a resident brewery cat called Molly.

Eagle Bay Brewing Co

Bet a pint you didn’t know that: They make their own wine as well as beer.  The vines are located onsite, and there’s only 20 acres under vine which is super small – even by Margaret River standards!

Bet a middy you didn’t know that: They run Friday night feasts over the winter months with cool themes like Asian Street Food and Spring Farm Feast.

Duckstein Margaret River

Bet a pint you didn’t know that: Their schweinshax’n (pork knuckle) is bigger than the average person’s head, and can weigh up to 2.3kg. Tip: (this isn’t publicised as apparently it’s nearly impossible anyway) but if you eat it single-handedly and unaided, they will give you a free pint. If you’re not already in a food coma.

Bet a middy you didn’t know that: Their Heffeweise recently took out gold in the wheat beer category at the Perth Royal Beer Show.

The Beer Farm

Bet a pint you didn’t know that: This place even existed! Located on Gale Road in Metricup, it’s not open to the public yet, but plans are for it to open later this year.

Bet a middy you didn’t know that: They are all about sustainability, and they feed their spent grain to the Angus cows on the farm.  They also claim to be the only brewery in the world with an 80m long waterslide (they’re just double checking their insurance policy first…).

Bush Shack Brewery

Bet a pint you didn’t know that: There is a round pool table at the brewery. Mind. Boggled.

Bet a middy you didn’t know that: They make an alcoholic creaming soda with raspberry and vanilla flavours, called ‘Screamin Creamin’. Say no more!

The Grove Experience 

Bet a pint you didn’t know that: They are the only brewery in the region on wheels – they have a 90 litre brewing unit which can be wheeled around the place.

Bet a middy you didn’t know that: They also make extremely naughty yet delicious flavoured liqueurs including Macadamia Nut, Turkish Delight and Butterscotch.

Bootleg Brewery

Bet a pint you didn’t know that: The ‘raging’ part of their ‘Raging Bull’ brew comes from the strength of the beer (it’s 7.1% alcohol/vol!).

Bet a middy you didn’t know that: Bootleg was the Margaret River Region’s very first brewery – opening its doors in 1994. Image credit: Girl+Beer.