Looking to discover your next favourite watering hole? You have come to the right place.
Believe it or not, the brewing of beer was one of the first industries in the state. So if you love craft beer, make a day (or more) of it and quench your thirst with the Fleurieu Peninsula's best microbreweries and craft brewers. We’ve searched far and wide for the best beer meccas across our glorious region, each venue with its own mission and purpose, but all with a collective goal to quench your thirst. From the decorated and the sustainably-minded to the nomadic and locally-inspired, there’s a big line-up of the Fleurieu Peninsula's breweries just waiting for you to step through their doors.
SWELL BREWING CO, MCLAREN VALE
Does a strong range of core beer and delightful seasonal creations tickle your tastebuds? Let us introduce you to Swell, a fantastic taphouse in beautiful McLaren Vale with wonderful grounds and weekend entertainment. This 16-tap venue is set on a family-owned vineyard on Olivers Road. The vineyard views stretch all around, with a giant underwater mural offering a nod to the brewery’s surfing name and its founder’s passion. The brewery and venue share the same giant shed, with visitors able to look in on the brewing magic via windows on the mezzanine floor. There’s plenty of seating both in the downstairs bar area and on the mezzanine. From the upstairs patio, guests of the brewery can drink and eat while soaking up the picturesque wine country vistas; downstairs, kids are free to burn off energy on the lawns while families and beer tourists picnic on the grass or at high tables.
GOODIESON'S BREWERY, MCLAREN VALE
Since debuting in 2010, Goodieson has been consistently recognised as one of Australia’s best craft breweries. It's also the perfect place to enjoy a day in McLaren Vale. Jeff, his wife Mary, and their two boys moved to McLaren Vale, bought a couple of acres, a brew house, and a shed. Now, Jeff is frequently listed as a person of influence within the Australian brewing industry. Plus, all beers are brewed onsite using natural ingredients.
Set in a gorgeous location on the flat of the valley at the back of McLaren Vale, Goodieson's Brewery is a relaxed space with a serene terrace that looks out past the tree-lined creek, over vineyards, and across the valley to the southern Mt Lofty Ranges. Birds fill the air here, and if you're lucky you might even spot a kangaroo in the vineyards. Goodieson's is not just home to award-winning beer, but also a lazy old red dog, a few sheep, a goat, and free-ranging chickens.
VALE TAPHOUSE, MCLAREN FLAT
The multi-award-winning Vale Brewing’s long-awaited Taphouse has officially opened its doors. This is home to the original beer of McLaren Vale, accompanied by exceptional dining and some of the best views in the region. Less than an hour’s drive from the Adelaide CBD, Vale Brewing’s new Taphouse features 14 taps and a 200-person capacity. The taphouse’s microbrewing facility is overseen by Vale’s Head Brewer, Jeff Wright. The bar is also accompanied by a ‘fully fledged’ restaurant, with the food offering devised by Executive Chef, John Rankin.
At the Australian International Beer Awards, Vale Tropic Ale and Vale IPA both took out Gold, beating more than 2,500 entries from 400 breweries across 21 countries.
SHIFTY LIZARD, WILLUNGA
A small microbrewery nestled in one of McLaren Vale wine region's townships, Willunga, Shifty Lizard has taken inspiration from the quality producers surrounding them. This is a genuine grassroots small-batch brewery, distillery, and taphouse. Now one of South Australia's youngest and most exciting breweries to land on the scene, stop in for a friendly experience to share a frothy with friends new and old. Most breweries are relaxed, but this one feels like chilling in a mate's garage. With much better beer, of course.
KICK BACK BREWING, ALDINGA
One of the more recent Fleurieu Peninsula breweries to enter the scene, Kick Back is based in the coastal town of Aldinga. The tap house has a charming, naturally lit indoor setting, a spacious beer garden, and a kitchen tasked with serving comfort food daily for lunch and dinner. A five-minute drive from Aldinga Beach and Port Willunga two iconic South Australian beaches, it's the perfect day trip destination. This Fleurieu Peninsula brewery is about taking it easy - tomorrow is another day and at Kick Back there are ‘no bad days'. Kick Back Brewing’s delicious-sounding food and drink offerings are housed in their gorgeous brand-new venue. Less than an hour’s drive from Adelaide CBD, the space is beautiful – perhaps a destination in and of itself.
SMILING SAMOYED BREWERY, MYPONGA
Nestled amongst the rolling hills in the southern seaside town of Myponga, The Smiling Samoyed Brewery is one not to be missed. Overlooking the picturesque Myponga Reservoir, this is another microbrewery that punches well above its weight. The brewery and brewery bar quickly earned a reputation for excellent craft beers, delicious food, and a fantastic atmosphere. Plus, dog lovers will get a kick out of this one. The brewery is owned by brewers, Kate Henning and Simon Dunstone (and their adorable Samoyeds - Hoppy and Kent). Winning awards for its beer and its mascots, the Myponga-based Smiling Samoyed Brewery is perfect for the whole family. A favourite at the annual Fleurieu Beer Festival, their rustic cellar door is just a stone's throw away from some of the Fleurieu Peninsula's most beautiful beaches.
FORKTREE BREWING, CARRICKALINGA
Housed in a reinvigorated shearing shed, Forktree Brewing has one of the best views from a bar in South Australia. There really is no need for paintings on the wall when you have this type of scenery. Inside, the rustic charm of vintage tools and open overhead timber beams is a nod to Forktree's origins. The incredible location is made up of mostly reused and recycled original materials, part of the main shearing location for the Forktree Estate many years ago. The goal here is to showcase all that is great about Carrickalinga and the surrounding environment… a natural paradise.
MEECHI BREWING COMPANY, LANGHORNE CREEK
Every wine region needs a beer label and being the first in Langhorne Creek, the team behind Meechi Brewing wanted a name that had a geographical significance and was unique to the region. Meechi is the Aboriginal name for the River Bremer, which flows through Langhorne Creek then eventually in to Lake Alexandrina.
Langhorne Creek is an intimate country town smack bang in the middle of Murray Bridge and Victor Harbor, well known for being a premium red grape growing region, and now for the first time ever, it’s producing beer. These guys make craft beer that shows true character. Their brews are small batch, interesting, and handcrafted. Find these guys at The Winehouse, a quirky eclectic mix of old and new in a relaxed tranquil setting.
This is the créme de la créme of craft beer in the Fleurieu Peninsula, here to bring you some inspiration for the next coldie you crack. A road trip to some of these locations will take your breath away, and by including some of the best breweries, you immediately take your trip to a whole new level of local. Check out the map below to start planning your adventure.
