Whether you’re a regular at their Murarrie brewery or you’ve never managed to make the trek, you’ve surely heard of Scottish brewing giant BrewDog—after launching in Scotland in 2007 they’ve only gone and opened 100 odd bars around the world, achieved the status of the world’s first carbon negative brewery and created hundreds of different craft beers of all styles. And now, it’s even easier for Brisbane beer lovers to knock back a pint of their iconic brews, with a brand new BrewDog now open in the Valley.
Taking over the heritage listed Tranberg House on Brunswick Street, right across from the Valley Metro train station, the new bar is truly jaw-dropping. While it might appear to be just a small but cosy taphouse from the street, head inside and you’ll find a multitude of spaces to choose from. There’s the street level bar, which features long high tables, pinball machines and a dog-friendly outdoor area to the rear, and an upstairs bar and function space with a mix of seating, two shuffleboard tables and a small verandah. But that’s not all—head downstairs and you’ll find another massive bar area the size of both upstairs bars combined, this one featuring a bright yellow wall of taps, comfy booths and leather lounges and a kitchen slinging scrumptious bar food day and night.
It seems unbelievable that the BrewDog crew managed to find such an expansive space smack bang in the middle of the Valley, but there it is, having been 18 months in the making. Prior to their extensive renovations, the building was home to a garage and accountant’s office, and you can still see the remnants of ‘Shell’ painted on the wall downstairs, adding to the industrial air. Plenty of other heritage features also remain, such as the solid steel beams in the floor upstairs, and an odd rooftop space that floats above the top level bar—it couldn’t be removed due to heritage requirements and was too difficult to access without a space-hogging staircase, so now is just a strange, empty reminder of the history the building holds.
With three bars to choose from, there’s plenty of opportunities to sample your way through the entire BrewDog range, from crowd favourites like their Hazy Jane IPA and zesty Dead Pony Club pale ale to the tarty Passionfruit Blitz sour and juicy Shandy Shack shandy. Don’t worry if you’re not a beer drinker, because they’ve got you covered with cider, ginger beer, cocktails, wine and spirits, including their own range of gins—because these guys aren’t just a one trick pony. They’ve even got their own alcohol-free ale, for the non-drinkers of the group.
And of course, it wouldn’t be BrewDog without a hefty line up of drinking food, 50% of which is totally plant-based—you’re welcome vegans. Graze on loaded fries, saucy buffalo wings (chicken OR cauliflower), burgers, pizzas, salads and more—personally we’d be going for The Feast, a board piled with buffalo chicken wings, Southern fried chicken strips, kimchi corn, fries, sweet potato fries, blue cheese dip and garlic mayo. Maybe with a side of truffle cheese fries and deep fried Oreos for dessert, just for good measure.
For those with kids in tow, there’s high chairs available and a kids menu, and accessibility-wise, there’s a lift inside to reach the upper and lower levels—basically, this Valley venue is made for literally everyone and you should get yourself there as soon as possible. Find out everything you need to know right here.
Check out more of Brisbane’s best breweries here.
Image credit: NIRA Creative