Margaret River’s Best Breweries And Distilleries
What’s brewing down south? Plenty, it seems. The range of hopped up suds and strong spirits has grown, giving plenty of reason to skip the winery and shake things up next time a weekend escape is within reach.
With breweries and distilleries popping up everywhere, competition has been mounting with some mighty tasty drinks, so the toughest thing you'll need to do is whittle this list down to fit the one trip.
Breweries
CBCo Brewery
6285/29 Osmington Rd, Bramley WA 6285
Image credit: CBCo Brewery | Supplied
CBCo Brewing (formerly Colonial Brewing Co) opened a second brewery over east in 2015, but WA has been home since 2004—marking an impressive 20 years of brewing. Big shed on the outside, modern architecture on the inside, with a sprawling grassy lawn and kids playground—CBCo's Margaret River brewery serves up good times for adults, kids and your dogs too. But with 20 years under the belt, they're stepping things up, with six new Short Iron Range bays overlooking the dam—there's even floating kegs for those keen for a bit of target practice. Each bay has a dedicated lounge and bar, so groups of four to six can sit back and enjoy pints between golf swings.
INSIDER INTEL
- The tee off lunch special will get you a pizza or burger, a bucket of balls and your choice of beer or cider for $35
- The CBCo Chorizo on the menu deserves more hype
Wild Hop Brewery
1301 Wildwood Rd, Yallingup WA 6282
Beer lovers might have caught wind of the new must-visit brewery down south. Seriously, don’t miss this one, even if you don’t drink the stuff. Wild Hop Brewery is based in Yallingup, and its relaxed vibe is totally suited to a day of sunshine, craft brews and some wood-fired bites. A family-run brewery, the venue is also family-friendly, with a playground good enough to make grown-ups jealous. Stunning views over the water and a rotation of interesting brews are only topped by some tasty feasting; the menu is ideal for sharing, so bring the tribe with you. What about the beer, you say? Well, as each keg runs dry it's replaced by another one-off creation.
INSIDER INTEL
- Hoppy hour (aka happy hour) is from 3:30pm to 4:30pm on weekdays
- For a great atmosphere guaranteed, visit on Sunday arvos in summer when live tunes are playing on the deck
Rocky Ridge Brewing
10 Marine Terrace, Busselton WA 6280
A little further north near Busselton, in Jindong, Rocky Ridge Brewing founder Hamish Coates has been going all out, growing his own hops and barley on the family farm. The brewery's motto is ‘everything we brew, we grow’ which is a mammoth task to take on. Recognised as one of Australia’s most awarded independent craft breweries, you can now visit their taphouse and try the bevs right in the heart of Busselton in their refurbished and renewed 1930s family home.
INSIDER INTEL
- Not a beer lover? The Jindong Juicy pale ale is a beer that many of us from the not-so-fond-of-beer club find ourselves, well, fond of
Beerfarm
177 Gale Rd, Metricup WA 6280
Image credit: Beerfarm | Instagram
Renowned for their annual Rodeo, there's plenty to love about Beerfarm. The space used to be a dairy farm, and the main bar is in the old hay shed, complete with a long jarrah bar, a Ghostbusters pinball machine and windowed roller doors opening up to the paddock. The beer list is sectioned into ‘Session’ and ‘Specialty’, and ingredients are as local as they can get—the Australian Bitter uses nearly 95% WA ingredients, and the western cider is made with Manjimup apples.
INSIDER INTEL
- When it comes to food, the juicy burgers and the smoked chicken wings are our picks
- Furry friends are welcome on leash
Brewhouse Margaret River
35 Bussell Hwy, Margaret River WA 6285
Close to town, Brewhouse is a laidback brewery with live music, a beautiful outdoor seating area and a toasty fireplace for when it gets chilly. The 1940s cottage has been transformed, and the open kitchen serves up good local produce, including a mean lamb shoulder and some moreish pizzas. The beer list covers all the lager and pilsner lovers, but the hop-heavy brews are what shine. The northwest US-inspired Red Tail IPA is an especially tasty concoction of four hops. It's safe to say that the Margaret River Beer Co know exactly what they're doing.
INSIDER INTEL
- If you're feeling up to it, it's a 600-meter walk from town to the brewhouse, perfect for those planning to stay (and sip) for a while
Shleter Brewing Co
11 Foreshore Parade, Busselton WA 6280
Started by two local families who have called the South West home for generations, local pride is big for Shleter Brewing Co. Just a stone's throw from the famous Bussleton Jetty, nestled amongst the foreshore's towering Norfolk pines, an afternoon spent here is an afternoon spent well. In terms of brews, to start off, the cans are super cool, not that that's important, but who doesn't love a groovy vessel to sip out of. In regard to what's inside, there's hazy IPA, lager, pale ale, summer sours and more, as well as limited edition series like the NZ hazy pale.
INSIDER INTEL
- Brewery tours are $15 and run twice a day
Cheeky Monkey Brewery
4259 Caves Rd, Wilyabrup, WA 6280
Image credit: Cheeky Monkey | Instagram
With a jetty by the lake outside so you can sit and enjoy the sun, or the raised deck overlooking the vines of the attached vineyard, Cheeky Monkey has scenery ticked off, as they do drinks. The beers on tap have people frothing as of late, with the Australian Lager winning awards at the Perth Royal Beer Show and their West Coast IPA scooping up a gold medal, too. Grab a tasting paddle, and you’ll get to taste the two ciders the brewery makes as well.
INSIDER INTEL
- If you're visiting on an empty stomach, the steak sanga here is a winner
Eagle Bay Brewing
252 Eagle Bay Rd, Eagle Bay WA 6281
Eagle Bay Brewing is a stunning microbrewery run by three siblings who’ve taken the family property to make quality, preservative-free beers. Sit outside and bask in the view of the green grounds until the late afternoon while digging into modern Aussie lunch, with wood-fired pizzas, sharing plates and seafood mains. If you want to wander around, the kitchen has its own garden of herbs and veggies you can take a peek at as well. While Eagle Bay also has its own Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Semillon vines, it’s not big enough to warrant its own winery. Not to fret though, the restaurant and the brewery’s provisions store sells bottles, as well as growlers if you want to take some of the beer home fresh.
INSIDER INTEL
- In the cosy season, opt for richer seasonal releases like the Cacao Stout, where you'll sip into bittersweet notes of dark chocolate and coffee
Coworumup Brewing Company
229 North Treeton Road Cowaramup, WA 6285
In the 800-litre brewhouse, Cowarumup Brewing Company makes magic happen. Opening in 2006 in the picturesque rural setting of the South West, the brewpub has long been a staple in the region. Choose from hand-crafted ales and lagers, the most popular being the Cowarumup pilsener, a german style beer with the crispest of finishes. It's not only beer, but there are also bites to eat with a menu revolving around the region and its local produce.
INSIDER INTEL
-
We'd recommend the behind-the-scenes brewery tour, which is $85 per person and includes a 6-course degustation tasting platter with a tasting paddle of matched beers
Distilleries
Beyond Distilling
6 Bradman Street Busselton, WA 6280
Good spirits with real WA flavour is the Beyond way. Working with local farmers, using native botanicals and distilling everything themselves is what makes Beyond Distilling so pure, and uh, delicious. Made from scratch in Busselton, their homegrown spirits are distilled in small batches that are locally sourced and sustainably crafted. You know you'll be getting the best of WA in a bottle here.
INSIDER INTEL
- Signature tastings here go for 30-minutes and are only $10
Margaret River Distilling Company
Maxwell St off Carters Rd, Margaret River WA 6285
Image credit: Margaret River Distilling Co
The Margaret River Distilling Company is all about gin, and not just drinking it; they're also all for getting hands-on and distilling your very own bottle. Sign up for the Giniversity masterclass, where you’ll get to learn how gin is made and conjure up a recipe of botanicals to whip up your very own gin. Outside of the classroom, the menu includes almost every type of gin, from aromatic and fruity sips to dry and savoury ones, alongside limited releases.
INSIDER INTEL
- Over half of the gins on the menu have won awards (aka we'll be trying them all), looping in your gin-disliking friend as designated driver is not a bad idea for this visit
The Grove
491 Metricup Rd, Wilyabrup WA 6280
There are equal parts passion and fun behind The Grove in Wilyabrup, and you’ll undoubtedly have a good time tasting the range of liqueurs here. A lot of the liqueurs are sweet—from White Chocolate to Limecello—but don’t be discouraged if that’s not your thing. There’s gin, absinthe, and rum, as well as single malt whiskies. The corn mash maple whisky is fairly sweet and not too harsh taken straight. There’s an eatery serving up pizzas too to help break up the handful of different spirits you’ve had a taste of.
INSIDER INTEL
- Looking for accommodation? The Grove is home to rustic, cosy chalets and bungalows that offer that South West charm with views out across the vineyards and liqueurs on your doorstep
West Winds Discovery Centre
29 Hasluck St, Cowaramup WA 6284
As if you didn't already have enough things to get to in Margaret River, the legends behind West Winds—aka one of Australia's most awarded gin distillers—have a massive multi-purpose space in Cowaramup. The space features a distillery, tasting room and tavern, with plenty of room inside the chic industrial-style warehouse and out in the breezy courtyard to enjoy. Plus, they've even repurposed an old fishing boat, turning it into a cool outdoor play space for anyone bringing little punters along. On the premises, you'll also find the brand's laboratory, production facility, cellar door, restaurant and cocktail/wine bar.
INSIDER INTEL
- They won a Double Gold at the 2011 San Francisco International Spirit Awards with The Cutlass, the first Australian gin to do so (it's gone on to win seven more awards, so it's a must try!)
Wild Lot Distillery
764 Brockman Hwy, Karridale WA 6288
Weekends in Margaret River just levelled up. Open only on Fridays and Saturdays, Wild Lot Distillery is all about relaxed vibes, boozy sips, cheese boards, and bringing along your furry friend. With a garden-to-glass mentality, the team behind the distillery hand-picks their botanicals and fruits, creating small batch spirits that reflect each of the seasons.
INSIDER INTEL
- On Saturdays in summer, Gin Sessions take centre stage with live music, picnic-style seating beneath the leafy trees, and a DIY Garnish Bar so you can level up your drink your way
- Not in town on the weekend? You can reach out to them and organise a visit on select days
Need more inspo? Check out:
Main image credit: Wild Hop | Instagram