The gold coast is a hub for tourism and fun and has become a real big craft beer area, with the emergence of many a breweries and micro breweries all over the region.
Somebody needed to try them all, so who was better equiped than myself to give them a go myself. I struggled through slurry words, hangovers and the rollicking from the wife. But i did it in the name of research.
So here we have it after whittling them down we now have the top 3 craft breweries on the Gold Coast.
Top 3 Breweries
Balter Brewing
Formerly known as having top surfer Mick fanning as a co owner, now Balter lies under the ownership of alcohol giant Carlton & United Breweries.
Balter has grown over the years and now produces there beer all over Australia and beyond.
Located in the industrial estate in Currumbin waters
The Beer
By far the most popular is the Balter XPA, it’s one of there first and certainly one there finest. Fruity and hoppy with tropical and floral aromas and coming in at 5% abv.
Another great selection is the Balter Lager with its citrus aroma and smoothness makes for a gentle and easy to drink lager. 4.6% abv
The Taproom
The Taproom is open Wednesday through to Sunday with a revolving mix of food trucks on hand to keep you fed. Top Tip: Zicatela Mexican food truck is there keep an eye out for when they are there, some of the best Mexican I have tried.
Opening Times
- Wednesday : 3 – 8pm
- Thursday : 3 – 8pm ( $5 Tins & Tacos with Zicatela every Thursday )
- Friday : 3 – 8pm ( Live Music 4-7pm )
- Saturday : 12 – 8pm
- Sunday : 12 – 7pm
Bureligh Brewery
One of the first craft breweries to take off on the Gold Coast was Burleigh Brewery.
Winner of many national and international awards and with a host of beers sold nationwide. Burleigh Brewery now holds 38 World medals, 22 of which are gold. An impressive feet for this small brewery.
Located in Burleigh Heads Industrial estate about 30 minutes from Surfers Paradise.
The Beer
I’ll pick 2 of my favourites from here, firstly “Big Head” a carb free beer, the first in Australia. Which is so smooth and light, great for those hot days on the coast. Coming in at 4.2% abv.
Secondly is Twisted Palm 4.% abv, a tropical pale ale with fruity aromas. A smooth and very refreshing drink, which has many accolades including winning World Beer Championship Gold Medal in Chicago in 2020.
The Taproom
Open for business 3 days a week the taphouse serves its selections of beers from 3pm – 9pm Friday, 1pm – 9pm Saturday and 1pm – 6pm Sunday.
With food options available from Burleigh Eats by the Qak Cafe. With a great selection of great drinking snacks like burgers and tacos etc.
Brewery tours available on request.
Fortitude Brewing
Fortitude Brewing is a small boutique brewery situated up Mount Tamborine.
Fortitude delivers a range of beers that are well-balanced, using top quality ingredients and an integrity to a brewing process that delivers bold and strong flavours.
Located at the end of Long Road strip of Eagle Heights, and on the site of the ever popular Witches Chase Cheese Company.
The Beer
Fortitude Summer would be my first pick, as the name lends Summer, its hoppy, toasted wheat and with stone fruit aromas with the aim to be smooth throughout the hot summer months. 4.4 % abv.
Secondly I came to enjoy the Irish Stout, bold flavours with malt and flaked barley based. A great beer for the colder winter months on the mountain 4% abv.
The Taphouse
The Taphouse at Fortitude is unique with its open glass wall so you can watch the workers produced the beer as you sup away.
Tasting paddles are available allowing to try 5 of the Fortitude beers in tasting sizes
The taphouse has a pizzeria for soaking up those beers with a mix of traditional and gourmet pizzas. As mentioned the brewery is on the same site as the cheese factory and cheese platters are also available from there. To further accommodate this local wines by Bird Dog Wines and Witches Falls Wines are available
Opening times are Monday – Thursday 11am – 3pm and Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11am – 5pm
Summary
These would certainly be my top 3 choices on the Gold Coast, and with there nationwide exposure they certainly standout above the rest. With many a craft beer bars stocking there products.
A couple of other notable breweries would be Piggled Pig, Lost Palms and Black Hops, slightly smaller scale breweries but still a fine selection and good beer.
An hour and 15 minutes from the coast in Byron Bay is one other notable mention and probably Australia’s best known craft brewery Stone and Wood. I have never visited myself however have tried many, maybe to many times the pacific ale another top craft beer to try.
Hopefully this will help you on your way to some beer tasting on the Gold Coast many of these breweries feature in our favourite restaurants and cafes on the Gold Coast.
22 replies on “3 Top Craft Breweries On The Gold Coast”
‘Suffering for research’ lol… haven’t we all been there.. I guess it’s for the greater good, so all fine. Australia’s first carb free beer? That sounds quite innovative and exciting. I think the Irish stout would’ve been my favourite.
I’ll try the balter lager please! And beer definitely got us here 😄
Beer definetly did get us here. The Balter lager is a great choice
My vote goes to the Taproom, just because I want to eat Mexican food with my beer! I’m not an expert, but I’d happily drink at any one of these!
I have worked personally with the Mexican chef its delicious
Thank you for your sacrifice in the name of research! 😂 You brought us a nice read about the breweries of Gold Coast!
Somebody had to do it and I was that man haha
Trying each of these sounds pretty great! I love how you had to try so many in the name of research! Haha. I’m the same way with food and wine. I think I’d want to try the Big Head from Burleigh Brewery as it wouldn’t bother my stomach!
I think I need to see if you’re right about the top 3 craft breweries on the Gold Coast and check them all out for myself haha
38 Gold medals is amazing, think I’d head to Burleigh Brewery first for their Twisted Palm.
Now there is a challenge for you Wendy. Twisted Palm is a great brew I have sampled many a times 😀
I read this breakfast time, but I can imagine myself with a Balter XPA glass in front of me 😀 I like my beer fruitty and hoppy!
I have been on the hunt for a beer to replicate it ever since I left Australia, I’m yet to find one
Bookmarked. We love craft beer. Especially trying different breweries while we’re traveling!
Thank you for your sacrifice, lol! I’m not usually a fan of pale ale’s but I might have to give that Twisted Palm a try! I love to find breweries wherever we travel, and now that you’ve put all this work into your research I have even more reasons to visit the Gold Coast!
Someone had to sacrifice there time 😀 the Twisted Palm is certainly a good choice
Nice list, looks like each one is a nice choice.
We certainly enjoyed them all thats for sure
Oh I like the idea of the taphouse. Being able to watch them make beer definitely appeals to the inner barman in me. Wash it down with pizza. Sorted
Anything that includes beer and pizza is always going to be a win
The big head is a great choice so easy to drink and a bit more guilt free with the zero carbs
This sounds like a great bit of travel research to be doing, haha! Visiting breweries is a really nice idea and a great way to explore a new place — thanks for the idea to give this a try!
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