Tides are an interesting thing. While their ebbs and flows often wreak havoc on low-lying areas, the crew at Brewtide also firmly believes a rising tide lifts all boats. The brewery and cellar, which opened this week at emerging multifaceted hospitality hub Craft’d Grounds on Collingwood Street (the brainchild of Marketplace Developments director James Rennell), sits on a notorious floodplain in the heart of Albion so, naturally, the team is accepting of the ups and downs that occur during Brisbane’s temperamental storm season. Despite being cheekily named in honour of Albion’s sock-soaking selfhood, the team in charge of the 500-sqm brewery is opting to focus more on the flood of incredible booze being made in Queensland and across the country. Where Craft’d Grounds looks to support quality local endeavour in the realms of food and drink, Brewtide is focusing in on craft beer, boutique wine and small-batch spirits above all else – creating a family around independently owned and operated drinks with the mentality of ‘mates supporting mates’. Brewtide offers locals the first glimpse inside Craft’d Grounds, which has repurposed a cluster of industrial and warehouse buildings (including a 100-year-old former timber mill) into an all-encompassing hospitality hub. The brewery, bar area and bottle shop sits within the Craft’d Grounds’ open-plan, zero-threshold ground-floor space, specifically designed to offer seamless entry and free-flowing access to the development’s other facets (such as Seven Miles’ flagship roastery and coffee bar, which is also open to the public). The venue’s material palette draws heavily on timber and black steel, helping establish a modern-industrial vibe that meshes well with the building’s glass-encased facade.
The brewery itself, equipped with 12 tanks and a 15-hectolitre capacity, is overseen by head brewer Gavin Croft – who has previously worked with Newstead Brewing Co., Archer Brewing and Bacchus Brewing Co.. Gavin is not only charged with creating Brewtide’s sole core brew (a mid-strength lager based on a malt-driven Munich helles style), but will also help craft collaborative beers with a host of other artisan producers and guest brewers. Looking to showcase a cross-pollination of ideas and flavours, Brewtide will regularly showcase new and imaginative limited-edition beers across most major styles. Launch collabs include a coffee stout made in conjunction with Craft’d Grounds neighbour Seven Miles (boasting the vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon notes of its Cat’s Pyjamas blend), an IPA made with Sea Legs Brewing Co., a NZ pilsner formed alongside Brewtal Brewers and a hazy pale ale crafted with input from local artist Zac Moynihan. Of the bar’s 20 taps, five will dispense Brewtide’s own constantly evolving range. The other 15 taps are dedicated to a well-rounded selection of seasonal offerings from friends of the brewery – we’re talking the best independent craft-beer makers from Australia’s east coast. Brewtide is also allowing nomad brewers use of its brewing apparatus, teeing up brewing times to align with lunch and dinner hours in order to give guests glimpses at the production process from tank to tastebuds. The bar, overseen by manager Tom Ham, extends its local-first ethos to its selection of wines, spirits (with a lean towards small-batch gins) and cocktails. Tom’s list of cocktails features eight concoctions and five premium gin-and-tonics, the latter imbued with native bush ingredients like leatherwood, honey, eucalyptus, pepperberry, quandong and finger lime. Vino is sourced from South Australian label ATE, with drops available by the glass – unless you’re sipping from a bottle purchased from Brewtide’s cellar. An integrated QR code ordering system makes purchasing a drink a cinch (though those after a personal touch can always approach the bar team for a chat), and a forthcoming food offering (including a charcuterie and fromagerie kiosk, and a teppanyaki-style burger dispensary) will soon be added to the menu.
Located beyond the bar, Brewtide’s cellar extrapolates the brewery’s local-leaning ethos into the retail realm. This bottle shop is stocked to breaking point with a smorgasbord of Australian-made alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages, including everything available within the bar. The cellar addition allows for guests to curate their own experience at Brewtide, with the venue licensed to allow for consumption of wine and beer bought from the cellar with a corkage fee. The cellar’s beer fridge features a jaw-dropping selection of tins (including a few ciders and seltzers), with more than 50 breweries represented and three products from each available. The wine wall boasts 95 slots, which loosely equates to, uh, a whole lot of vino (including many interesting varietals from forward-thinking makers). As for the sprits, much of what you see behind the bar can be found here with a few extra additions (gin, rum, tequila and vodka – it’s all here). The vast majority of the cellar’s offering is limited-release gear, with small quantities translating into a high turnover of stock and, subsequently a constantly evolving range. If you love discovering something new each time you visit a bottle shop, then consider Brewtide heaven on earth.
Brewtide is now open to the public. For operating hours and contact details, click over to the Stumble Guide.
