The details
Soapbox Beer’s story started more than six years ago, when Scott Robertson and Luke Nixon – then working in the telecom and film industries, respectively – struck up a conversation about the merits of craft beer while sipping on some of Scott’s own home brew. It was here that the seeds of Soapbox were sown, germinating and flourishing into the vision of an inner-city brewery that embodies Scott and Luke’s ideas (as industry outsiders) on what’s possible with beer. Over the many years since that moment, the tandem concocted and refined Soapbox’s core range of beers on a small scale, while maintaining a spirited ‘why not?’ attitude and simultaneously searching for a venue to inhabit and grow from.
The space
The dream venue was secured on Gipps Street in Fortitude Valley – a prime spot on the corner of Ranwell Lane. It was the venue’s spacious interior that afforded Luke and Scott the opportunity to build for the future, installing a brewing system with long-term scalability in mind. A third of the venue has been given over to the brewery, where a 2000-L steam-brewing system has been installed in addition to two smaller pilot brewery systems for small-scale experimental brewing. As for the rest of the space, drinkers can congregate around the rustic industrial bar and dining area, with tables fashioned from old formworking boards and fixtures made from reclaimed timber uncovered during the venue’s interior demolition process, pre fit-out. An old fire door has also been repurposed to separate the main area from a cosy function space, adding some heritage character to Soapbox’s interior vibe.
The food and drink
At Soapbox Beer, the beer is naturally a key talking point. Both Scott, Luke and head brewer Greg James can wax lyrical about the merits of each drop and are more than open to discourse with punters, but not before you’ve sampled the range. The bar has eight taps online, pouring five core beers and a clutch of rotating brews (including a tantalising biscuit ale evoking tasty childhood memories). Soapbox has highlighted the conversational emphasis with its beers’ names, evidenced by the Pep Talk dark ale, Chin Wagen kolsch, the Loud Mouth American amber ale and the Opinionator pale ale. Beer-tasting paddles and growler fills are available, as well as a selection of small-batch spirits and wines for non-beer drinkers. An on-site kitchen serves up a diverse menu of eats, with several beer-infused dishes designed to be an integral part of the Soapbox experience. Share plates of battered chicken lollipops, potato curry croquettes and crispy calamari are joined by mains including charred cauliflower steak, chicken beersala, glazed citrus salmon and grilled wagyu with porter onion gravy.
Soapbox Beer officially opens tomorrow, Thursday December 13. For opening hours and other handy details, head to the Stumble Guide.
