If it’s stunning coastlines, excellent surfing, free-roaming wildlife or high octane sports you’re after, Phillip Island has long had plenty to offer. Yet, until recently, if you wanted to add some quality beer drinking to the mix, the options were, at best, seriously limited. Thankfully things are much brighter these days with Rusty Water bringing the taste of craft beer to the heart of the island.

Originally opened in 2008, Rusty Water was taken over by new owners with years of experience in hospitality and the beer industry in early 2010. Neil and Louise moved to the south coast for a change of pace but also with the intention to bring a standard of service that they’d previously found to be lacking on Phillip Island. They brought in a new chef, who gave the kitchen a new direction – mostly Anglo-European fare with the occasional Asian influence – and set about improving and expanding the drinks list.

Located directly across from the Koala Conservation Centre on the main Phillip Island Road, Rusty Water currently has the beers bearing its name brewed offsite, although moves are underway to open a brewery on the island. The Rusty Water beers include a Koala Pale Ale, Dark Malt Burnt Toffee Ale, Mako IPA, Raspberry Pale Ale and Caramelised Banana Wheat Beer. Aside from the in-house range, the bar regularly stocks beers from Stone & Wood, Coldstream and Prickly Moses and also has a guest tap among the six lining its bar that rotates through different limited release Aussie craft beers every month.

The new owners say their philosophy is “to offer a relaxed atmosphere and keep things very casual”, whether that’s when guests are tucking into beer sample paddles around the wine barrels and wood fires in winter, listening to live acoustic music on a Friday night or attending one of the regular “Meet the Winemaker” events. With numbers up significantly – both among locals and tourists – since they took over, it’s a philosophy that certainly seems to be paying dividends.