The beer lovers of Western Australia have been well served by their local craft beer industry over the past few decades, with growing numbers of microbreweries found in popular suburbs, tourist regions and even where you might not expect them. But, for a long time, the CBD and surrounds were, for the most part, not so well served.
This omission was the impetus for Nowhereman, which opened less than three kilometres from the city centre in the second half of 2017. In the years since, it’s cemented itself as “Perth’s original urban brewery” in a former furniture factory. And, while others have appeared in the years following their launch, the team’s ebullience and a healthy selection of award-winning beers have kept the vibe as fresh and inclusive as the day the doors opened.
Founder Reece Wheadon’s six-year background in the roles of WA Beer Week director and curator served him well through the lengthy gestation period of Nowhereman. His vision for a brewpub close to the CBD, bike paths, train lines and free central area transit buses took four years to become a reality but, with an expertly recruited and experienced team, it was on song from the moment the needle finally hit the record.
The kitchen’s pizzas are legendary, in part thanks to house-made base of Eden Valley biodynamic wheat and Caputo 00 flour. Elsewhere on the menu, the focus on small batch and ethically-produced foods elevates Nowhereman food well beyond the fare found elsewhere.
Nowhereman’s core range charts a well-constructed, sessionable path featuring Leederville Draught, Crate Digger Pale Ale, Rhapsody XPA and 3 Speed Session Hazy, all picking up some bling at one point or another. Annual collaborations such as Barrels in the Skigh, with Skigh Wines, or Le Vietnam's Lemongrass and Ginger Rice Lager are eagerly sought after, as is Mr Otter’s Barley Wine, a beer with its own annual feast. There's a Western Australian focus throughout the wine, spirits and sodas on offer too.
All are waiting to be enjoyed in a bright and airy space, frequently used for events, and filled with natural light in which the bar – black tiles at the rear, an expanse of hardwood to lean on while making your selection – is very much the centrepiece, flanked by the brewery on one side.
Seating is a mix of low tables and benches, higher spots and stools, with bare brick walls, giant murals, large plantings and a rendition of the brewery logo looming overhead on one of the factory windows – further evidence this is a labour of love for Reece.
In late 2023, Nowhereman found a step-sibling in Otherside Brewing after joining the latter’s parent company Triple-1-Three. It means you'll now find their beers sharing tap space with those from Otherside at their West Leederville home.
It's not all they share, however, with the pair’s belief in community activation, the arts, inclusivity and good people making great beer leading them to consummate the relationship with the release of the perfectly-named Otherside of Nowhere Hazy IPA, perhaps proving that celebration is always better with mates.
Guy Southern