The brewery that kickstarted the craft beer scene in Australia nearly 30 years ago opened the doors to its latest incarnation this week. Matilda Bay moved its brewery from the Garage in Dandenong to a new site in Port Melbourne earlier this year and has now welcomed drinkers into its Brewery Bar. Open seven days a week, the concrete, brick and wooden bench affair overlooking the brewery promises both the full range of Matilda Bay beers as well as beer friendly nibbles – warm marinated olives, dips, cheeses.
"We're now settled in at Port Melbourne," says head brewer Scott Vincent. "The whole team has been putting in long hours, not leaving any stone unturned to make sure the bar is a beauty for all our friend. We've tested all the taps, tasted the entire menu, and sat in every stool. It's been thirsty work.
"The best bit is the three taps that run from the tanks, straight into schooner glasses. The liquid pouring from them will be unfiltered, unpasteurised brews, something a bit special. Nothing tastes better than beer straight from a tank."
Matilda Bay was founded back in the early 1980s in WA by the group of friends that turned Fremantle’s Freemasons Hotel into the Sail & Anchor and began pouring the country’s first craft beers. After enjoying great success with their beers and a number of venues across the country, the brewery was bought by CUB, becoming the company’s craft beer arm. It moved its operation to Victoria in 2005, spending more than six years at the Garage before this latest move.
The new venue has room for just 30 for now, although we understand there are plans for a much larger capacity in the future. It sits inside an old Cadbury factory on Bertie Street, just a few minutes from the Melbourne CBD. There will also free brewery tours daily. If you’d like to take one, call or email ahead – (03) 9673 4545 or beer@matildabay.com – to book in.
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 8.30am to 7pm
Saturday to Sunday: 10.30am to 7pm
