Drink Banks.
It’s a simple enough suggestion, but what does it mean?
It might mean drinking an incredibly dialled in lager. Or it might refer to a hazy IPA that’s a wonderful showcase of hops. Often, it means drinking a big and rich pastry beer. But drinking Banks always means enjoying the works of a small, family-run brewery.
That brewery kicked off in Seaford, in Melbourne’s outer south-east, in 2016 and is the work of Chris and Penny Farmer. The brewery’s always been very much a family affair too, with the brewery named after their dog and that pet in turn named after Adam Banks, the Mighty Ducks’ star player. Initially you might have known them as Mr Banks but after a run in with Matthew McConaughey in 2021 (yes, the actor), they became just Banks.
The brewery launched following Chris’ decade spent obsessively homebrewing while Penny’s background in accounting made her well positioned to handle the financial side of the brewery. After spending a few years mulling it over, the couple decided to launch their own brewery and the Banks mission has always been about striving for brewing perfection, while having a good time about it too.
Over the years, those beers became increasingly creative and boundary-pushing, with the brewers' talent for creating high ABV hazies and oat cream IPAs, in particular, making them one of the most sought after brands for the country's beer chasers. But among the experimentation, new hops, hop products and heavy pastry stouts, Banks has also built a quieter reputation for the quality of their lagers, with Foam being a house favourite among team Crafty Pint.
Banks might be a small brewery, but that crafty love has seen their beers enjoyed across the country, with their tall tins a common site in independent retailers with their finger on the pulse of what’s exciting beer drinkers.
But undoubtedly the best place to enjoy those beers is at their Seaford home which is a modern, light and open industrial space which has been embraced by the people of Melbourne's south-east as wholeheartedly as beer fans from further afield have fallen for the Banks beers. Head in and you can enjoy the full lineup of Banks beers that fire out from their 25-hectolitre brewhouse alongside delightful hand-stretched pizzas.
You’ll often find a fair number of local families at the venue, and that’s very much by design too with a substantial outdoor space and playground making it the kind of taproom that kids love as much as their haze head parents.
Given its location at the gateway to the Mornington Peninsula, it’s also a handy stop for visitors making their way to and from the local beaches, wineries and breweries. And, given it’s also only a short walk from the nearest train station, it’s not uncommon to witness beer fans from further afield wandering lost through this outer-suburban industrial lot wondering which converted panel beaters will be the one they are seeking.
Drink the mighty Banks. It’s a simple enough suggestion and it’s a mighty fine idea too.
