Just a stone's throw away from Margaret River’s town centre, nestled among towering Karri trees, sits Margaret River Brewhouse. Although it's one of many breweries in WA’s greater South West, Margaret River Brewhouse acts as a hub within the famed winery region for locals and tourists alike.
With a longstanding reputation as the ever-reliable people's pub, the brewhouse frequently finds itself bustling with those visiting for any number of attractions, including the thriving craft beer scene itself.
Margaret River Brewhouse has also undergone some considerable evolution since it first started serving quality craft beer, honest food and genuine hospitality to the local community. There’s been a rename and a rebrand, along with an expansion into canned products that saw their core beers and select seasonals gain wider distribution.
It's a continual evolution too. If anyone thought they'd hit their sweet spot, so to speak, think again: as 2022 draws to a close, they're in the process of more than doubling the size of their brewery, a process that will give them the ability to surpass on million litres per annum – no mean feat for a humble, family-owned operation.
For the three families behind the brewery and venue, their “If you build it, they will come” approach has become a thriving validation of vision and belief, aided in no small part by the reputation they soon gained for both consistency and originality.
As for the venue you can walk to from Margaret River's bustling centre, you find it nestled behind an iconic 1940s weatherboard cottage, overlooking a terraced lawn area and children’s play area. It’s close enough to town to be easily accessible, but far enough away to retain a secluded, picturesque ambience.
Within the airy space is a bar pouring 12 beers and an often busy open kitchen that pumps out approachable but creative plates, designed for dining within the relaxed surrounds with beer in hand. Think rich and spicy tomato sauce-laced mussels and classically-styled beef burgers or fish and chips, or if you're feeling more adventurous, shoot for the decadent cheeseburger roti or ever-popular red duck leg curry.
Of the beers on tap, seven are core range including the famed Kolsch, ginger beer and oatmeal stout. Seasonals are consistent high performers: their elite-level Panther Cream (a barrel-aged imperial stout) is a regular trophy-winner, while hop-forward offerings like 8 Ball double IPA and In The Pines NEIPA are brewed on the reg thanks to their growing cult status among hopheads.
For Margaret River Brewhouse, the overriding MO has always been to brew great beer while supporting the local, tourist, and homebrewing communities. Since launching, the Brewhouse, as its affectionately known by the locals, has not only ticked those boxes but assured itself a position atop the list of South West craft breweries to visit thanks to a commitment to crowd-pleasing hospitality and welcoming accessibility.
So next time you're out Margaret River way, ensure you find time to book (essential) a table and lean in to the southwest lifestyle: relax, have a few beers, and just take it all in…
Jono Outred
