Like many Australian craft breweries, Froth was born from a dream: a dream which came to fruition when Froth Craft Brewery opened the doors of its Exmouth brewpub for the first time in February 2017. By opening Exmouth’s inaugural brewery, they became the first new brewery between Perth and Matso's in Broome – a span of 2700km and a good chunk of WA’s coastline.
Inspired by a mission to bring craft beer, quality food, culture and art to the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef region, for Froth’s trio of founders – Phil Gray, Tyler Little and Pete Firth – this ambitious project to bring craft brewing to the Pilbara and Gascoyne regions quickly resulted in the creation of a buzzing community hub as well as a gamut of local and state awards.
The project has grown far beyond Exmouth too, and not just in terms of their reputation for putting on a good time. Froth has since expanded to include a second location, again starting the first brewery in the regional city of Bunbury more than 1,500 kilometres to the south, which you can read about here.
As for their original Exmouth home, it remains a wildly popular spot among both tourists and locals alike. The venue itself is a quirkily repurposed and refurbished space in the town centre, dotted with recycled materials and award-winning murals, that exudes beach shack vibes and rustic charm, whether you’re hanging in the sky bar or beer garden. And, from the off, the team has put great focus on placing Froth at the heart of the community.
The aim has been to exist at the forefront of the arts and entertainment scene in Exmouth, hosting and celebrating live music, comedy, movie screenings, workshops, exhibitions, beer yoga classes, community presentations, beergustations, baby-racing Diaper Derbies, environmental awareness events, and – well, you get the message. Run entirely off solar power and incorporating green operating solutions, they aim to embody a forward-thinking, morally responsible business that minimises its impact on the environment.
When it comes to beverages, Froth Exmouth has craft beer and other such drinks well and truly covered. Sixteen taps regularly rotate between core range beers, seasonal offerings, and guest pours, while an extensive and varied list of other boozy and not-so-boozy drinks are on the menu too, including creative cocktails, slushies and local wines.
Although the majority of production has been relocated to Froth’s newer and bigger Bunbury facility, their original five hectolitre kit at Exmouth is still tasked with producing seasonal and experimental beers under head brewer Tyler Little’s guidance. Look out for lagers, pale and amber ales, refreshing fruited sours suited for the tropics, stouts, IPAs, sessionable mid-strength options and more.
As for grub, their all-day Modern Australian tavern-style approach keeps things simple while aiming to satisfy a wide range of tastes. The likes of slow-cooked pork ribs with smoky BBQ sauce, freshly caught fish and chips, burgers and crispy calamari all feature among a menu packed with fresh, seasonal produce that’s crying out to be enjoyed with a fresh beer in hand.
Froth’s Exmouth home was created via a process of refurbishing, reimagining and revitalising an existing space, and that evolution and constant desire to improve offerings has continued since those first beers were poured in 2017. What hasn’t changed, however, is the commitment to serving the community – whether that’s locals or the constant stream of tourists from across the globe drawn to the region’s natural beauty.
Central to that has been the focus on producing quality craft beer to be enjoyed within a vibrant, welcoming hub that embraces and nurtures the local arts scene, providing a platform for local, aspiring artists while showcasing touring acts with higher profiles. And, in following that path, the Froth founders have not only created a venue with a distinct personality even within WA’s ever-busier craft beer landscape, but also a blueprint for its sibling venue in Bunbury – and maybe more to follow.
Jono Outred
