They say you can’t please everyone. But Coolum Beer Co sure comes close.
This is a spot that suits craft beer geeks who want well-balanced IPAs and traditional European styles, tradies who want to unwind with a few pints of mid-strength, and non-beer drinkers who want a decent meal with a glass of wine. Not to mention families with kids who want to play on the grass, a dog that wants to run around, and parents who want to take a breather and sit back with a quiet(ish) drink.
A brewery that appeals to all kinds of people is a special thing. What makes it possible is having a team of owners where each person brings their own experience, skills and perspectives to the table – sort of like the crew from a good heist film. But instead of the The Hacker, The Cat Burglar and The Inside Man, the Coolum Beer crew is made up of The Veterans, The Brewer, The Builder, The Local Connection, and The Hospo Gun.
The Veterans. For John and Cara, this isn’t their first rodeo; they bring invaluable experience from their other successful brewpub, Noosa Hinterland Brewing.
The Brewer. Jesse pursues perfection in his beer recipes, and has a sixth sense for what the punters of Coolum Beer Co are looking for.
The Local Connection. Rhod lives and breathes Coolum; he knows what locals and visitors are looking for, and spotted the opportunity for something different to the other venues in the area.
The Builder. Coolum Beer Co could have ended before it began when the costs of building materials and labour skyrocketed, but Mick – another Coolum local – came on board as an owner and made it all work.
The Hospo Gun. Ryan makes sure the food offerings stand up to the high quality of the beer, and gives customers a great experience whether it’s their first visit or their hundredth.
Bring them together, and you’ve got the goods for a brewery that does it all. It’s an impressive feat, but when you see how they do it, it seems obvious. They’re not trying to reinvent the wheel. They just make a damn good wheel.
The beers are spot-on, since Jesse’s a stickler for nailing each style he turns his hand to. Ten taps offer up sessionable core range beers and rotating special releases: a nice variety without the overwhelm of choice. There’s also a ginger beer and cider on tap, a tidy curation of Queensland wines, and a handful of Aussie spirits. On the food side, there’s a focus on approachable fare designed to go well with a schooner in the a beer garden. It’s a relatively simple menu that drills down on being high quality: think fresh ingredients from local suppliers, fried chicken that’s hand-breaded to order, and locally smoked meat on the burgers and tacos. No frozen schnitties here.
Then there’s the venue itself: it’s playful and spacious, and again, seems to have something for everyone. It’s first and foremost a brewery, so the stainless steel tanks standing proudly in one corner of the space. It has a coastal vibe different to the sea-green-and-driftwood-chic you see elsewhere, with sunshine-y orange and highlights of yellow, navy and aqua. It’s set up with seating options that offer different experiences: picnic tables outside if you want to enjoy the fresh air, an eye-catching round bar if you want to chat with the bartender, a mezzanine level if you want to look out over the room.
And central to all of this is the sense of community. That includes exhibitions by local visual artists, live tunes by up-and-coming musicians, and events for local community groups. But it also rolls out into each and every interaction in the venue. You can have a taster at the bar while you chat with the staff. You can have a proper conversation at your table, with no TV screens showing sports to distract you. You might even see Rhod giving Jesse a ribbing when he nerds out over the technical nuances of a helles, or Jesse slinging back that Rhod’s never tasted any beer except the session ale (which, to be fair, has won them a few gold medals).
Because that’s the secret ingredient that runs through Coolum Beer Co: the people. Of course the team pours passion and energy into making excellent beer and food, but that’s all in the name of keeping people at the centre. That’s why this venue works equally well for Friday knock-offs or Sunday sessions, a fun date night or dinner after a beach day.
When the people come first, it’s easy to have a beer, have a laugh, and have a good time - whoever you are.
Mick Wüst
