The Crafty Dozen – May 2017

May 5, 2017, by Crafty Pint

The Crafty Dozen – May 2017


With the arrival of King River Brewing on the site earlier this week, we realised we'd overshot the mark. Whenever we reach another dozen new brewery, venue and bottleshop listings in our directories, we like to pool them in one article in case anyone missed out on them being announced first time around. And King River made it 13 since the last update.

So, before we get too far ahead of ourselves, below you'll find the latest Crafty dozen businesses to find a home on the site.

Also, don't forget to check out the new Crafty Recommends feature we launched this week. You'll find all of these breweries, bars and bottleshops on there, details of their Crafty Cabal offers, forthcoming events and articles we've written that feature them. You'll find other articles – Crafty Crawls, Brew & A's and so on – pinned to the location of the businesses featured within too.


Odyssey Craft Brewing (VIC) – The brewing arm spawned from pioneering Surf Coast beer bar, Odyssey Tavern, threatens to overshadow the venue. The bottled range expands to five this month, with the flagship Calypso Pale joined by a Beach Ale, red ale, coffee stout and double IPA. The last of these joined the Calypso in taking our People's Choice at the Great Australian Beer Festival earlier in the year.


The Basement (QLD) – You could be forgiven for not expecting to find much craft beer in Nambour. But the Sunshine Coast has been experiencing quite the change in recent years, both in terms of new breweries opening and more venues deciding to support them. The Basement, opened by the same team that's behind Your Mates Brewing, is a dive bar-cum-speakeasy with great beer on tap, a turntable spinning tunes and a community vibe.


Bodriggy Brewing (VIC) – As anyone who came to our relaunch party in the warehouse that will eventually house Bodriggy's brewery, there are big plans afoot. Across the road from co-owned Dr Morse, the intention is to build a sizeable brewery alongside a vast bar complete with beer garden and terrace overlooking Johnston Street. While they work through the final stages of approval, you can get your hands on beers they're brewing at various mate's breweries around Victoria.


Harvest Cellars (VIC) – After a lifetime setting up and running stores for others, Danny Arsic decided to do things for himself. He took over a corner spot on a roundabout in Belgrave South and set about filling every available spot with quality booze – with a strong focus on beer. Such is his eagerness to do the right thing by his customers and those he buys from you'll find a spectacular array of limited releases, often sourced direct from interstate breweries when he sees something he fancies. 


Stein's Taphouse (SA) – It was on a visit to a few regional SA breweries that the Crafty team was first worded up about Stein's. It wasn't long open at the time, but was bringing something quite different to the Barossa: the former owners of the Brunswick Hotel in Melbourne moved to SA to be closer to family and, inspired by a trip through the US, decided to open a craft beer bar like those they'd enjoyed overseas.


Social Bandit (VIC) – Back in his days at Jamieson, Jeff Whyte brought out some pretty pioneering beers, such as The Beast IPA and a raspberry pale ale. These days, you'll find him and wife Jeanette at Social Bandit in Mansfield, their brewpub where he's kept busy filling the dozen taps with everything from IPAs to sours. When you call in, check out their tasty line in pizzas too.


Great Ocean Road Brewhouse (VIC) – Prickly Moses has been brewing in the Otway Ranges for years and was long one of the few independent options you'd find anywhere on the Great Ocean Road. These days it operates a couple of brewhouses along the coast too, with this its first. You'll find all the Prickly Moses beer and ciders on tap and around 200 other beers in the fridges at one of the famous tourist route's oldest pubs. 


Caboose (WA) – The Flying Scotsman has long been a Perth hospo icon, welcoming all-comers from its spot atop Mt Lawley's gentle rise. Late last year, the owners added another string to their bow in the shape of Caboose, a bar with quality beer at its heart. The mural covered venue has a dozen taps in the wall behind the bar, hosts regular beer launches and events, offers a menu of beer-friendly food and pumps out classic rock and hip hop. What's not to like?


Jimmy's Tap & Barrel (VIC) – Slowly but surely, we're getting to the point where, no matter where you are in Melbourne, you shouldn't have to travel too far to find decent beer. Jimmy's Tap & Barrel opened this year to sate the desires of those seeking quality malt-based boozes in and around Ascot Vale: 12 taps, well stocked fridges, heaps of whisky, live music and a welcoming neighbourhood vibe. As for Jimmy... that's the house dog. 


Foreigner Brewing Co (VIC) – Foreigner brings a little bit of the Czech Republic to Brunswick. Opened by Czech mates who enlisted the help of a man with two decades experience brewing at Pilsner Urquell to get them up and running, you'll find a few traditional lagers on tap alongside more contemporary creations. It all happens in a Brunswick warehouse that's open to the public Thursday to Saturday. 


Colonial Brewing Co Port Melbourne (VIC) – Colonial Brewing has been brewing fine beers out of Margaret River since way back in 2014. Last year, it took over the former Matilda Bay home in Port Melbourne and stepped up its output across the East Coast. The new home also gave them a new venue to showcase their entire range of beers and cider, with visitors able to pull up a sofa, bench or stool and watch the brewers at work while they enjoy the fruits of their labours.


The Craft & Co (VIC) – When it first opened its doors, we listed The Craft & Co as a venue as the multi-faceted space in Collingwood combines eatery, deli, distillery and function space. It's also had a brewery at the rear since opening and, as of this year, has been building up its own range of in-house brews and sending them out into the wider world too. Thus, it's now on Crafty as a brewery too.


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