Surry Hill and Redfern might sit just outside Sydney's centre but, somehow, the two suburbs on Gadigal land don't feel like they're next to a busy business district. And, despite their proximity, they feel very different too. 

The narrow streets of terrace houses, the upmarket pubs, cafés and all manner of other businesses are Surry Hills to a tee. Generally speaking, it's a well-off 'burb where residents aren't afraid of taking up the odd environmental or social justice cause, and frequently seek out their locale's ever-spinning rotation of foodie destinations.

As for Redfern, while it may have been gentrifying for years, its roots are deeply multicultural; even if developers have managed to get their greasy hands on many areas, pockets of creativity remain – as too does the area's deep connection to Indigenous Australian culture.

Easy to get to and explore – provided you don’t mind the odd steep hill – Redfern and Surry Hills offer an amazing variety of places to drink beer. There are classic pubs done up with a vast array of taps, modern venues with contemporary menus, and specialist craft destinations for the sort of hardcore beer elite that read online guides to drinking craft beer (thank you for supporting independent journalism). 

What makes this Crafty Crawl great is that it’s doable in one evening or, better yet, over a long and lazy afternoon that stretches into the night. Aside from getting there and getting home, there is no need to travel any other way than on foot. 

Stay fueled with the food recommendations and get ready for an unforgettable crafty crawl from Benedict "Benny" Kennedy-Cox and Kelsey Mortimer.

Mountain Culture Redfern

Mountain kids all seem to make the move down to the Inner West with their codependent friends (in fact, the two writers who worked on this piece are both guilty of this), so it’s no surprise MCBC have followed the same route. 

The old Atomic brewing site has been revamped by the Mountain Culture crew and welcomes the people with sparkling neon lights that make me feel like I’m in a schooner of pale ale. The crowd can be a mix of hi-vis tradies and corporate office workers getting a head start on weekend bevies, although one has to wonder if the Kathmandu puffer and hiking boots I spotted were there to check out the hanging ferns enlisted to bring nature back into the warehouse scene.

The walls feature pictures from Mountain Culture over the years to showcase just how incredible the brewery's rise has been, while the occasional cockatoo tap handle ties into their roots in the bush. Speaking of which, 16 taps offer the bread and butter of Mountain Culture, including NEIPAs, hazy pales, oat creams and core range favourites. 

You'll even find the brewery's flagship beer – and the country's favourite according to many a popular vote – Status Quo served in different forms, including a range of hops and fruit. On the drinks front more widely, there's an element of the brewery elevating the game thanks to their cocktails and wine, while if you're a fan of barrel-aged beers, the sight of oak will certainly drive excitement for what's to come at Redfern. 

The food moves beyond the traditional MCBC format of burgers and frickles (don’t worry: they're still on the menu) thanks to crispy skin chicken, chorizo mozzarella balls and "Fancy Kebabs" on offer after 9pm (here's a team that knows you shouldn't need to make another stop on the walk home).

Even from the first visit, stopping in certainly felt like this Mountains' gal was returning home. Kelsey Mortimer 

Find the Blue Mountains in the inner city at 158 Regent Street, Redfern.

The Noble Hops

In the middle of Redfern Street, The Noble Hops is the after-work drinks spot that converts the "Do they have Coopers?" casual into the "Do they have Cantillon?" fanatic*. 

With exposed brick and a relaxed atmosphere, you’ll fit right into Noble Hops like their beers pour into their special glasses from one of the ten taps. You can always find the updated list of currently-pouring kegs online but expect to see a range of seasonal Australian and international beers covering a range of interesting styles to suit any crafty mood, whether it be an imported helles lager for Oktoberfest, a hoppy US-brewed IPA or a rich local stout. 

You can order whatever food you like from neighbouring businesses and enjoy it at the venue, ideally with a glass of that lambic in hand. Benny Kennedy-Cox

Get noble and hoppy at 125 Redfern Street, Redfern.

* The answer to that second question is: yes, sometimes, just ask. 

Crafty Cabal Member offer at The Noble Hops: Happy Hour All Day Every Day

Dove & Olive

Part of the pub boom that targeted the lucrative corporate lunch market, Dove & Olive is still going strong since 2012. Green, welcoming and full of some old-school touches, Dove & Olive feels lived in enough to be cheerful and elegant enough for you to order a plate of duck spring rolls. 

A long running commitment to craft beer has long been part of the Dove & Olive offering, best exemplified by their two house brews, a helles lager and a session pale ale. The always-fresh house beers are brewed in collaboration with Sauce who usually have something sweet and a little more dessert-like on tap too.

Sydney breweries are well represented with beers from the likes of Sydney Brewery, Willie the Boatman, Akasha, Mountain Culture and Sunday Road appearing on tap. Whatever beer you order, I can assure you it will go well with their crispy homemade potato scallops with sriracha mayo. BKC

Tuck into the delights of Dove & Olive at 156 Devonshire St, Surry Hills.

Keg & Brew

With a name like Keg & Brew you’d be expecting a good beer menu. Walk through the front bar and your presumptions are immediately confirmed. Upstairs you'll find decidedly less-divey dinner tables and a lovely rooftop bar but craft lovers need look no further than the main bar to get their fill.

The stuffed heads of great big American beasts look across the squashy leather ground floor to the dark wood of the centre bar where there are more than 30 taps of beer. 

Glossing over the mass-brewed offerings, there's a lot on offer at Keg & Brew with every style seemingly offered by a different brewery. Brewers from across Sydney, NSW and even German favourite Weihenstephaner Dunkel were pouring when I called in so it's safe to say that if you like brews from kegs, you'll be well looked after on this corner of Surry Hills. BKC

Try all things Keg & Brew by heading to 26 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills.

Sydney Brewery Surry Hills

Ever been by Sydney’s Central Station and wondered where to get a beer in a place that’s not a dive backpacker bar? Well, I'm here to tell you that a quick jaunt from Central will lead to Sydney Brewery's Surry Hills brewpub. 

Attached to the Rydges Sydney Central, on-site brewery tours divulge the history of a team that continually excels at awards; a look into the past reveals it is not the first brewery to hit this particular block; in 1826, Albion Brewery was on the same corner and had bragging rights as the largest brewery in Sydney at the time. It later evolved into a flour mill then, after a fire burnt the entire building down, part of Tooheys Brewery, a brand you might have heard of once or twice. 

Twelve taps and seven on-site tanks include the core range and regularly-shuffling limited releases, while an extensive food menu includes bistro-style fair of burgers and pizzas that are excellent for soaking up any wins made from the brewpub's “Wheel of ‘Pour’tune”. You'll understand what I mean when you make it inside; run the gauntlet and see if you win that free schooner or an extra crisp H2O! 

The beers are joined by ciders and other drops from their Hunter Valley Lovedale site, while an accompanying cocktail menu caters to those needing a reprieve from the beers, although I personally will struggle to tire of their Lager (which has long led Sydney Brewery's dazzling array of awards). KM

Sydney Brewery Surry Hills is at 28 Albion St, Surry Hills

Yulli’s

Perhaps the best place to stop for lunch, dinner or a few share plates on the Crawl is Yulli’s in the Surry Hills gluten-exclusion zone of Crown Street.

Their South Sydney brewery has long been one of my favourite breweries to eat at, while the Surry Hills venue which first bore the Yulli's name (and was an early supporter of independent brewers) has been thriving in a competitive area of Sydney foodie culture for aeons thanks to a constantly-updated, innovative menu.

The staff will show you to a table and assist you through entirely-vegan menu items that take inspiration from South East Asian and Mediterranean cuisines. Pair some mini Vietnamese pancakes with a Karaoke Kingu Rice Lager or some Korean fried broccolini with a refreshing Amanda Mandarin IPA and you'll fully understand Yulli's lingering appeal. BKC

You'll find Yulli's at 417 Crown St, Surry Hills

Taphouse Sydney

A skinny dagger of a pub, Taphouse Sydney was first brought to life as a craft beer venue by the founders of The Local Taphouse in St Kilda. It's been through a few changes since but still features the tiled façade of pubs that have long been in the business of keeping crowds of drinkers well hydrated.

Lived-in as a TV room with an ornate ceiling and furnishings, Taphouse features 20 taps of mostly Sydney-brewed beers. You can sip on something as light as the Curly Lewis Session Ale or a fruity Grifter Serpents Kiss watermelon pilsner. There are lagers and pales by Hawke's and Mountain Culture's Status Quo but, for my money, I'm a fan of their Taphouse special: Hazy Love IPA brewed in collaboration with Young Henrys.

\If the stars have aligned and you find yourself at Taphouse on a Wednesday, get in for a $12 OG pork chop, fried Hong Kong style with rice, chilli and a curry so good it should be added to the tap list. BKC

Taphouse Sydney is the sliver of a thing at 122 Flinders St, Darlinghurst

Bitter Phew

Up an easily-missed staircase on iconic Oxford Street is the type of taproom of which daydreams about winning the lotto are made. Personally, rather than be the owner/manager of a dream beer venue like Bitter Phew, I’d rather chip away at my fortune sitting at the bar each week. 

The knowledgeable staff will have tried every beer on the 12 taps, although they might have to compete with the locals when it comes time to make a recommendation. Of course, the taps are constantly changing too. Usually, there is an easy-drinking handful, which included a lager, pale and brown ale by Reckless Brewing during my visit. Local and international are both represented on tap where you can expect to see barrel-aged beers and sherberty sours, decadent pastry stouts and IPAs with enough potency to launch a space shuttle.

Bottle releases from breweries such as Wildflower are available by the glass and many more Rare Phew bottles of Grand Cru releases, farmhouse ales, and barrel-aged ales are available in bottles to share with your Crawl crew – or the friends you made while ordering.

Head up the stairs at 1/137 Oxford St, Darlinghurst

Royal Albert Hotel

The coloured glass windows and narrow main bar give this pub on the corner a rather historic sort of feel. English accents are a constant presence, as are literary types with thick novels full of markers. 

The Royal Albert has historical authenticity in spades, being part of Surry Hills since 1927. One part of the pub's more recent history is their focus on craft beer, even if this reporter must admit that, at time of writing, it's not as strong as it once was.

That said, there remains a number of rotating taps as well as a pair of ornate hand-pumps in the front bar that always pour craft beer served low carbonated and served ambient. Usually, there is a Bentspoke beer brewed specifically tfor said purposes and, on my last visit, a Boatrocker Ramjet Stout with red wine, surely one of the strangest pints being pumped anywhere in Sydney that evening.

Climb the hill to Royal Albert Hotel, 140 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills

Other Options

Still thirsty and in the hood? Then you might find what you're after at this array of delectable spots...

• Sneaky Possum, 86 Abercrombie St, Chippendale: Technically in Chippendale, but close enough to warrant inclusion, this small bar has a rotating tap lineup of craft beer and regular brewery showcases, plus an upstairs performance space.
• Bearded Tit, 183 Regent St, Redfern: This queer institution – or "queer bar, gallery and creative space" as they put it – has more of a cocktail focus when it comes to the drinks, but amid the mind-boggling lineup of events, you'll find some Sydney-centric crafty offerings.
• Tokyo Bird,Commonwealth St & Belmore Ln, Surry Hills: A Japanese whisky bar with upmarket share food and imported Japanese craft beer from Hitachino and Ise Kadoya. 
• The Dock, 182 Redfern St, Redfern: The original Redfern dive bar with an often odd assortment of local and imported tins plus Moon Dog beers on tap.
• BART Jr., 92 Pitt St, Redfern NSW 2016 - Cocktails, pasta, steak & fries are the go at this swanky Redfern bistro which features a few local tap beers from breweries such as Grifter and Batch.

Crafty Crawls are the name we give to suburb and, on occasion, regional guides; you can find more from across Australia here and download the free Crafty Pint app to find all the above venues and hundreds of others, plus events, special deals and more.

About Benedict

Benedict "Benny" Kennedy-Cox is a comedy/travel writer and craft beer enthusiast from a lovely little harbour village called Sydney. His dreams include opening his own taproom, hosting his own travel beer show, and to one day be able to pay someone to write these for him instead of doing it himself in third person.

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The beer(s) or moment (s) that turned you onto good beer:

One two punch of receiving a Beer Book for Christmas when I was just about to be 18 and getting a mixed set of international beers from my aunt for my 19th birthday.

You've got three beers to turn someone else on to good beer; what are they and why?

• Serpents Kiss by Grifter – This will help me figure out if they like sweet. A pilsner with a bit of watermelon, lovely, perfect one to start off an arvo at the pub, refreshing and tasty.

• Pale Ale by Mountain Culture – Lots of big juicy and floral flavours. If they don't like this we might be out of luck!

• Roast Pear Sour and Salted Caramel IPA Beer Blender by Urbanaut – Some people don't like these but, in my opinion, even non-beer drinkers can have the time of their life with a beer blender, and I reckon this one is the best.

The last beer you enjoyed:

RocknRoada Imperial Pastry Stout (14.6%) by Bacchus.

Three things that represent you:

• Being a smartarse and answering questions incorrectly

Articles by Benedict