The Shoalhaven region is a happy-hour haven, with a growing number of local breweries and distilleries offering visitors a refreshing taste of NSW’s South Coast.
- 4 min read
Tara Distillery
At Tara Distillery, a craft distiller surrounded by sheep and cattle properties near Nowra, not only can you and your crew try a fascinating range of hand-crafted gins, whiskeys and vodkas. You can also take a fun behind-the-scenes group tour: sitting under the burnished-copper pot still (she’s called Gráinne, after the Irish goddess of the harvest), you’ll learn about Tara’s spirits, which celebrate both Irish history and fresh-foraged ingredients from around the Shoalhaven. You’ll also get an insight into the distiller’s sustainable ethos, which includes feeding the spent grain from Tara’s whiskey, poitín (Irish moonshine) and vodka mashes to local cattle.
Takeaway top pick: Snap up a bottle of the Tara Pot Still Gin – this award-winning spirit is infused with 17 botanicals including sea lettuce foraged from local beaches.
Tara Distillery, Nowra Hill
Flamin Galah Brewing Co
Nothing says “lazy weekend afternoon with mates” quite like sitting in the sun, cold brew in hand. A giant beer garden is one of the reasons you’ll want to make a pit stop at Flamin Galah Brewing Co, located within Huskisson’s industrial estate not far from the world-famous white sands of Jervis Bay. Mosey up to the bar with its galah-pink seats and peruse the selection of brews (a recent brand relaunch means the tinnies are works of art) before you head back to the beer garden or to the tables out front. The on-site food truck, The Nest, serves up shareable fare like battered-flathead tacos, vegan quesadillas and bao buns.
Takeaway top pick: Nab a few cans of the best-selling FGPA (Flamin Galah Pale Ale) featuring a laid-back surfer on the tinnie; dog lovers might vote for the XPA for the hound-inspired artwork alone.
Flamin Galah, Huskisson - Credit: Katie Rivers
Jervis Bay Brewing Co
Just around the corner you'll find Jervis Bay Brewing Co. Offering a relaxed, dog-friendly vibe with a sunny beer garden, this brewery is B-corp certified. In winter, get cosy next to their fire or tuck into eats from their on-site 5 Little Pigs Food Truck all year round. Live music is on the calendar alongside open mic nights and trivia.
Takeaway top pick: Their Low Vis Hazy Pale Ale is popular, with take-home options including growlers, squealers and cans.
Jervis Bay Brewing Co., Huskisson
Swordfish Brewing
Perched on the shores of Sussex Inlet, Swordfish Brewing offers the perfect spot to savour small-batch craft beers, local gins and fresh South Coast produce. Enjoy our signature swordfish ceviche or a wood-fired pizza while watching boats sail by. With a rotating à la carte menu focused on local seafood, this waterside brewpub is rich in coastal flavours.
Takeaway top pick: A crowd favourite, fill a growler with their Christians Legacy Lager.
Swordfish Brewing, Sussex Inlet - Credit: Shoalhaven Tourism
South Yeast Brewing
Started by twins Simon and Joey Panucci in 2020, South Yeast Brewing, an industrial-estate microbrewery in North Nowra, pours some fascinating frothies. Past creations include a banana milkshake IPA while the current tap line-up might include Cherry Bomb sour ale. The brothers used to brew elixirs of another kind at Nowra’s hipster Hyper Hyper Coffee, so it’s no surprise they nominate their Hyper Stout, a coffee chocolate stout infused with Hyper Hyper’s European-style Blend 6 espresso, as the brew they feel best represents them and their deep connection to the community. The duo know how to bring the party vibe, too: a rotating line-up of food trucks and musicians make South Yeast a whole load of frothy fun.
Takeaway top pick: After settling on a favourite, fill a growler or squealer to take home.
South Yeast Brewing, North Nowra- Credit: Andy Zakeli
Old Salt Distillery
For a menu that is just as good as the beers on tap head to Old Salt Distillery in South Nowra. Chef-owners Terry and Michelle Robinson have perfected their small-batch seltzers, beers, spirits and liqueurs. Unlike most industrial-estate brewers and distillers, their modern space features an open kitchen, wood-fired grill and a menu that hints at this couple’s fine-dining past (they both worked at Sepia in Sydney). Order a couple of plates of the barbecued corn with corn puree and lime butter while you explore the inventive drink offerings: think house-made sodas such as blackberry, ginger beer and pineapple-apple; fresh-fruit seltzers such as a strawberry and lime hard seltzer; and seasonal craft beer releases such as cherry sour and milk-chocolate stout.
Takeaway top pick: Fill a squealer with the Belgian Pale Ale, the cherry sour (made with 20kg of hand-pitted cherries) or the ginger-beer-with-a-punch.
Old Salt Distillery, Nowra- Credit: Katie Rivers
Dangerous Ales Brewery
Tucked within the Milton Hotel is Dangerous Ales Brewery, an outfit so on-point with its tinnie artwork that some devotees have turned the illustrations into tattoos. More interested in drink than ink? Try the avant-garde Lemon, Lime and Why So Bitter? sour ale or the Backyard Pale Ale. The brewery’s inventiveness knows no limits; a previous release includes the Jam on Toast Dark, which uses a local sourdough from Lagom Bakers, and word is they’re working on an oyster stout. It’s a fabulous place to while away an afternoon with a bunch of mates: find a table on the deck to sample all that inventiveness. The food offerings also veer towards the unexpected – order a couple of plates of sardines on toast and chicken katsu to share.
Takeaway top pick: Plump for a few tins of Uncle Damo’s Oaths, a stout with chocolate and toffee notes.
Dangerous Ales Brewery, Milton - Credit: Katie Rivers
Husky Brewing
A family-owned and operated micro-brewery, the people pouring the beer at Husky Brewing are also the people making the beer and the owners of the husky dogs that gave the brewery its name. Located on-site in South Nowra, the Hungry Husky Food Truck serves up pizzas Thursday to Saturday, with lots of vegetarian options available.
Takeaway top pick: With ever-changing taps, keep an eye out for the popular smoked lager, Smokey Joe.
Husky Brewing, South Nowra - Credit: Husky Brewing South Nowra
Jervis Bay Distilling Co
A small, award-winning distillery in Huskisson crafting artisanal spirits inspired by the Australian summer, Jervis Bay Distilling Co's goods taste like a holiday. Their small-batch creations blend vibrant local ingredients with native botanicals, all distilled on-site. Visitors can enjoy tastings at the cellar door on select days or book a group experience for a deeper dive into their flavourful range.
Takeaway top pick: Grab a can or two of Negroni Spritz or a bottle of their signature citrus gin.
Jervis Bay Distilling Co., Huskisson - Credit: Jervis Bay Distilling Co.
