10 South West breweries that do a fantastic lunch

Western Australia’s South West might be better known for its wine, but there are also many local breweries with restaurants. Not only can you sample fantastic local ales and lagers, you can also indulge in some of the region’s out-of-this-world food. You don’t even have to fancy a beer because there are also loads of beverage options too.

Here are the 10 breweries we recommend for a top-notch lunch.

Wild Hop Brewing Company

This walk-in venue is open from 11am to 6pm every day. There’s a playground for the kids and room for the dog, while you relax and eat as you look out over the lake. Not only is the beer thirst-quenchingly good, the food is definitely not an afterthought. We recommend starting with the Wild Hop beer tasting paddle paired with truffle jalapeño popcorn, before tucking into their incredible and eclectic lunch menu. Dishes such as Chinese-style pulled pork, Asian slaw and tonkatsu aioli, or share a Wildwood Platter with cured meats, smoked cheddar, pickles and bread. There are scrummy salads and seafood for the health-conscious, too. Our luxury rural property Wildwood Grove is within walking distance of this great venue.

Check out Wild Hop online

Eagle Bay Brewing Co

If you can tear yourself away from the beach, Eagle Bay Brewing Company is the perfect place for a spot of lunch in the picturesque Eagle Bay area. It opened its doors in 2010 and from day one, head chef Rupert Brown has been committed to local produce – straight from the brewery’s own kitchen garden, even! The big menu will satisfy even the fussiest family members and is filled with popular items like wood-fired pizzas, fish and chips, and lots of share plate options. And all of this over the most charming, chocolate-box view of the lush South West landscape.

Check them out online

Relaxing on the lawns after lunch at Eagle Bay Brewery looking out to Geographe Bay and Cape Naturaliste

BeerFarm

Voted Western Australia’s #1 brewery venue in 2019, Beer Farm is a fast favourite. Once upon a time, Metricup was prime dairy farming country. Just 30 km south-west of Busselton and 22 km north of Margaret River, this pretty little area is now home to wild animals, wineries, a chocolate factory, and now an outrageously-good brewery. BeerFarm has a farm-like feel, complete with a fireplace, dogs, and a slip-and-slide into the dam. This brewery is a popular stop for those wanting to experience, as the name suggests, both beer and a farm. Expect mostly share plates, full of yummy options like fish tacos, calamari, eggplant quinoa bites, and chargrilled chicken wings.
Perhaps even call in here for a refreshing beverage after mountain-biking at the Middle Earth tracks.

Check them out online

The Beerfarm, a stunning venue in Metricup

Bootleg Brewery

On the corner of Johnson and Pusey roads in Margaret River is rustic Bootleg Brewery. The menu here is seasonal, so it’s worth checking out the website before you go, but you’ll always find great traditional fare to suit every tastebud. Think beef and bacon pies and a fried Southern-style chicken burgers. It’s an idyllic setting, nestled amongst century-old trees. It’s the coolest, most laidback place in which to plonk yourself down and sample one of their awarding-winning beers, have a nibble, and a yarn with your friends.

Check them out online

Cowaramup Brewing Company

First opening their doors in 2006, this “brewpub” now offers six handcrafted ales and lagers, the most popular being the Cowaramup Pilsner, a German-style pilsner. Cowaramup Brewing Company has a real country vibe with a lovely view over the gently rolling hills and green grass in the distance. There’s a kids’ playground and lots of room to kick a football around. If you want a thoroughly pleasant lunch that’s a little calmer than other breweries, this is your place.

Check them online

Brewhouse

Another popular Margaret River watering hole, Brewhouse describes itself as “the town’s brewery”. It’s on the north bank of the Margaret River, amongst the karri trees and in the backyard of an old settler’s shack. With its ever-changing menu, regular music and events, and its range of lagers, pilsners, ales and stouts, Brewhouse has something to satisfy everybody. Grab a table or stretch out on the grass and enjoy their carefully thought-out dishes: sticky pork, duck curry, tempura tofu, and lemon ricotta with burnt honey on flatbread. Plus, they have a good selection of desserts for the sweet-toothed among us.

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Colonial Brewing Company

Colonial Brewing, which also has a presence in Melbourne, is on Osmington Road in Margaret River. With the opening of the eastern-states property, they now have the capacity to brew an incredible seven million litres. Lucky us, because their beer and cider is delicious. The property in Margaret River has an upbeat atmosphere, with regular live music and a gold course for a quick hit when you’re done eating and drinking.

Check them out online

Black Brewing

Black Brewing is much more than just a brewery. It’s also a distillery, a vintner and a restaurant. This brewery on Caves Road in Wilyabrup (between Margaret River and Yallingup) serves great casual cuisine. The inside is beautifully designed, it’s equally as lovely to stand out on the big veranda, which hangs over the water, with the sun warming your face. Plus there’s a playground for children.

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Gorgeous views across the lake at Black Brewing

Settlers Tavern & Margaret River Ale Company

Many of us know Settlers as the friendly local pub in Margret River, but what isn’t as well-known is that they brew their own hand-crafted boutique beer as the Margaret River Ale Co. Try their Day Tr’ipa India Pale Ale, or the Great White Ale which has a touch of orange peel, star anise, coriander seeds and juniper berries. This is unlike the other breweries in that it’s also the bustling tavern, so you’ll experience a different atmosphere here. There are loads of choices on the bistro menu, live music (around 150 live acts throughout the year), open mic nights, and lots more. Children are definitely welcome in the bistro area.

Check them out online

Boston Brewing Co.

Found in Denmark in the stunning Great Southern region, Boston Brewing Co. is one of a kind. Found nestled between ancient karri forests and the rugged, sparsely populated southern coastline, Boston’s “Brewpub” serves handcrafted beers and wines alongside an original lunch and evening menu. Many ingredients are drawn from the surrounding region, including Mount Barker quail and Denmark marron.

Great food and beer are a match made in heaven and make for a wonderful lazy afternoon in our beautiful South-West. Book a holiday today.

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