Burleigh Barrels Brewery, Distillery & Smokehouse

MEET THE UNBEERLIEVABLE NEW BURLEIGH WATERING HOLE

Burleigh Barrels Brewery, Distillery & Smokehouse is ale we need in our life.

If there’s one trend that we never want to end (besides the mum jean and the margarita), it’s the influx of breweries here on the Gold Coast. Our excitement doesn’t wane one iota when another ‘hops’ on the bandwagon, and this southern Gold Coast superstar (which lay dormant for over two years, but more on that later…) embodies why we’re bonkers for a brewery. Set in the postcode we know always delivers the cool, Burleigh Barrels Brewery, Distillery & Smokehouse is THE place to sink a ‘starch smoothie’, trading out the smoothie part for malt, hops and yeast (aka beer).

But don’t be fooled, it’s not just for the amber ale drinkers, as the eats, carefully crafted wine list and cracking cocktails are shut-up-good…as is the fit-out. With a brewtiful chilled coastal beach meets industrial brewery ambience, this reimagined former tavern gives the right amount of ‘just came off the beach’ feels.

For beer loving mates Pat McCarthy and Peter Trimble, it all started during a European mate-cation and don’t all the best stories start like this?! After visiting some Trappist breweries, staying in the odd beer-producing castle and sampling many of the secretly made local brews, they knew what they had to do. Back in Oz, they excitedly took the plunge and signed a lease… exactly three months prior to the pandemic. But, these eternal ‘hoptomists’ clung to their dream for two years, still paying rent and OMG is this not the ultimate commitment to the cause. Fast forward to now and whoomp here it is; a coastal-cool brewery well worth the wait.

Featuring indoor seating, a private dining and function room, outdoor undercover dining, a fully functioning brewery and a soon to be installed distillery. It’s proudly the only brewery/distillery on the Gold Coast which is fully licensed with a full-service kitchen (bravo!) cooking up a plethora of feeds infused with locally sourced ingredients. There is a core range of six beers brewed on the premises (under the careful eye of Head Brewer Chris), six rotating guest taps from other local breweries, wines by the bottle and glass (we’ll go the bottle thanks), and an extensive cocktail list. So much yes!

The signature Beef Brisket with 200g of eight-hour slow cooked beef brisket and South Carolina Sauce will blow your mind….and your calorie intake but #worth it. Or perhaps the Truffle Burger with 200g grass-fed Angus Beef patty, truffle mayo, onion marmalade and roasted field mushrooms is more your jam? Maybe you’re channelling a snack and does anything satisfy more than a Bug Roll and we all know the answer to this. With crispy tempura-battered Moreton Bay Bug tail, lettuce, shredded tropical paw paw and chipotle mayo, we’ll take five thanks. Or, opt for something from the ribs, wings, salads, or authentic sourdough pizza selections. While we’re on the topic of pizza, do yourself a favour and grab a Nutella and Banana Pizza for dessert, smothered with Nutella and covered with fresh bananas and brown sugar, roasted until crisp and gooey and served with a side of vanilla ice cream.

But food shmood – let’s talk booze, starting with their beers and the Hill Vibes Session Lager (3.3% ABV) is a, well, vibe. A modern take on a traditional Munich Helles Lager, it’s enhanced with the addition of honey malt and the use of the noble hop; hallertrau mittelfruh, creating a palette-pleasing full-flavoured, mid-strength lush lager. Meanwhile, moving on to cocktails, and whaddya know – the most popular choice is the one and only Chilli Margarita.

So ‘hop’ to it folks and eat, sleep, beer (and wine and cocktail…), repeat at Burleigh Barrels Brewery, Distillery & Smokehouse… the ‘pitcher’ perfect location for your next cruisy catch-up.

Words by Bianca Trathen

FOLLOW THEM HERE

the ‘pitcher’ perfect location for your next cruisy catch-up.

Welcome to Burleigh’s newest brewery, distillery & smokehouse.

Made for and by the locals in the heart of Burleigh, just a 10-minute walk from the bustling centre of James St.

Find us by the giant palm tree out front!

3-4/105 West Burleigh Road, Burleigh Heads, 4220

Open:

Wednesday to Sunday 11:30am - late