The Yarra Valley is home to some of Australia’s finest wines and also the heart of craft beer.
With all the flair that the Yarra Valley wine industry is renowned for, craft breweries offer a range of exceptional beers with the same emphasis on quality ingredients, a commitment to excellence, strong good taste and something unique.
With beers for every season, week and day, it’s worth tasting them for a few hours (weeks, days… lives!).
A long history
Just as the green lands of the Yarra Valley were ripe for grape harvesting, so were they ripe for hop growing – a crucial agricultural activity in the early 1800s. Although cider production lagged behind winemaking until the early 20th century, it marked its entry onto the world stage with the combination of cider-making and pressing technologies in the 1930s and the invention of Australian champagne cider in the 1960s. Today, visitors can explore this rich history as part of Yarra Valley wine tours is known for, offering a taste of both tradition and innovation in every glass.
Cider and perry
Cruise to Wonga Park to stock up on Kellybrook Cider, a local favourite for over 50 years, before continuing to Giverny Estate to sample Cider, wines and chutneys made from kiwi fruit. Before visiting the award-winning Napoleone & Co. winery, you will learn how Cider and perry are made from Australian apples and pears using traditional winemaking techniques.
Good food, good beer
Talk to the locals and learn how a love of good food goes hand in hand with the microbrewery revival. Enjoy long breakfasts made with delicious local produce at Coldstream Brewery and Hargreaves Hill, where designated drivers are served a pallet of beer no bigger than a standard glass. Take leisurely walks between breweries or through nearby scenic trails, and on the weekend, visit Buckley’s Brewery in Healesville for a beer-making tour.
Four Pillars Distillery
Four Pillars Gin is a craft distillery located in Hillsville, in the heart of the Yarra Valley, about an hour’s drive from Melbourne’s CBD. Since launching in late 2013, Four Pillars has become one of the most renowned gin distilleries in the world.
From drinks and gin tastings to several small group workshops, including a Maker session where guests can distil their gin from scratch, Four Pillars offers a range of experiences that showcase their love of artisanal distilling.
In 2022, Four Pillars expanded their distillery, making way for a stunning artisan copper bar and gin bar, perfect for enjoying gin, tonics, and gin-inspired bites.
Book a guided walking tour or go for a gin and tonic cocktail. And if you’re looking for more things to do while you’re in town, check out the Four Pillars guide to Hillsville on their website.
Artisanal spirits
Head to Hillsville to taste the next generation of regional gin, vodka and whisky. Make your first stop at the famous Four Pillars Distillery, where small-batch gin is made from local botanicals, fresh citrus fruits and Asian spices. Stop by for a tasting and watch the distillery’s calendar for information on gin-related workshops and events. Finish your visit to Hillsville with a trip to Alchemy Distillers to sample moonshine, gin, quinoa vodka and other experimental spirits made in small batches.
Yarra Valley Cider and Ale Trail
Limited on time but still want to experience the top attractions in the area? Explore the Yarra Valley Cider & Ale Trail and try samples from seven artisan producers.
Coldstream Brewery
The brainchild of four local friends, Coldstream Brewery opened its doors to beer lovers and diners alike in June 2007.
The Coldstream Brewery embodies everything we love about life: quality beer and cider, casual dining and great people, all on the doorstep of the beautiful Yarra Valley.
The restaurant and bar are located in a charming brick building in the heart of Coldstream. The restaurant serves fresh, informal, locally sourced food for lunch and dinner, accompanied by Coldstream beers and ciders, and has a well-stocked bar supporting other Yarra Valley producers, not forgetting locally roasted coffee. As the popularity of Coldstream’s beers and ciders grew, production was moved off-site. The former brewery is now a functional space for various celebrations and corporate events.
The Coldstream Brewery offers beer and cider on tap for tasting and takeaway. Limited seasonal beers on tap are also available.
Matilda Bay Brewery
Matilda Bay Brewery was founded in 1983 to prove that there is life beyond lager and to awaken people’s understanding of what good beer can be when brewed the right way. It’s fair to say that it was the originator of the craft movement, brewing such classics as the indescribable Summer Weizen (quickly renamed Redback in 1987) and the dark lager Dogbolter, which is a significantly different lager in terms of alcohol content.
After parting ways with Matilda Bay in the 1990s, founder Phil Sexton returned with a mission to rebuild Matilda Bay, opening a new brewery and pub in Victoria’s Yarra Valley on the site formerly occupied by Giant Steps Wine. Head brewer Harry Sexton, Phil’s son, and the brewing team are busy reimagining their greatest hits and creating new ones, taking advantage of the clean spring water and pristine environment of the Yarra Valley.
St Ronan's Cider
St Ronan’s Cider Winery is 800 metres from the Hillsville Nature Reserve, where unique Australian ciders are made from apples and pears grown in the Yarra Valley.
These ciders also go very well with food. Pair the apple M.T. Cider with meat dishes or canapés, or let the pear M.T.T. Cider, with its natural light sweetness, spices, and M.T.loral notes, work its magic with cheese to finish your meal.
Looking for something to take with you? There’s nothing better than a few bottles of apple cider to share with your friends. This authentic Australian Cider has no added sugar, concentrates or gluten.
Visit us for a bottle, or come in with a tray and a glass of this delicious cider.
Napoleone Cider Orchard Bar
Set in the gardens of the Napoleon family, Orchard Bar is a garden party where you can celebrate Cider just an hour’s drive from Melbourne.
The Orchard Bar is an open-air venue that requires no reservations and is card only – no cash is accepted. Hungry for a meal? Why not visit Punt Road Cellar Door and have your perfect picnic?
The Cellar Door team have carefully selected the finest Victorian producers, including Cunliffe and Waters, Stone and Crow Cheese and City Larder, to guarantee a delicious experience.
And that’s not all… If you’re still thirsty, this collection should help:
Barrique on 260 Maroondah Highway in Healesville is a Yarra Valley icon, much like the Healesville Hotel. It has changed ownership in recent years and now offers indoor drinking, but the focus remains on fine wines (local and otherwise), good beer and, increasingly, craft spirits, with free weekly tastings.
Giant Steps – 336 Maroondah Highway, Healesville – Ostensibly the home of Giant Steps Wines, this elegant, imposing building on the right as you drive north out of Healesville is much more than just wine. It’s also a restaurant serving delicious food, a coffee shop called Habituel Coffee – the latest venture from Phil Sexton, founder of Sail & Anchor, Matilda Bay, Little Creatures and Giant Steps (among many others) – and a great selection of craft beers.
Buckleys Brewery – 30 Hunter Road, Healesville – One of the pioneers of beer in the Yarra Valley, Buckleys has changed hands in recent years and no longer holds the place in the minds of beer drinkers that it did a decade ago. However, it still brews beer in the same solar-powered shed in Healesville, and you can pop in at the weekend to enjoy it while playing table football.
Dixons Creek Café Bar & Grill – 1925 Melba Highway, Dixons Creek – At the upper end of the valley, you’ll find this little gem serving pub food from a varied menu, as well as Yarra Valley wines and a selection of local beers and ciders.
Hop Hen Brewery – 17, 64-86 Beresford Road, Lilydale – In January 2019, this family-run business opened its doors in Lilydale.
FAQ
What types of drinks is the Yarra Valley known for besides wine?
The Yarra Valley is celebrated for craft beer, artisanal ciders, and small-batch spirits, alongside its famous wines.
Where can I taste local ciders in the Yarra Valley?
Top spots include Kellybrook Cider, Napoleone & Co., St Ronan’s Cider, and the Orchard Bar at Punt Road.
Which Yarra Valley breweries are worth visiting?
Coldstream Brewery, Hargreaves Hill, Matilda Bay Brewery, Buckley’s Brewery, and Hop Hen Brewery offer great local beers and food.
Is there a trail for beer and cider lovers?
Yes – the Yarra Valley Cider & Ale Trail lets you sample drinks from seven artisan producers in one trip.
Can I try spirits in the Yarra Valley too?
Absolutely. Four Pillars Distillery and Alchemy Distillers in Healesville serve gin, whisky, vodka, and other unique small-batch spirits.
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