We like to have a drink at: Bridge Road Brewing, East Brunswick
It was a stinking hot summer day in Melbourne when we wandered up to Brunswick East for a beer.
The 96 tram would’ve been the easy route, but we took the scenic way: a 6 to Lygon, a stroll past Fleming Park, and a brief moment of existential doubt at the sight of a skeleton in a flamingo floatie. At least we hoped it was real.
The Story
Bridge Road Brewers call Beechworth in Victoria’s north-east home. Back in 2005, Ben Kraus launched the brewery’s first iteration in his dad’s shed on Bridge Road. The following year, he and his wife Maria moved operations to their current HQ—an 1850s Gold Rush-era coach house.
Fast-forward to 2023, and Bridge Road opened a second venue in East Brunswick, a sleek and modern counterpoint to their historic roots. That same year, they cracked the Top 10 in the GABS Hottest 100 with their core Beechworth Pale Ale for a second year in a row.
Today, you’ll find their beer across Australia and even internationally. They’ve even got a third location at Melbourne Airport—perfect if you fancy a pint before take-off or to toast your return home.
The Experience
Located off Nicholson Street in the East Brunswick Village complex, this venue offers outdoor seating and a glassed-in area for casual drinks and food. But did we mention it was hot?
Inside, the blast of cold air from the air conditioning greeted us, as did the beautiful interior design by Studio Y. The clean lines guide you past a row of booths and straight to the bar, where the fun, multi-coloured taps transition from bright yellow to dark blue in a smooth gradient.
Having spent copious amounts of time in dark, warehouse-style brewpubs, I was impressed by the amount of light streaming through the large glass windows at both ends. The family-friendly atmosphere offers a range of seating options: tables, bench seating, booths, or you can pony up to the bar on one of the stools if that’s more your style. There were even USB ports to charge our devices—very welcome after a day of sightseeing.
The back half features even more tables and booths, plus a glimpse of the shiny workings of the functional brewery. So, you can rest assured the beers are fresh. Speaking of which…
The Beers
We were absolutely spoiled for choice. There were no fewer than 30 beers and ciders available from the bar, including non-beer and non-alcoholic options.
We had a long night ahead, so we kept it pretty light. The Simcoe Single Hop IPA hit all the right notes for us, with its light earthy and fruity flavours shining through. Even though the calendar said summer, the Plumptious Spiced Winter Ale was calling our name. It lived up to its name, making for a nice slow sipper—although at 7% ABV, we quickly strayed from our ‘keeping it light’ approach.
We also couldn’t resist Dave’s Red Ale, a classic American Amber/Red Ale in all its malty glory. It’s our immutable law of bars and breweries: if there’s a red in town, drink it down. Thanks, Dave.
Next time we go, we really want to explore their Mayday Hills line of barrel and farmhouse beers. It includes historical styles like gruit and spontaneously fermented beers, in the vein of Sydney’s Wildflower or Belgium’s Cantillon.
Food & Pairings
To our delight, there were plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. In addition to the more standard fare of pizzas—ranging from a classic margherita to a Broccolo Picante—there was a selection of snacks, salads, small and large plates, and even a kids' menu. Burgers could also be swapped for a veggie patty.
From their summer menu, we opted for an amazing compressed watermelon salad with macadamia feta, mint, za'atar, red wine gastrique, and pickled watermelon. Watermelon salads seemed to follow us around Melbourne on this trip, but this one was a refreshing standout.
The chickpea and eggplant dip—served with dukkah, pine nuts, and focaccia—soaked up just enough booze to keep us respectable. Resisting that Nutella pizza took sheer willpower. Next time, we’re caving.
Final Thoughts
If you’re staying in the CBD, it’s a little further out than the brewery cluster around Collingwood, but transport is convenient from the city centre or even St Kilda. For beer lovers chasing variety, it’s a must-visit. And if you’re still thirsty, Co-Conspirators is just down the road.