Freshwater Brewing opened its doors earlier this month, the eighth on the Northern Beaches and the sixth brewery in Brookvale itself, marking the area as a destination for brewery-hopping lovers.

Founded by a group of industry mates, Head Brewer Brett Phillips, Tom Bruce, Jonny Bucknall, Chloe Morgan-Webster, and Marv Slocombe, Freshie Brewing is a community brewery that reflects the local, laid-back beach vibe. There's a focus on lagers and crisp, easy-drinking beers. Life is uncomplicated in Freshwater, and the beers reflect that. The founders will tell you, 'They're not craft. They're chill.'

A horseshoe-shaped bar is framed by a 120-capacity open-plan ground floor space and a ten hectolitre, three-vessel brewing set up. Food is a focus for the venue, with a state-of-the-art in-house kitchen offering a full restaurant menu. All dishes are curated by Michelin trained Executive Chef Daniel Wilson (ex-Dandy, London) using seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. The style of food is 'relaxed backyard meets beachside bliss'. The menu is paired beautifully with the pouring and a wide selection of independent wineries and cideries.

Expect a bit of Aussie nostalgia with a menu including BBQ prawn skewers, Swallow rock pork sausage rolls with cumin, harissa, and fennel mayo, a seafood platter and Sydney rock oysters with a finger lime vinaigrette or an epic fish finger sandwich.

The space is bright, approachable, and inviting, not centered on traditional craft beer crowds, Freshie hopes to bring a bit of the laid-back beachy lifestyle to the industrial Brookie neighbourhood. There's a comfort to the facilities that will be a welcome change to the normal 'bloke' focused environment.

It goes without saying that dogs and children are welcome, it's a brewery after all.

Co-founder Jonny Bucknall says of the new opening, "we are stoked to be opening our first brewery a year after the launch of our first beer and in our local neighbourhood. Community is in the brand's DNA, and this gives us an opportunity to create a space for our friends, family and neighbours, and create a brewery for all that embodies the Australian surf lifestyle."

Full opening hours are:

  • Wednesday 4.00 – 11.00pm
  • Thursday 4.00 – 11.00pm
  • Friday 4.00 – 12.00am
  • Saturday 12.00 – 12.00am
  • Sunday 12.00 – 10.00pm

DJ sets on Friday and Saturday nights. Address: 4 Powells Road, Brookvale

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