Victorian craft beer mavericks, Bridge Road Brewers are set to open their first Melbourne outpost in September. After 18 years running one of Australia’s most popular destination craft brewery venues in their hometown of Beechworth, it’s been a long-time coming.

Bridge Road Brewers Brunswick is a 350-seat brewery and dining hall, and the jewel in the crown of the East Brunswick Village development on Nicholson St. EBV is set to feature an independent cinema and a strong network of hospitality offerings and retail in what’s largely a largely sleepy corner of the bustling suburb.

Bridge Road Brewers’ Melbourne offering is an entirely different beast to the goldrush era Coach House and rustic industrial fit-out of their beloved Beechworth home. This home away from home sees a sleek and sophisticated take on the brewery/hospitality model.

Creative collaborators include local artist D.R.E.Z. whose iconic explorations of modern op-art adorn the walls of the interior. It’s a dynamic space that presents guests with a ‘choose-your-own adventure’ experience across 2 large outdoor areas and multiple dining spaces, each with its own distinct mood.

At the heart of the space is a working brewery, which will be churning out venue-exclusive beers through 30 taps and two bars. This will include an intimate cellar bar, where the venue will look to showcase wine from Victoria’s Northeast with a focus on Beechworth Vignerons.

The food offering looks to elevate expectations of brewery fare, with a distinctly modern Australian take, celebrating local producers, seasonal produce and the culinary melting pot that is Melbourne.

Founders Ben and Maria Kraus were keen to avoid the tropes or expectations around traditional brew pubs.

“We were excited to embrace the opportunity that building something from scratch gave us, catering for not only the changing perceptions in beer/drinks but also trends in hospitality and design,” says Ben Kraus.

“We’re approaching this holistically, where detail and love is poured into all aspects of the venue, it’s all about getting the balance between approachability, aesthetics and making a fun and unique offering.”

“We have an obvious connection and passion for wine from our hometown and region and look forward to collaborating with drinks producers to further celebrate the Northeast.”

Bridge Road Brewers has led from the front in 2023, earning accolades as both Victoria’s Best Brewery Venue1 and Victoria’s Best Craft Beer². The opening of Bridge Road Brewers Brunswick will cap off a monumental year that marks the dawn of a new era for this iconic independent brewery.

Bridge Road Brewers looks forward to offering further insights and opportunities to experience in the coming weeks.