There’s a new 50-tap gastro pub and brewery opening on Cairns’ waterfront. The craft brewery, gastro-pub and events space for 600 seated guests, are features of Cairns’ newest waterfront destination.

Located within the heritage-listed Shed 2 of Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal, the multi-million-dollar Hemingway’s Brewery Cairns Wharf integrates cutting-edge design while retaining the building’s original features that date back to the early 1900s.

Occupying an expansive 1,400 square metres, Hemingway’s Brewery is Queensland’s largest craft brewery north of Brisbane and one of Australia’s largest gastro pubs.

While preserving the site’s historic architecture, the venue’s brewery provides a dramatic statement, defining the space with its Canadian-manufactured brewing system that incorporates a four-vessel brew house and eight, 6-metre high, stainless-steel fermentation and brite beer tanks.

Brewery tours will operate, allowing patrons to observe and learn about the craft brewing process.

Alongside the brewery is an impressive 20-metre timber topped bar and a second outdoor bar with a total of 50 taps. Craft beer lovers can enjoy 20 different brands of craft beer, including a broad range of Hemingway’s signature ales brewed on-premise.

Following an 18-month development phase, Hemingway’s Brewery co-founders Tony Fyfe and Craig Parsell will be on site this weekend, keen to share their latest hospitality venture with their patrons.

The duo began their foray into craft brewing and gastro pubs when they opened their first Hemingway’s Brewery at Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina in Port Douglas in July 2016. It wasn’t long before they looked towards expanding. They successfully negotiated a lease agreement with Ports North to develop the heritage-listed Shed 2 at Cairns waterfront.

“What started as an appreciation of craft beer and its fresh-is-best authenticity has become something far bigger and we look forward to sharing it with others,” Fyfe said.

“Hemingway’s is as much about prioritising the local community as it is about enjoyment and the winning combination of great beer and great food in a great location.”

Coinciding with this weekend’s opening, Hemingway’s Brewery Cairns will launch its Hop Heads membership program for local residents and craft beer enthusiasts. Membership will offer loyalty rewards, advance notifications about beers and events, as well as member only deals and a monthly newsletter.

From the outset, Hemingway’s Brewery Cairns will employ over 100 staff to manage its brewery, bars, full service kitchen and a dedicated events space catering for the MICE industry and weddings.

Open for lunch and dinner, the venue’s restaurant will serve quality gastro-pub style food made predominantly from locally sourced ingredients and a paddock-to-plate philosophy, while a providore will showcase some of the region’s craft produce.

“Hemingway’s Brewery aims to build and operate the best gastro brew pubs in the country with a focus on brewing great craft beer which is a growing trend based on an amazing taste – that is not only unfiltered, unpasteurised and preservative free – but made from just four key ingredients; yeast, hops, base malts and water,” he said.

Hemingway’s Brewery, under the guidance of head brewer Anthony Clem, is developing a number of new core and seasonal beers that will be released over the next few weeks as the new Cairns Wharf brewery ramps up production.

Every one of Hemingway’s beers tells a story relating to the history of FNQ. The current award-winning line-up includes Doug’s Courage IPA (recent medal winner at the Australian International Beer Awards), and top selling The Prospector pilsner – a refreshing brew inspired by a thirst for adventure and the tireless efforts of James Venture Mulligan, the first to find gold in the Palmer River.

Hemingway’s Brewery Cairns Wharf will celebrate its grand opening in August 2018.