If you ever doubt the nation’s largest brewers ability to brew characterful, hop forward beers there are a couple of beers that can confound expectations. James Squire Hop Thief is one of those.

The American-style Pale Ale, which in its sixth incarnation was brewed using Simcoe and Columbus hops – cracked the top 50 in the recent Local Taphouse Hottest 100 Craft Beers.

Now, the beer is leading the charge for a regular pop-up bar in Pentridge Prison that follows on from the overwhelming success of last year’s Northern Craft Beer Festival in the same location.

The Hop Thief Bar @ Pentridge is now open every Friday night from 3.00pm onwards, until the end of summer.

Pentridge Prison is one of Australia’s more famous prisons and now notorious beer gardens in D Division. The pop-up bar lets you indulge in James Squire craft beers and ciders and order fantastic food from The Glass Den Cafe. It’s a unique and history filled space, where the gallows were situated and some of Australia’s more notorious prisoners were housed.

Express tours of D Division are available for $10.00 per person. The ‘Express Tour’ begins at 6.00 pm.

Address: Pentridge D Division (behind The Glass Den Cafe) corner of Urquhart Street & Elm Grove, Coburg 3058 (behind The Glass Den Cafe).

More details.