Wolf of the Willows Brewing are excited to announce the opening of their new Taproom in Melbourne’s Southeast suburb of Mordialloc.

Wolf of the Willows, founded by husband and wife duo Scotty and Renae McKinnon, first landed on the brewing scene after releasing their XPA in 2014. In 2015, Wolf of the Willows opened the co-owned brewery space with Cheltenham brewery Bad Shepherd.

During that time, they purely focused on the wholesale market, producing distinct and well-loved beers all over Australia and building on collaborative partnerships with the likes of Lark Distillery, Patient Wolf Gin, & Tequila Tromba.

After years of searching for the right property, last September 2019 saw an opportunity for Wolf of the Willows to take over a shell of an original brewery in Mordialloc, which gave them the room to expand brewery operations as well as create an industrial, modern space for a taproom.

Sadly, a common story for many businesses in 2020, their plans to open their taproom earlier this year were shattered by COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns endured by all hospitality venues. However, as Victoria has now started to emerge out of lockdown, Wolf of the Willows now finally look forward to welcoming guests for the first time from this Thursday 19th of November.

As guests arrive, they are greeted by a large outdoor beer garden that can host up to 70 guests. As guests dine outside they can enjoy the huge mural that was painted and designed by local artist Digable Goods. A beautifully crafted recycled snow gum feature wall welcomes guests as they enter the taproom via the foyer, with recycled timbers from Scott’s family farm also being a major feature throughout the taproom space.

This combines perfectly with the industrial steel elements and cement sheet walls that prop up the back bar, complete with a handmade carbon fibre Wolf adorned above the bar. A wall of whisky barrels greets guests as they find a spot near the fireplace, perfect for the cooler months in Melbourne, with a backdrop of the brewhouse and fermenters where all the beer love comes to life.

The fit-out was designed and built by Scotty and Renae with much-appreciated help from friends and family, from chippies, sparkies, and plumbers – to even Scotty and Renae’s children picking up paintbrushes each weekend.

“This taproom will be a true ‘Home of the Wolf’, where we hope punters feel they can come to enjoy a beer in an atmosphere that welcomes them in as part of the Wolf family, and truly reflects what we are about,” says Scotty McKinnon, founder for Wolf of the Willows.

“It’s been a long road, but we finally got here!” says Renae McKinnon, co-founder of Wolf of the Willows. “We hope people enjoy the relaxed vibe we’ve created, because let’s face it, we all deserve a beer after the year we’ve all had!”

The Taproom has 18 rotating taps that will host all their core range, as well as seasonal and limited releases. They’re also planning to open with their house-made Hard Seltzer range on tap, as well as cold drip nitro coffee, all brewed and curated by their very talented brewing team.

This is in conjunction with a modern, locally crafted wine list and an Australian artisanal spirits range, including vertical tastings of Lark Distilleries annual ‘Wolf Release’ Single Malt Whiskys. In the initial stages they will partner with food-trucks, beginning with local mates VanGo, who focus on Asian fusion street food – the perfect beer and food combination.

Their opening night is set for Thursday 19th of November, with opening hours from Thursday at 4pm till 10pm, Friday & Saturday 12pm – 10pm and Sundays 12pm – 6pm.

To book, go to the Wolf of the Willows website HERE.

Wolf of the Willows Taproom & Brewery: 39 De Havilland Road, Mordialloc VIC 3195