Wheatsheaf Hotel

 

Simply the best craft beer pub in Australia. That is all.

Very close to the city of Adelaide, despite being in Thebarton, it is an old looking building from the outside.

Large main bar, decent side lounge area and then one outdoor covered area, plus another off to the side as well. No shortage of seating or seating options. On my visit, workers were commissioning the brewery (which is now operational) and were pretty busy during the early afternoon. Nice atmosphere inside, helped by the very friendly and knowledgeable staff who when asked about an upcoming event, were really happy to talk about it in an excited way and gave me a brochure for it.

Excellent selection of whisky, with the signage as per the website with the chalkboard writing. On my visit the beer selection was probably the worst i had seen it from all the taplists i had seen, just bad timing and luck. Lobethal Bruce and Bridge Road Harvest Ale were the most interesting things on the taplist. 10oz of each for about $12, so in line with most places.

Excellent bottle list, generally decently priced, but also lists what has just come in which can be helpful in determining freshness for styles that require it.

A must visit place in Adelaide, you should generally have better luck than i did and encounter a better taplist. Interesting to see how the beers turn out from the new brewery. Would love to head back again on my next visit to the city.

Without doubt one of the great pubs for craft beer in Australia. An outstanding selection of Australian and international beers at very reasonable prices (compared to, say, the Earl of Leicester, which will charge $30 for something the sheaf will have for around $17; would you pay $30 for a sierra nevada southern harvest hop ale? disgraceful.) and served with knowledge, but with a complete lack of pretension. The owners and staff simply love their beer and want you to love beer as well, a task now made easier with a full printed beer menu by style and brewery (superseding the faithful blackboard, which simply didn't have enough room). Add a couple of fireplaces, a number of old couches, a dart board, a pool table, a beer garden, and no pokies, and you have the best pub in adelaide. As for food, it's a cheese plate or a bag of chips, but they're happy for you to order in a pizza from the local pizzeria, which has it's own charm.

There's always something interesting on tap thanks to good relationships with local and NZ brewers (they managed to score 8 kegs of 8 wired Superconductor DIPA. 8!), which also means semi-regular tastings with the brewers themselves. Oh, and they not only have a love for strange whiskeys and bourbons, but put on regular whiskey tastings... One could wax lyrical about the wheatsheaf for hours, but there's no substitute for personal experience. if you have the (mis)fortune of passing through adelaide, the wheatsheaf will be your beer oasis.

It's a big claim when you read statements like "the best pub in Australia", as I did when doing some research on Adelaide pubs. You'd think there are too many diverse styles and locations, let alone individual tastes and preferences, to be able to confidently make such a comment.

But, you know, I reckon this pub comes pretty close.

Came straight to the Wheatsheaf Hotel from the airport. Taxi driver didn't have a clue, so thankfully the iphones were handy. Once inside, you get a cozy, warm and homey feeling. There's an open fire, and plenty of well-loved soft furnishings. Reminds me very much of the Royston in Richmond, Victoria, which has many parallels.

The beer is outstanding. There must have been at least half a dozen stouts on tap, including a chocolate stout from Lobethal, two varieties from Mountain Goat, and also a couple from Moo Brew. One of the Moo Brew stouts was pumped through a Randall, not filled with hops, but with Kopi Luwak beans, and appropriately named "Poo Moo". An amazing beer, like an affogato, and at $15, worth savouring slowly. Took a while to get to sleep that night...

Also tried a Rye IPA from the Feral brewery, which was an amazing hit of tropical fruit and bitterness.

And managed a foreigner as well. A Mikkeller 10 IPA, all pineapple, pine resin, and caramel.

The bottled beer list is extensive, broad, and fascinating. In this regard, comparisons with the Local Taphouse were easy to make.

The staff are very friendly and very eager to advise. A great place to visit, and hopefully I'll be there again next week. Best pub in Australia ? I don't think there is one, but there are several that make serious claims. The Wheatsheaf is one of them.

A-- Much more low key than say Melbourne or Sydney beer joints. Much less wanky and hip. Has live music but have not been there for that. A fireplace and now a small beer garden for outside events. More of what an Australian pub is like than a pub turned into a Euro pub. There is parking near it. Shocking!

Q-- Well maintained and clean.

S-- Every time I have been there been able to talk with one of the owners and both are very passionate about beer and knowledgeable about their products. Well trained staff and could explain how the 8 wired IPA was close to a US West Coast IPA. Impressive. 10 taps but a good selection of tap beer.

S-- Impressive lineup of stuff for Australian standards. Rogue, Mikkeller, Anderson Valley, Nogne, Epic, Lobenthal, Brewboys, and such. Have been there when Feral has been tapped on keg. Excellent wine and scotch selection.

F-- Have not eaten there.

V-- A little pricey but the value is good for what is there. Great selection of beers from around the world and Australia. On par with St. Kilda and Biero Bar in Melbourne. Easy to get to location and close to Brewboys as well. Highly suggest this place if in South Australia.