Scottish Chief's Tavern Brewery

On a stopover trip to Geelong, I had to check out this place, mostly for the beer. From the first impression it's a really nice place, with an old-world charm and good acoustics. If I hadn't been visiting at 2PM on a weekday, I can imagine this place being quite buzzing. There was some form of party upstairs, so I couldn't check it out, but otherwise it was quite nice, and nice décor.

At first I thought the service was great, quite friendly and prompt, although the third time I went to the bar I had to wait an interminable time, although this was due to understaffing rather than inattention.

They had three unique beers on tap when I went - the pale ale, the amber ale and the porter/stout (the blackboard and staff could never really agree on what it was). I sampled all three, but not the fine Scottish cuisine, having unfortunately already eaten, and was knocked for six by the delicious pale ale - in my view the only pale ale really to challenge Little Creatures for the crown - although I'd have to do a blind side-by-side comparison to really judge this.

They brew some seasonal beers and I got in just in time, before the amber ale apparently gives way to a hefeweizen - which I would have loved to try. I was unimpressed though, that in a pub calling itself so Scottish, there was such a paltry selection of scotch. There were, I think, three - Johnnie Walker Black, Chivas or Glenfiddich. Not that I was there for scotch, but I mean, really.

I was, however, there for the beer - and this is where the service really fell down. The more I asked about the beer, the more the staff who worked the bar were eager to separate themselves from the beers that were brewed there. I mean, fair enough it's a separate company, but the fact of the matter was, I was there to try the beer, and the fact that the bartenders were far more eager to serve their VB-swilling regulars than to answer any sort of question about the actually very impressive beers brewed there really disappointed me. I really felt fobbed off, and this let down the establishment in my mind, because considering that the beers are attainable in bottle form elsewhere, it really dampens my willingness to revisit this pub.

love going to this place whenever im in geelong for the footy of a saturday. built on the site of the oldest brewery in victoria, the volum brewery, the scottish chief is a smart mix of old and new, and which is pleasant and relaxing any time of day or night.

the old bluestone wall from the malting house is still present with some of the old brewery lodgings also forming part of the hotel. plenty of history in this building, but is interestingy covered with a clear perspex roof. funny thing was tho is with the open fire roaring and the rain licking at the building, there was a certain ambience about it all as i savored one of the house brews. all the while they had classic 70's funk tunes going. just my thing :D

while they had the usual boring aussie and import beers on tap, they had the very tasty stoker ale (a top fermented old style dark ale), and an amber ale going as the house beers, with one more to come once they have resurfaced the bar. the stoker ale is a very fine brew indeed and makes the trip worthwhile. and its the best price in victoria for a pub brewery too. great array of food on the menu also. typical aussie pub style stuff with a little more finesse and not astronomically priced. actually i have to say the chicken parma is a ripper here. they give you a mammoth shnitzel with the thickest bit of ham ive ever seen on a parma. on a cold day it goes down a treat!

best thing about the place apart from the beers is the guys behind the bar are a great bunch of blokes who look after you excellently. they go out of their way to make you feel right at home.

great place to go if youre heading out on a trip to see the mighty cats, or heading down the great ocean road. in fact, its a good enuff reason to make the trip to geelong all on its own.