Coming home from the US for Christmas

Cant offer any Adelaide advice, but for the sake of any craft beer loving family/friends you are coming home to, make sure you pack your bag with good ole Cali craft beer

 

For stocking up.......... Goodwood cellars, the ed in Mitcham, and the highway in plympton, Belair fine wines.

Drinking......... I have not been in the Weaty since they started brewing their own stuff. I go to the earl of Leicester. Great tap list, then again a lot of US stuff so may better going to other places. The lion hotel, big shed brewing, brew boys, and jack ruby are worth hitting.

Big shed brewing does ok stuff, smiling Samoid is ok. Pirate life is another deal. Go to the Palais showroom and just buy pirate life. Best DIPA in Australia and a sensational Pale and session IPA.

 

When in Sydney, get on the harbor ferry from Circular Quay and head over to Manly and go to 4 Pines Brewing Co. Great scenery, food and beer! Also, on the ocean side of Manly, hit up YardArm Taphouse...great selection of brews. If you have time, head south of Sydney to Nowra and go to HopDog Brewing Co...by far the best true micro craft brewery in NSW! Tim will take very good care of you too!!!

 

Also, when in Sydney, hit up Barny's Wine and Craft beer...amazing selection of beers!

http://www.barnys.com.au/

 

Don't go to Barny's

 

Ok, then help out jinxxie with somewhere to go.....

 

I'd be pretty happy with mulders advice. Also advising against Barny's is the best help anyone can give

 

If you want bottleshops in Sydney. Camperdown Kingston Rd, platinum liquor, porters Balgowlah, beer cartel, and oak barrel in the CBD.
I am also in the camp of don't shop at Barny's

Places to drink
Flat rock cafe, wayward brewing, akasha brewing, modus operandi, empire hotel Annandale, forest lodge, and depending with what is on tap bitter phew or the local tap house.
Skip young Henry's at all cost.

 

+ Royal Albert which is probably consistently the best pub for craft beer in Sydney in my humble opinion

 

I will back up the sentiment of staying away from Young Henry's...it was just plain bad! However, I did have some good brews at Riverside Brewing Co and the hospitality was great. Although a bit south of Sydney, I still contend that HopDog in Nowra is fantastic. Great sours (Holy Snappin' Turtles, Alluvial Peach), funky ales and great stouts (Super Beast, 1st Anniv with Peat).

I must admit, I've only been into Barny's once, and I had a good experience, so I am not a regular, but they did have a very good selection of Oz beers. Thanks for the steering on other Sydney local bottle shops, I will surely check them out next time I visit.

I've also had the opportunity to spend a long weekend in Hunter Valley and really enjoyed Hunter Valley Winery and Brewery. The Cranky Pants IPA, Christmas Pudding and Barleywine No.1 were all excellent! I offered the brewer a 2013 Saint Arnold Pumpkinator....

I've also had very good luck by bringing funky obscure beers from the States' to Oz, great way to make friends at breweries and enjoy sharing the goodness!!!

 

I second (or third) Beer Cartel and Camperdown Cellars (I go to the one in Camperdown). Platinum Liquor looks good, have never been. Oak Barrel has a lot more local beers now than Barny's. Barny's is decent for foreign beers, but you need to go over their beers with a keen eye.

I also second Royal Albert Hotel, Forest Lodge Hotel and Bitter Phew. Batch Brewing is also worth visiting.