Top 10 Breweries in Melbourne
Melbourne is Australia's craft beer capital by any reasonable measure — the density of independent breweries in the inner suburbs, the sophistication of the bar and bottle shop culture, and the quality of the food pairing ecosystem that surrounds them put the city ahead of Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth for dedicated beer tourism. The city's cultural identity as Australia's arts and food capital has extended naturally into beer: Melbourne drinkers expect flavor, provenance, and character in their food and drink, and the breweries that serve them have met that expectation with genuine ambition.
1. Mountain Goat Brewery, Richmond
Mountain Goat, founded in 1997 by Dave Golding and Cam Hines in the Richmond suburb, is Melbourne's most historically significant craft brewery and one of the Australian scene's founding institutions. The Richmond brewery and taproom — a converted warehouse that has become one of Melbourne's most loved venues — anchors the suburban craft beer trail that runs through Richmond, Abbotsford, and Collingwood. Mountain Goat Hightail Ale and Steam Ale are the original flagship beers; the Rare Breed series and winter warmer specials have kept the brewery creatively relevant across nearly three decades. The 2015 acquisition by Asahi has raised the usual independence questions, but the Richmond brewing operation continues and the taproom remains a Melbourne institution.
2. Stomping Ground Brewing, Collingwood
Stomping Ground opened in Collingwood in 2016 with one of Melbourne's largest and most ambitious brewery-restaurant spaces — a two-story venue with visible brewing equipment, an extensive kitchen, and room for several hundred people at peak times. The Gipps Street Pale Ale and Collingwood Lager are the core approachable offerings; the seasonal and experimental range demonstrates genuine creative ambition. Stomping Ground has become a Collingwood anchor and one of the more commonly recommended Melbourne brewery experiences for visitors.
3. Moon Dog Brewing, Abbotsford
Moon Dog is Melbourne's most theatrically eccentric craft brewery, built on a reputation for unusual ingredient combinations (Aard Rock, an apple and strawberry wheat beer; Crazy Neighbs, a honey wheat; Karl Marx-ist, a bourbon barrel imperial stout) and exuberant branding. Founded in 2010 by brothers Josh and Jake Uljans, Moon Dog has grown significantly from its original Abbotsford premises, opening a large Moon Dog World venue in Preston. The original Abbotsford site maintains the craft authenticity; the World venue is one of Melbourne's larger beer destination experiences.
4. Bodriggy Brewing, Abbotsford
Bodriggy occupies a converted Abbotsford space and has developed a reputation for technically polished, culturally engaged beers that reflect the Collingwood/Abbotsford inner-north creative community. The core range of IPAs and ales is reliably good; the taproom events program and the brewery's community engagement have built a loyal local following that extends beyond the craft beer enthusiast market.
5. Hawkers Beer, Reservoir
Hawkers was founded in 2015 by a group of Melbourne entrepreneurs with a specific ambition: to produce Asian-influenced craft beers that reflected Melbourne's multicultural character. The West Coast IPA and the Hazy series are the most commercially successful products, but Hawkers' annual limited releases — including the Fire and Ice series of IPA variants and various fruit-forward specials — have been particularly well received by the craft community. The Reservoir production facility and taproom draw visitors from across Melbourne.
6. Two Birds Brewing, Spotswood
Two Birds, founded by Jayne Lewis and Danielle Allen, was one of Australia's first female-led craft breweries and remains one of the country's most visible examples of women's leadership in the industry. Based in Spotswood in Melbourne's inner west, Two Birds produces the Taco Truck Lager, Golden Ale, and a seasonal range that has consistently shown technical quality. The brewery's community engagement and role as a visible model for diversity in Australian craft brewing give it cultural significance beyond the purely commercial.
7. Hop Nation Brewing, Footscray
Hop Nation is based in Footscray — one of Melbourne's more culturally diverse western suburbs — and has built a reputation for hop-forward ales that reflect the brewery's genuine commitment to quality ingredients and process. The Jedi Juice NEIPA and Rattenhund hazy pale ale are the most discussed products; the Footscray taproom serves a mix of local community members and craft beer-seeking visitors.
8. Bad Shepherd Brewing, Cheltenham
Bad Shepherd operates from the southern Melbourne suburb of Cheltenham and has developed a range of beers notable for both approachability and technical depth. The Vienna Lager is one of Melbourne's better examples of the style; the Chocolate Oatmeal Stout is a consistent award winner. Bad Shepherd's suburban location means it serves a genuine local residential community rather than a purely craft-seeking tourist trade.
9. Stockade Brew Co, Inner East
Stockade distributes broadly across Melbourne and produces a range of core craft beers — Righteous IPA, Yuzu Pale Ale — that have achieved wide retail presence beyond the brewery's own taproom. The Yuzu Pale Ale, incorporating Japanese yuzu citrus, was one of the earlier examples of Asian ingredient integration in Australian craft brewing.
10. Colonial Brewing Co, Port Melbourne
Colonial, based in Western Australia (Margaret River and Port Melbourne), brings the Margaret River wine-country brewing aesthetic to Melbourne's inner south. The Marine Pale Ale and Kolsch are the Melbourne taproom staples; the full range produced at the western Australian facility demonstrates a commitment to clean, approachable styles that benefit from the region's excellent water and grain supply.
Explore on the map
Melbourne's brewery cluster covers Richmond, Abbotsford, Collingwood, and Footscray in the inner suburbs — all accessible by tram and light rail. Open the map to plan a Melbourne brewery day across the inner suburbs and find the venues open for Saturday taproom visits.