I got an invite recently to cross the bridge and check out a brand-new brewery space on the Northern beaches, well it was A Breath of Freshwater Brewery on the North Side. It’s an absolutely beautiful space that takes your idea of what a brewery should look like and turns it on its head, with a well thought out and curated menu serving up delicious delights and a bar offering up more than just beer for those who might want a little wine or bubbles.
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Founded by a group of industry mates, Brett Phillips (Head Brewer), Tom Bruce, Jonny
Bucknall, Chloe Morgan-Webster and Marv Slocombe, Freshie Brewing are a
community brewery with a focus on lagers and crisp easy drinking beers. Life is
uncomplicated in Freshwater and their beers reflect that. ‘They’re not craft, they’re
chill.’
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The same ethos has informed their food and the space. The 120-capacity open plan ground floor space features a horseshoe shaped bar with 14 taps, seating throughout and a kitchen with a 10 hectolitre, three vessel system at the rear, and plenty of car parking space on the second level.
Freshwater Brewing is the first brewery in Brookvale with a state-of-the-art in-house
kitchen offering a full restaurant menu. All dishes are curated by Michelin trained
Executive Chef, Daniel Wilson (ex-Dandy, London) using fresh ingredients which are
seasonal and locally sourced. The style of food is ‘relaxed backyard meets beachside
bliss’. The menu is paired beautifully with the pouring and a wide selection of
independent wineries and cideries.
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Expect a bit of Aussie nostalgia with a menu including BBQ prawn skewers, Swallow
rock pork sausage rolls with cumin, harissa and fennel mayo, a seafood platter and
Sydney rock oysters with a finger lime vinaigrette or an epic fish finger sandwich.
The space is bright, approachable and inviting, not centred on traditional craft beer
crowds, Freshie hope to bring a bit of the laid-back beachy lifestyle to the industrial
Brookie neighbourhood. There’s a comfort to the facilities that will be a welcome
change to the normal ‘bloke’ focused environment.
![](https://roguelavie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Freshwater-Brewing_by_Luisa-Brimble-3293-scaled.jpg)
It goes without saying that dogs and children are welcome, it’s a brewery after all,
but they’re wanting people to reappraise the changing Aussie beer scene and feel
excited to order a drink at the bar and not be intimidated by a confusing beverage
menu. Whether that’s a Pet Nat, a non-alcoholic, a spritz or just a beer that tastes like
beer, Freshie will find something you’ll love and want to come back for.
Co-founder, Jonny Bucknall says of the new opening “We are stoked to be opening
our first brewery a year after the launch of our first beer and in our local
neighbourhood. Community is in the brand’s DNA, and this gives us an opportunity to
create a space for our friends, family and neighbours, and create a brewery for all
that embodies the Australian surf lifestyle.”
![](https://roguelavie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Freshwater-Brewing_by_Luisa-Brimble-3433-1024x683.jpg)
Opening its doors Wednesday 21st September 2022, Freshwater Brewing is the 6th
brewery in the surrounding area and 8th on the Northern Beaches. A brewery that
has a kitchen and a nice selection of wines and other unique beverages with
welcoming staff and embodies the northern beaches vibe, that’s worth taking a look
at.
Merchandise is also available online.
Full opening hours are:
Wednesday 4 – 11pm
Thursday 4 – 11pm
Friday 4 – 12am
Saturday 12 – 12am
Sunday 12 – 10pm
DJ sets on Friday and Saturday nights
Address: 4 Powells Road, Brookvale, NSW 2100
Website: www.freshwaterbrewing.com.au
Instagram: @freshwater_brewing
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