While there has been significant attention on the brewing scene in Sydney’s Inner West, following Prime Minister Anthony Albanese naming it the country’s craft beer capital at the Inner West Ale Trail launch, the Sunshine Coast has thrown its hat into the ring for the title.
With 24 breweries and a population of just under 400,000 people as of the 2021 census, the Sunshine Coast boasts one brewery per 16,618 residents. This surpasses Sydney’s Inner West, which has 17 craft breweries and a population just over 300,000, resulting in a ratio of one brewery per 17,927 residents.
Matt Stoeckel, CEO of Visit Sunshine Coast, said that beyond the larger number of breweries and higher per capita ratio, the Sunshine Coast has developed a reputation for high-quality beer.
“The Sunshine Coast’s craft beer scene has developed massively over the last decade, with multiple national awards, and now our brewers are reaching further afield to New Zealand, where they recently shared the best of our brews with the Kiwis,” he said.
Some of the region’s celebrated breweries include Moffat Beach Brewing Co, headed up by 2023 Beer & Brewer Brewer of the Year, Matt Wilson; 10 Toes Brewery, and Your Mates Brewing Co. They are joined by a number of craft distilleries, and quality hospitality venues.
Regional brews
Though the Sunshine Coast is a larger geographic area than the Inner West, Moffat Beach Brewing Co’s Wilson said that this is a benefit rather than a hinderance.
“The Sunshine Coast brewing scene is known for its unique mix of local culture, innovation and community focus. Unlike other urban brewing communities such as Marrickville in Sydney and Collingwood in Melbourne, the Sunshine Coast is rather spread out which gives customers plenty of variety and tourists get the chance to explore our different sub regions,” he said.
With such a large number of breweries, the region also offers an impressive variety of beer styles and hospitality offerings, said Adam Forbes, President of the Noosa Homebrew Club.
“There is so much variety to the breweries up here. You can go into any one of them and feel welcome and not be intimidated by a bearded craft geek. They will all happily point you in the direction of the next awesome brewery you should check out next,” he said.
Forbes also pointed out the impact of the Sunshine Coast’s natural environment on the region’s popularity.
“The Sunny Coast is such a perfect environment for enjoying a beer. Perfect beaches, amazing restaurants and stunning weather combine to make it a place like no other. It’s a unique area of Australia that just invites you to enjoy locally brewed beer in an amazing location,” he said.
This can be a significant drawcard for tourists, as Wilson explained.
“Tourism appeal is a major part of the Sunshine Coast brewing scene. The Sunshine Coast is a popular destination, and our breweries attract beer tourists who are eager to experience the local brewing culture. Many of our breweries, including those near the beach, have relaxed, welcoming taprooms. The atmosphere often reflects our laid-back coastal vibe.”
Growing the region
According to Lance Masterton, Co-founder and Head Brewer of Heads of Noosa, craft brewers across the Sunshine Coast are working together to build up the region as a craft beer destination.
“The brewers themselves make the Sunny Coast brewing scene unique. There’s some really good people and true characters with a shared passion who are generally speaking, more than happy to help each other out,” he said.
Wilson has also noticed this collaborative spirit and its positive impact on the local brewing industry.
“Breweries on the Sunshine Coast often collaborate, sharing ideas and hosting joint events. This creates a strong sense of camaraderie and community, and we are always willing to help each other out, whether that be in the way of borrowing ingredients off each other or bouncing ideas off each other when we run into problems,” he said.
Stoeckel encouraged Albanese and other beer fans to experience the Sunshine Coast firsthand and determine which is the real craft beer capital of Australia.
“Perhaps it’s been a while since the PM visited the Sunshine Coast, so we’d love to invite him up here to visit the breweries, meet some of our passionate brewers and, of course, enjoy a cold gold ale. It’s an open invitation.”