The Servo Taphouse is putting beer front and centre as it serves locals in the Margaret River region of WA, an area best known for its wine production.
The venue was still operating as a service station on a highway between Busselton and the wine region when owner Ryan Nobbs was offered a chance to take over the space.
After a few years of planning, the Cowaramup fuel stop transformed into a taphouse for craft beers and opened in 2022.
“The idea was to build a pub where people could come together and explore the incredible variety of craft beer that’s out there,” Nobbs told Beer and Brewer.
“The bones of the old servo are still there, and we love that it’s part of the story.”
Nobbs and his partner Steph are both commercial brewers by trade and after more than a decade in the industry and studying beer and brewing in multiple countries, they decided to jump head-first into something completely different.
The venue rotates tap beers through local breweries and keeps a balance of local and international taps. It has three hand-pull beer engines that always have the UK beers on, and the remaining 12 side-pulls have a blend of local and international.
“We wanted to step out and create a bar that showcased not only our own passion for the industry but also the diversity and creativity of the wider beer world,” Nobbs said.
“The Margaret River region is obviously famous for its wine, and for good reason, it’s world-class, but we’re also incredibly lucky to have an amazing cluster of breweries within our region.
“We focus on tapping into that beer-loving community and giving locals and visitors a unique, beer-forward experience that’s a bit different to the traditional wine trail.”
The vibe at The Servo is airy and relaxed, and customers are attracted to its laid-back nature, according to Nobbs, with the 120-person capacity ensuring patrons can enjoy live music and food without the feeling of dealing with huge crowds.
Like all small businesses, it’s not without its demands and while Nobbs was hesitant to get political, he said a lot of people are unaware of the challenges the Australian craft beer industry is facing at the moment, which could be hampering expansion plans.
“The challenge is the flow on from the rising cost of production that our domestic breweries are facing,” he said.
“We try to absorb as much as we can but evidently, in pubs across Australia, drinking a beer costs more than ever before.
“Expanding the venue space is on the cards, and even popping up in another location but for now, our focus is on refining what we’ve built here and making sure the experience stays top-notch.”
So what’s the most popular tap beer at the moment?
“We have Delirium Tremens on tap which is gathering some momentum but fresh local IPAs are always a winner with everyone,” Nobbs said.
“We just try to keep the local breweries moving around the tap list and showcase their beers.”
The Servo Taphouse is at 60 Bussell Highway, Cowaramup and is open seven days a week.