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South Australia's Best Microbreweries and Craft Brewers

South Australia's Best Microbreweries and Craft Brewers

07 FEB 2025

Some places make beer. South Australia makes breweries worth travelling for.

These breweries are shaped by the people who run them, the places they call home and the communities that keep coming back for more sips. Out here, brewing is more than just hops and tanks—it’s backyard experiments turned local institutions, surf trips that sparked something bigger and century-old sheds finding a second life with a fresh pour.

From riverbanks to vineyards, backstreets to outback churches, these are the breweries that do things their own way – and they are inviting you to try.

WOOLSHED BREWERY, WILKADENE STATION | RIVERLAND

The Woolshed has seen a century of hard work, its timber beams steeped in stories of shearing seasons past. These days, it’s a different kind of gathering place — one where the beer still flows, but the sound of sheep has been replaced with the quiet lapping of the nearby river. Whether you roll up by car or moor at the jetty, there’s no rush here.

Settle in with a River Time Session Pale, the water within reach, the barbecue sizzling out back and a cheese board that’s not sticking around for long. The shed creaks in the breeze, the Murray slaps softly against the bank and for an afternoon, it’s easy to forget the rest of the world exists.

SWELL BREWING CO. | FLEURIEU PENINSULA

Some ideas start on the back of a napkin. This one started on the back of a surfboard. Born from long bus rides between surf breaks in the Americas, Swell Brewing Co. grew from backyard brews to a taphouse surrounded by vineyards—proof that good ideas (and good beer) take their time.

It’s the kind of place where you grab a pint straight from one of sixteen taps, sink into a chair and let the afternoon unfold. Maybe you’re watching the kids tear around the fenced-off yard, maybe you’re tossing a sneaky fry to Mikey Wright—the brewery’s resident British Bulldog (yes, named after the surfing legend)—who greets regulars with a full-body wag. Either way, you’ll probably be here longer than you planned.

BOWDEN BREWING | ADELAIDE

Bowden Brewing is as much a gathering spot as it is a brewery. Designed to feel like an extension of the community’s living room — this neighbourhood small batch brewery welcomes you in with warm industrial design, plenty of greenery and the murmur of brewing tanks in the background. Their core range is where creativity shines, featuring everything from a smooth Hazy Pale to their new brainchild, Purple Yeet Juice—a hard lemonade that’s as fun to drink as it is to say. True to its hyper-local ethos, most of the beers are only served on-site, making each pint a Bowden exclusive.

LITTLE BLESSINGS, FLINDERS RANGES & OUTBACK

A cold beer in a church pew? Only in Laura. Little Blessings Brewing is a true original—a 150-year-old church transformed into a buzzing brewery. Sunlight filters through the stained-glass windows, casting a glow over the bar, where locals swap stories over cold pints. The church pews are still here, but these days, they’re for reclining as you enjoy a Raspberry Sour or a smooth, full-bodied stout—both brewed just metres away.

Drop by for a brewery tour complete with tastings, or time it right for the weekend when food trucks roll up and the lawn fills with easy chatter. It’s right across from the caravan park— so if you were looking for a sign to stay a little longer, this is it.

PRANCING PONY BREWERY | ADELAIDE HILLS

Prancing Pony Brewery doesn’t just make beer—they forge it in fire. Located in the storybook Adelaide Hills, this brewery keeps old-school European brewing methods alive, using ‘fire brewing' to create deep, layered flavours you won’t find anywhere else. It’s earned them plenty of accolades, including the title of Supreme Champion Beer in London, but they don’t rest on their hops.

Community is at the heart of Prancing Pony. Whether it’s a round of “Karma Kegs” raising funds for local causes, or the legendary Meat Tray Raffles pulling a crowd, this is a place where good beer and good company go hand in hand.

PIRATE LIFE BREWING | PORT ADELAIDE

Brewing tanks hiss and clink under high ceilings, steam curls into the rafters and murals splash colour across the walls. Tucked into the industrial heart of Port Adelaide, Pirate Life has 24 taps to keep the beers flowing, from crisp South Coast Pale Ales to boundary-pushing experimental brews.

There’s no such thing as a slow night here. On Wednesdays they have a quiz night—where you’ll find quiet scheming and hear the occasional victory yell that turns heads. When their birthday rolls around, they don’t just throw a party—they turn the whole brewery into a festival, with exclusive beers, live music and a crowd that knows how to have a good time.

KICK BACK BREWING | FLEURIEU PENINSULA

Late afternoon sun filters through the trees, catching the froth of your pint as you sink in. Sandy-footed kids zigzag across the lawn, dogs nap lazily under the tables and giant Jenga clatters in the distance. Welcome to your average afternoon at Kick Back Brewing. This family run brewery has a sprawling beer garden and a lip-smacking sour – making it an easy place to kick back (as the name suggests) and while away the afternoon.

ROBE TOWN BREWERY | LIMESTONE COAST

The beer list is long, the process is slow and that’s exactly the point. Robe Town Brewery sticks to old-world techniques by brewing with oak-barrel mash tuns, hay filtering and time-honoured patience. No rush, no shortcuts—just beer made the way it used to be.

Step into the taproom and you’ll find brews that you won’t taste anywhere else, from easy-going ales to deep, smoky pours that nod to the fire that forged them. Stay for a live music night, grab a bottle to take home or pull up a chair and let the fire do its work.