Love to sample a local drop? Then we’ve got good news. The Gold Coast is home to an impressive number of highly regarded producers of craft beer, boutique spirits and award-winning wines. Whether your drink of choice is a liquor or a lager, vino or a vodka cocktail, you’ll probably need to try a few before you find your favourite. It’s all in the name of research right?
If you’re struggling to choose which Gold Coast brewery, winery or distillery to visit, we’ve compiled a handy list of all the best local booze producers to help you with this difficult decision. Plus some local tour operators who can show you around town.
Gold Coast Distilleries
The essence of the Gold Coast is being distilled down into lovely local liquors and spirits at boutique distilleries from Miami to Mount Tamborine. With tastings, tours and behind the scenes experiences on offer, there’s ample opportunity to learn about the distillation process and the craft that goes into creating such superb spirits. Discover a Gold Coast distillery.
Gold Coast Craft Breweries
The Gold Coast’s craft beer scene is one of the best in Australia. There’s no shortage of boutique breweries and we’re blessed with an abundance of unique brews made right here on our doorstep. It also means there’s a good selection of excellent venues to visit when you want to sample some locally brewed beverages, socialise and have a bite to eat. With innovative new brewing methods and an inclusive culture of dedicated brew-masters who love to experiment, we challenge you to get adventurous and sample a new variety of beer you’ve never tried before. Double Blueberry Pancake Sour Ale anyone? Discover a Gold Coast brewery.
Gold Coast Wineries
Fancy a glass of wine with your sunshine? Gold Coast wineries produce some fabulous offerings for wine lovers, and a visit to some of our beautiful vineyards, cellar doors, wine bars and restaurants should feature on any foodie’s itinerary. With views as good as the vino, we suggest a long lunch and a designated driver. Discover a Gold Coast winery.
Take a Tour
There are a number of incredible operators who will pick you up and take you on a tour to some of the fine drinking establishments listed above. Not only will they eliminate the need for a designated driver, but with inside connections and a whole lot of local knowledge, they can show you behind the scenes, introduce you to the brewers, distillers and wine makers and take you to the best spots to enjoy a local drop.
Hop On Brewery Tours
Hop on board with Queensland’s original craft brewery adventure, Hop On Brewery Tours, for a unique day out where you’ll sample a range of craft beers, meet the brewers, explore new Gold Coast locations and find a favourite new brew. These guys are bonafide beer aficionados and their passion for pale ale, larger and the like is contagious. You’ll feel like a VIP on their Coldie on the Goldie tour, where you can select three breweries to visit and be escorted around them, while learning about local neighbourhoods and tasting a beautiful variety of brews. A delicious lunch is included too. Half day tours available if you’re tight on time.
Smooth Hoperator
Smooth Hoperator runs an awesome Gold Coast beer tour that fits in four local breweries in one day. Fun and relaxation are front of mind and your dedicated beer pilot (aka tour guide) will provide good vibes, insights into the breweries you visit plus plenty of beer and banter. Roadies (Aussie slang for a beer on the road) are permitted on the Smooth Hoperator bus and to make the commute between venues more fun, the sound system is stacked. There’s even roaming mic for karaoke if that’s your kind of thing. Spend a day with these Smooth Hoperators for an authentic local insider experience and a fun day sampling the Gold Coast’s best brews.
Pineapple Tours
Once you step aboard a Pineapple Tours bus, you know you’re in good hands and in for a fabulous, relaxing and enjoyable day, tasting your way through some of the region’s best wineries, distilleries and breweries. Choose from a range of tours ranging from half-day to full day. You can visit Gold Coast breweries or the wineries of Mount Tamborine, package a tour with another experience like axe-throwing to mix it up, or create your own customised tour. The entertaining and knowledgeable guides and drivers will ensure you have the best day – they’re more than happy to share their local knowledge, tell a few yarns and possibly some dad jokes too. All the good things! Small and large groups catered for.
Kiff & Culture
The fun and friendly tour guides at Kiff & Culture are Gold Coast locals which mean they’re well informed on where to go for the best dining and drinking experiences around town. Join the Tamborine Mountain Wine & Dine Tour to enjoy a tasting at three of the region’s finest wineries, plus a gourmet lunch and cheeseboard. You’ll also get to sample a selection of artisanal spirits and liqueurs at Tamborine Mountain Distillery. If you want to live like a local, hit up the best spots on the Gold Coast and have an epic day of fun, feasting and drinking then you can’t go past Kiff & Culture.
Keen to discover other lovely locations to enjoy a local drop on the Gold Coast? Read our Guide to Gold Coast Surf Clubs.
Kate Veling
Travel writer, Kate Veling, came to the Gold Coast for six months and loved it so much she’s still here 20 years later. The laidback lifestyle suits her to a tee and as a mum of three, she knows all the best parks, swimming spots and kid-friendly fun to be had in her ‘hood. She’s often found getting amongst the thriving local arts and culture scene, dancing to live music or kicking back on the beach, but rest assured it’s all in the name of research.
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