It turns out the Great Ocean Road Brewhouse is the place to be in Apollo Bay!
When I visited, it was buzzing with locals and visitors all enjoying the hearty, honest menu.
Conveniently, our accommodation was at the Apollo Bay Eco YHA, which was only a minutes’ walk from the main street. This meant I could relax and enjoy a few ales from this popular ‘brewhouse’.
When I saw the pool table, long bar, AFL on every big screen and a TAB, my first impression was the Brewhouse seemed to show all the telltale signs of a classic Aussie pub. However, we couldn’t be more wrong! Here’s why:
A juicy lamb shank accompanied by seasonal root vegetables and mash potato was the first of two courses to be served. The meat was braised until tender in the signature Prickly Moses Red Ale – a local beer crafted by Otway Brewing, a sister company of the Brewhouse.
I took my time with each mouthful, savouring the hearty goodness. An already full belly wasn’t going to stand in the way of me and dessert. The second course, a warm brownie infused with the toffee and caramel flavours of the Prickly Moses Stout brew, drowned in melted chocolate.
“This certainly wasn’t just another pub meal, this here was a foodie’s dream and we were living it.”
We were invited to tour the tasting room and learn a little more about the beer. We learned the difference between lagers and ales, and the unique fact that fresh Otway rainwater is used to brew the entire range of beer and cider. That’s pretty cool if you ask me!
We enjoyed a paddle of five hand-crafted beers to taste: Summer Ale; Pale Ale; Stout; Spotted Ale; and Red Ale.
Each beer had its own distinct characteristics and held a more refreshing sensation when compared with commercially brewed beer. We selected our favourites and upgraded to pots back at the bar.
Feeling nothing short of complete satisfaction, we sat back and listened to live music for the remainder of the night.
What a great place to send an afternoon or evening! Oh, and the beer garden is dog-friendly, too!
Sign up to get the latest deals, tours & events along the Great Ocean Road
Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Great Ocean Road region the Wadawurrung, Eastern Maar & Gunditjmara. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. We recognise and respect their unique cultural heritage and the connection to their traditional lands. We commit to building genuine and lasting partnerships that recognise, embrace and support the spirit of reconciliation, working towards self-determination, equity of outcomes and an equal voice for Australia’s first people.
