Coffee, craft beer and Chicago-style eats – Tippler’s Tap opens on James Street
Last week James Street celebrated a homecoming of sorts. Newstead-born craft-beer pioneer Tippler’s Tap has travelled back over the river to establish a new venue underneath Sage Hotels, bringing with it its heralded selection of local beers and filling fare. The new-look venue comes with a few enticing additions as well, including a lip-smacking breakfast menu, specialty coffee service and a huge Chicago-style deep-dish pizza that you’ll need a friend or two to take on.
The details
Back in the heady days of 2012, Brisbane’s craft-beer scene was a mere fraction of the size it is now. Tippler’s Tap was one of the first establishments to champion locally brewed beers, fostering a loyal community at its original Masters Street location for years before moving operations to South Bank in 2016. After Grant Williams and Justin Scutt took up the ownership torch in 2017, the team set about searching for a new opportunity to grow alongside the burgeoning beer scene, resulting in a second (and newly opened) Tippler’s location on James Street – a short distance from the concept’s birthplace. Sitting underneath Sage Hotel in the former site of Freddie’s Taphouse, the venue’s fit-out boasts a fresh and an eye-catching mural alongside the bar’s signature glossy timber furnishings, a sizeable kitchen, amply stocked bar and keg room. The spacious venue offers Grant, Justin and venue manager Jimmy Hillsdon opportunities to evolve while also cementing the pet-friendly bar’s reputation as a friendly and warm community hub.
The food
Spearheaded by head chef Clayton France, Tippler’s Tap’s James Street menu takes tastebuds on a tour of Chicago’s founding neighbourhoods, where Italian, Greek and Polish communities planted seeds that flourished into lasting culinary legacies. A holistic approach has been taken when expanding the menu, starting with a breakfast and coffee service from 7:00 am. The breakfast array features a distinct diner-style lean fused with some signature Tippler’s flourishes, evidenced in dishes like the breakfast Reuben and the chicken and waffles – the latter of which incorporates a Cajun-spiced rub that’ll be familiar to fans of the signature chicken wings. After breakfast, Tippler’s Tap brings out the big guns with a new Chicago-style deep-dish pizza that boasts a thick crust, kielbasa Polish sausage, Napoli-style sauce and layers of fresh mozzarella – so come hungry. Alongside the burgers, hotdogs, sandwiches and sides, the inclusive vegan and vegetarian menu has also come across the river, and yes, the deep-dish pizza comes in a vego option.
The drink
Tippler’s Tap is giving as much attention to its coffee as it is its beer service. Its team of schooner slingers has been bolstered with a bunch of gun baristas, who will be dispensing Single O’s Killerbee blend as well as a rotating selection of locally roasted single origins and filter brews. Fans of Tippler’s Tap’s craft-centric offering will have plenty to like, with 14 taps pouring a rotating clutch of drops from southeast Queensland breweries, big and small. The bar is expanding its local representation to include a selection of Australian and Queensland wines that will expand over the coming months. Additionally, a gin-centric spirit selection is available, bolstered by an edit of classic cocktails that add a new dimension to the Tippler’s offering.
On Friday June 15 the bar will host its official opening party from 5:00 pm. Locals are encouraged to swing by and get acquainted. Check out the Stumble Guide for Tippler’s Tap’s opening hours and contact details.
The Stumble Guide is our comprehensive Brisbane dining guide with more than 2400 places to eat, drink, shop and play.
