If the walls of Byron Bay Brewery could talk, it would be one heck of a tale. Starting life as the Norco Piggery in 1898, the venue was sold in 1984 to American music promoter Dan Doeppel and friends Keven Oxford and Karin Wood who converted it into a haven for live music. The former farmhouse went on to host The Ramones, The Violent Femmes, Crowded House and Paul Kelly before it was sold once again in 2004. This time, the venue was transformed into a brewery by a couple of Byron locals who shared a love of all-natural beer. Now, 118 years after the story began, the iconic site enters a new chapter following a complete refurbishment under the watchful eye of head brewer, Alastair Gillespie.

In addition to a fresh lick of paint, beer lovers can enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the entire brewing process and of course sample the goods. The distinctive range is all brewed onsite and includes an audacious IPA aptly called The Lively One, a toasty, caramel larger known as The Rosy One and a fruity cloudy larger referred to as The Hazy One. To complement the line-up of brews, Byron Bay Brewery has unveiled a delicious new menu that has been designed to be shared amongst friends. The obvious exception is the bacon-salted popcorn, which is just too damn tasty to share. With wide-open sun-lit spaces and an impressive beer garden, Byron Bay Brewery is definitely one for the must-try list next time you’re down that way.