Forget Wine! This Country Town 3 Hours from Sydney is Hiding Some of the Country’s Best Beers

I love the Central West of New South Wales. Whether you’re talking about Mudgee or Orange, it’s the perfect weekend away from Sydney. I’ve spent more time exploring the wineries in this part of the world than any other region in Australia! So when the folks at Mudgee tourism called up, I said, “Have mercy! I can’t drink any more wine,” which is a lie, but gets to the crux of what I’m talking about. I wanted to figure out what this country town was all about, if we forgot about the wine and food for a second, because we know it’s good! I wanted to talk beer, so they gave me a hit list of breweries to check out. What I found was completely unexpected. Great people, great food, but the beers? On another level.

Best Breweries in Mudgee at a Glance

Highlights include the following options:

• Best overall: Small Batch Brewery and Hop Farm
• Best for groups: Mudgee Brewing Co.
• Best for core classics: Hop & Clover
• Best for food: Three Tails Brewery and Smokehouse

Now you’ve read the highlights, let’s check out the complete list.

Small Batch Brewery and Hop Farm

We didn’t expect to find some of the best beers we’ve ever tasted out of a small shed on the outskirts of Mudgee, but that’s exactly what we had at Small Batch Brewery and Hop Farm. Anton van den Berg and his wife, Amanda, waved goodbye to corporate life and retired to the country. However, Anton didn’t just bring a pair of shiny, clean R.M. Williams boots with him. No, he brought more than 20 years of home and professional brewing experience, and that has translated into the best brewery in Mudgee. He built the biggest shed he was allowed, landscaped a beer garden, brought in a food truck, and brewed the beers that he always wanted to, his way.

There’s a list of rotating beers that will make any beer lover weak at the knees. We tried them all, including the Aussie Lager, Hazy Pale Ale, West Coast IPA (7.2%), and Doughtnut Dreams Sour (7.1%) that reminded us of some of the beers we’ve had at One Drop Brewing Co in Botany. However, it was the Czech Pilsner and Vienna IPA that stole the show. You very rarely find these beers at craft breweries in Sydney, they’re a real “beer lovers’ beer,” and they were simply outstanding!

Options are available for non-beer drinkers, with a good selection of local wines, non-alcoholic drinks, and soft drinks, while the food is taken care of by an Asian fusion food truck, BAO2MI.

Address: 713 Black Springs Rd, Mudgee NSW 2850
Hours: Fri 12-5pm, Sat-Sun 11am-5pm
Phone: 0466 166 227

Hop & Clover at Clover Cellars

Like Small Batch, Hop & Clover started life as a semi-retirement plan for founders Dave Henderson and Shiree Phillips. Henderson spent more than 25 years sailing with the British Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy as a Petty Officer and Marine Engineer. Now, he’s turned his home brewing passion project into a business that’s brewing some of the best beers in Mudgee.

Dave is a Gypsy Brewer, which means he brews his beers using local equipment at an established location. We reckon that sounds like a great way to borrow your neighbours’ tools and make a business out of it. Genius stuff! He’s pouring an outstanding Australian Lager, Pacific Ale, Pale Ale, Irish Oatmeal Stout, and, if you’re lucky on the day (and it’s still in stock), there’s a top-tier Amber Ale.

Probably the best brewery to visit if you’re not into beer (don’t worry, there’s plenty of beer), Hop & Clover is located at Clover Cellars, which means there’s a large list of local wines, usually from wineries that don’t have cellar doors. You’ll also find a range of Dave’s homemade gin, which is pretty special stuff in itself. Grab one of your favourite drinks and spend the afternoon in the garden with your family, pets, and there might even be a live local music event on if you’ve timed it right. It’s one of those spots where the locals hang out, and that’s always a good sign.

Address: 68 Edgell Ln, Buckaroo NSW 2850
Hours: Fri & Sun 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Mon-Tues 11am-3pm
Phone: 0481 948 355

Mudgee Brewing Co.

There’s a special place in every beer lover’s heart for a brew-pub, and Mudgee Brewing Co. hits the spot. This family-owned business was established in 2007 and is located in a 100-year-old building in the town centre of Mudgee. Grab a tasting paddle with a selection of their beers, including the Summer Pale Ale, Gold Lager, Pale Ale, Mudgee Mud, IPA, and Red IPA, and a meal from their menu (the burgers are very, very good) and spend the afternoon or evening with a group of your friends in the brew-pub. Keep an eye out for some special-edition beers while you’re there.

Address: 4 Church St, Mudgee NSW 2850
Hours: Wed-Thur 12-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 11am-9pm
Phone: (02) 6372 6726

Three Tails Brewery and Smokehouse

Yes, this is a brewery with a smokehouse.

You can sit there and sip on more than 20 of the finest brews in all of Mudgee while devouring a platter of smoked meats that include brisket, pork, sausage, wings, ribs, tacos, and burgers, thanks to Smokin Bro & Co. We’re not sure what heaven looks like, but it’s something like this. If you’re not in the mood for a monster meal, there’s also lighter eats available for a casual weekend lunch with the family. Mick Ash, local farmer and owner of Three Tails Brewery, has built something special here.

Address: 13A Lewis St, Mudgee NSW 2850
Hours: Wed-Thur 4-9pm, Fri-Sat 12-10pm, Sun 12-7pm

How We Chose This List

The author of this article, Ben McKimm, visited every brewery on the list, spoke to the owners, and tried their beers!

He’s spent more weekends in Mudgee and Orange than he has with his family in the last few years, and he loves these two country towns specifically because of their wine and food. However, on this occasion, the folks at the tourism board put together an itinerary that looked away from the wine and towards the beers. Note that Ben chose not to rank the breweries, as each is unique in its own way. What he remembers most is that every brewery said the next brewery Ben was visiting was their favourite, which is typical Australian. We scratch each other’s backs!