Today Marrickville local Keren Lavelle shares a Marrickville Brewery Tour itinerary that takes us on a short walk through the cool inner west suburb that is a hero of the Sydney Craft Beer scene. So beer lovers, lace up your walking shoes and let’s hit the pavements in search of some tasty brews.

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The cradle of Sydney’s indie craft beer scene is the inner-west suburb of Marrickville, where hobbyist brewers have been successfully turning pro since 2013. The cooperation and friendly competition between brewers means fresh ideas are always fermenting, and there’s lots of quality craft beers to quaff! Tasting paddles help you discover your faves.

It’s easy to organise your own brewery walking tour along the axis of Sydenham and Victoria roads. This ale trail gets very popular on weekends, especially Saturday, so consider booking ahead. Otherwise, keep walking; there’s plenty of choice!

Most breweries open their bars at 3 or 4pm on Thursday, and from midday on Fridays and weekends.

Marrickville Brewery Tour Walking Map

It is very easy to cover these breweries on foot from Sydenham Station or a bus from the city.

Batch Brewing Co.

Begin at Sydenham station, turning sharp right as you exit. Three short blocks later you’ll find Batch Brewing Co, the brewery which kicked off this entire scene. Two Americans, Andrew Fineran and Chris Sidwa, met in Sydney, and discovered a mutual love of craft beer, which they then started to handcraft batch by batch.

This former smash repair shop has been glammed up, has plenty of table space, and a rotating choice of food trucks. Their range of beers (there are currently 17 on tap) includes faves from business partner Wayward Brewing, another inner-west brewery.

Where: 44 Sydenham Road, Marrickville
When: open seven days – check the Batch Brewery website for hours

Let someone else do the navigating and join a brewery tour

Philter Brewing

Assuming you don’t get waylaid by the marketing marvel which is the Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre (around the next corner), walk another three blocks to Philter Brewing, housed in a cleverly revamped 1960s factory. 

Philter is the brainchild of Marrickville neighbours Mick Neil and Stef Constantoulas, who hired star female brewer Sam Fuss to create the initial brews which launched their brand into prominence, especially the multi-award winning Philter XPA.

The brewpub here has space indoors, outside on a side footpath, and upstairs at a summery rooftop bar. Cocktails and wines are also on offer, plus you can order pizza, tacos, burgers, wings or souvlaki from the kitchen.

Where: 92-98 Sydenham Road, Marrickville
When: Open Wednesday to Sunday – find opening hours here
Brewery Tours: offered on Saturday mornings $30 – bookings essential

Sauce Brewing

Cross Victoria Road and head right, to Mitchell St. Turn right at the lane to reach Sauce Brewing, a surprise package brewpub, complete with a spacious beer garden.

Founded by Mike Clarke, whose girlfriend (now wife) got him into craft brewing, Sauce is famous for its eclectic and innovative styles, and the ideas keep coming – the latest is canned cocktails. Favourite beers, such as Hop Sauce, are now known under less quirky names, such as Pale Ale. A roster of food trucks provides the tucker.

Where: 1a Mitchell Street, Marrickville
When: Taproom Thursday to Sunday, shop 7 days check hours here

Mixtape Brewing & Bar

Where: 142A Victoria Road, Marrickville
When: Wednesday to Sunday from noon, trivia at 7pm on Wednesday

Wildflower Brewing

From Victoria Road, turn left at Cook Rd, and left again, to get to Wildflower Brewing at the end of Brompton St. The name is literal – founder Topher Boem foraged wild yeasts from native flowers around NSW, adding them to malt liquor to spark new brew flavours.

Wildflower’s concoctions, barrel-aged, blended, and bottled like fine wines, are available here by the glass. The fresher, bitter range includes a seasonal ale made with citrus fruit.

Wines, whisky and non-alcoholic drinks are also available, as is an upmarket menu from AP Bakery. At tables outside or in the atmospheric barrel room, order by barcode, or seek advice on your choices from the knowledgeable staff.

Where: 11-13 Brompton Street, Marrickville
When: open Thursday to Sunday – hours available here

Kicks Brewing Tasting House

Walk to the sleek Kicks Brewing Tasting House, a recent arrival to this craft beer capital, in a short zigzag: left at Cook Road, left at Addison Rd, then left at Shepherd Street.

Co-founder Brendan Ibbett says the Kicks name was inspired by 1950s beatniks, but there’s no scruffiness to the brewpub design here – it’s clean, crisp and pared back, the vision of designer Jess Ibbett, Brendan’s wife and co-founder. The ten taps offer a revolving list of IPA, sours, pale ales, clean lagers, plus one or two dark beers. One favourite is a fruited coffee sour. Bagels from nearby Lox in a Box are the current food option.

Where: 31 Shepherd Street, Marrickville
When: Open Friday to Sunday

Grifter Brewing

Go back to Addison Road, turn right, and right again, to arrive at a highlight of this craft beer golden triangle – the cavernous, cool Grifter Brewing, complete with pool tables. Vast silvery vats demonstrate the volume of the brewing Grifter undertakes to meet demand.

Ever-popular Grifter Pale ale tops the bar list here, followed by Serpent’s Kiss — a watermelon pilsner.

Seasonal and limited release beers rotate, but the core favourites are always on tap. Order food from the menu of the Vic on the Park Hotel (next door) via QR code, and then collect it over the fence.

Where: 1/391-397 Enmore Road, Marrickville
When: Wednesday to Sunday

How to get to here: Begin your tour at Sydenham Station. When it’s time to call it a day — or a night — on your Marrickville brewery tour, hop on a bus on Victoria Road to train stations or back to the city. Check out our guide to using Sydney’s public transport for tips.

If you are travelling alone or prefer to have a guide, you may prefer to join a group Brewery Tour covering Marrickville and inner west breweries. These often include behind-the-scenes tours, a chance to ask questions about the brewing process, a beer tasting session of the finest quality beer and, of course, transport!

Got a question? Head over to our Sydney Expert Facebook Group and ask a local.