We're a brewery sitting in the middle of wine country, and we like that. It keeps us honest. Right next door is Peter Drayton Wines, one of the region's longest-running family wineries - and then there's us, pouring twelve beers on tap at the same cellar door on Hermitage Road.
IronBark Hill Brewing Co started on a modest 200-litre German brewing system back in 2016, built on a hunch that a craft brewery could thrive in wine country. A few years and a lot of grain later, we're running a 1,200-litre system with ten tanks, and picking up medals at the Sydney Royal Beer & Cider Show and Australian Independent Beer Awards.
Here's the full rundown of what's pouring - and what to eat with each one.
Summer Ale - The Dual Gold Medallist
3.5% ABV | Australian Galaxy & Citra hops, rolled oats, single origin Australian malted wheat
If one beer sums up our approach, it's this one. Brewed with Australian Galaxy hops and a hint of Citra, the Summer Ale delivers fresh passionfruit and pineapple on the palate, backed by a dry malt backbone from rolled oats and organic wheat. At 3.5%, it's sessionable without being boring - which is probably why it took home Gold at the 2023 and 2025 Sydney Royal Beer & Cider Show.
Eat it with: Fish tacos, a fresh prawn roll, or a margherita pizza from our Wildstreak Pizzeria. The tropical fruit notes love anything with a squeeze of lime.
Far Canal Lager - The Aussie Classic
4.0% ABV | All Australian hops, single origin malts
Yes, the name gets a double take. It's trademarked. And once you taste it, you'll remember it for more than the label.
Far Canal is a classic Australian lager - all Australian hops, single origin malts, subtle flavours of biscuit and malt with a residual sweetness and light bitterness. It's the kind of beer that doesn't try to be clever. It just does its job perfectly, cold after cold. Silver Medal at the 2024 Australian Independent Beer Awards.
Eat it with: A cheeseburger, hot chips with aioli, or honestly just a warm afternoon in the beer garden. It's a crowd-pleaser.
American Pale Ale - Our Most Popular Beer
5.2% ABV | All American hops, single origin Voyager malts
This is the one that keeps regulars coming back. Brewed with all American hops and single origin malts from Voyager, it hits you with pine, crisp citrus and juicy tropical notes before finishing with a solid, satisfying bitterness. Two-time Silver medallist at the Sydney Royal (2023 and 2024) and our top seller for a reason.
Eat it with: Pepperoni pizza, a chicken schnitzel, or spicy buffalo wings. The bitterness cuts through richness like it was designed to.
Hazy Train Hazy Pale - The Smooth Operator
4.3% ABV | American hops
If you like your pale ales on the softer, juicier side, this is your stop. Hazy Train is our sessionable hazy - bursting with ripe mango, papaya and melon, layered with pine, lime and a touch of dankness from the American hops. No harsh bitterness here, just a smooth, tropical ride.
Eat it with: Poke bowls, Thai green curry, or a fresh salad with grilled haloumi. The stone fruit and melon notes play beautifully with lighter, vibrant dishes.
Hop Circus IPA - For the Hop Heads
6.5% ABV | Centennial, Citra, Mosaic & Simcoe hops
Our 30th beer to be canned - and one of the fastest sellers since we released it. The hop bill reads like a greatest hits: Centennial, Citra, Mosaic and Simcoe. The result is vibrant citrus and tropical characters, bright aromas of grapefruit and mango, with piney undertones and subtle earthy notes rounding it out. At 6.5%, it's got some weight, but it carries it well.
Eat it with: BBQ ribs, smoked brisket, or a sharp cheddar ploughman's. The bold hops need bold food.
Black Forest Stout - The Gold Medal Dessert Beer
5.2% ABV | English hops, single origin Australian Ale malt, Chocolate malt, roasted barley, fresh cherries & dark chocolate
This one's a fan favourite that keeps coming back by popular demand - and it's on tap right now. Brewed with English hops, single origin Australian Ale malt, Chocolate malt and roasted barley, then finished with fresh pureed cherries and real dark chocolate added late in fermentation. The result is an indulgent stout reminiscent of Black Forest Cake - rich, smooth, and dangerously drinkable for a dark beer. Gold Medal at the 2023 Australian Independent Beer Awards and Silver at the Sydney Royal in the same year.
Eat it with: A chocolate brownie, vanilla bean ice cream, or a rich beef cheek pie. This is a dessert beer that also happens to pair brilliantly with slow-cooked red meat.
Smooth Sailing Ginger Beer - The Wildcard
4.0% ABV | Brewed in collaboration with Wildstreak Distillery
This one comes from a collaboration between the brewery and our onsite distillery, Wildstreak. It's a Caribbean-inspired ginger beer - zesty, sweet and refreshing, with real ginger bite. Not your standard mixer, either - this is a proper drinking ginger beer at 4% ABV.
Eat it with: Jerk chicken, salt-and-pepper squid, or a slice of sticky date pudding. The ginger spice bridges sweet and savoury.
Can't Decide? Try the Discovery Pack
If you want to taste the full range without committing to a carton of each, the Discovery Pack ($90) is a hand-picked selection of our core range - a great way to find your favourite without leaving the couch.
Visit the Brewery
Of course, the best way to taste any of these is on tap in our beer garden. IronBark Hill Brewing Co is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am-4pm, at 694 Hermitage Road, Pokolbin - just six minutes off the Hunter Expressway. Grab a paddle, order a pizza from the Wildstreak Pizzeria, and let the kids and dogs run around while you work through the tap list.
See you at the bar. 🍻
