Tara Tour
Tara Distillery is a craft distiller located near South Nowra, surrounded by sheep- and cattle-owned properties. You and your group can sample a wide range of handcrafted gins and whiskeys. The group can also enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour. Sitting under the pot still made of burnished copper (Grainne is named after the Irish goddess for harvest), they will learn about Tara’s spirits that celebrate Irish history as well as fresh ingredients found in the Shoalhaven. The distiller will also give you an insight into its sustainable ethos. This includes feeding spent grain from Tara’s whiskey, poitin (Irish Moonshine), and vodka mashes to local cattle.
Takeaway pick: Grab a bottle of the Tara Pot Still Gin. This award-winning spirit has been infused with 17 different botanicals, including sea lettuce that was foraged on local beaches.
Ruffle your feathers
A beer garden is the perfect place to spend a lazy weekend afternoon. With a cold brew and sun on your back, it’s hard to beat. The Flamin Galah Brewing Co. has a giant beer garden in the back. It is located on the Huskisson industrial brewery (Jervis Bay Brewin Co around the corner) and is not far from Jervis Beach. The bar has galah pink seats. Browse the selection (the tinnies have been relaunched recently and are beautiful). The Nest food truck serves shareable dishes like vegan quesadillas, bao buns, and battered flathead tacos.
Top pick for takeaway: Grab a few cans from the FGPA (Flamin Galah Pale Ale), featuring a surfer in a relaxed pose on the tinnie. Dog lovers may prefer the XPA just for its hound-inspired art.
Espresso stout is a great way to get hyper.
South Yeast Brewing, an industrial estate microbrewery located in North Nowra, was founded by twins Simon Panucci and Joey Panucci. They pour some interesting frothies. The current lineup of taps may include Cherry Bomb, a sour beer. Past creations have included a banana milkshake ale and an IPA. They used to make elixirs at Nowra’s hipster Hyper Hyper Coffee. It’s not surprising that they chose their Hyper Stout, a coffee chocolate espresso stout with Hyper Hyper’s European-style Blend 6. South Yeast is a party-oriented venue with a rotating lineup of food trucks and live musicians.
Top pick for takeaway: After settling on your favorite, fill up a growler/squealer and bring it home.
Salt is a great addition to any dish.
You’ll all love Old-Salt Distillery if you and your friends are on a road trip together. The distillery opened in South Nowra, NSW, in March 2022. It offers small-batch spirits, liqueurs, beers, and seltzers. The modern space is unlike most industrial-estate distilleries and breweries. It features an open kitchen, a wood-fired grill, and a menu reminiscent of the couple’s past fine dining experience (they worked together at Sepia, Sydney). While you’re there, order a few plates of barbecued corn with lime butter and corn puree.
Takeaway top pick: Fill a squealer with the Belgian Pale Ale, the cherry sour (made with 20kg of hand-pitted cherries), or the ginger beer with a punch.
Flirt With Danger(ous).
Dangerous Ales Brewery is tucked away within the Milton Hotel. The tinnie art of this brewery is so good that many fans have tattooed the images. Are you more interested in drinks than tattoos? Try the avant-garde Lemon, Lime, and Why So Bitter. Backyard Pale ale or a sour beer. The inventiveness of the brewery knows no bounds. A previous release included Jam on Toast Dark, which used a local sourdough by Lagom Bakers. And word has it that they are working on an oyster stout. Find a table outside to enjoy the inventiveness. Order a few plates of chicken katsu, and sardines served on toast to share.
Top pick for takeaway: Plump for some tins Uncle Damo’s Obligations – a chocolate stout.
Enjoy a relaxing night on the beach.
Spend a few nights at the campground of Ingenia holidays Merry Beach, Kioloa. There are both camping and caravan sites right on the beach. Cabins are also available if you prefer. Fold up your chairs and point them towards the view. Enjoy all the booze you have collected on the way. Save the best for the designated driver who has been responsible all day.