Best of the Best Craft Beer Stores

The Australian beer landscape continues to evolve and today the amber fluid has beerlovers all over the world experimenting with new, innovative and interesting varieties from diverse places and even matching them to food.

For those of us living in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, we have had it pretty good for quite some time with Warners at the Bay Bottle-shop having one of the biggest collections of beer anywhere in Australia and recognised for being the Best Craft Beer store in New South Wales. In 2011 it was also named "Best Craft Beer store in Australia" by Beer & Brewer Magazine.

More than 1,000 boutique beers and around 90 ciders can be found in its fridges and on its shelves, from the most mainstream of local offerings to the most obscure imports from more than 50 countries. They also boast one of the most comprehensive wine selections from all over Australia and some the world’s best grape growing regions.

It's not just bottles of beer on offer either, as they now also have a purpose built beer dispensing system offering eight different draught beers to choose from. The beer is poured into a 2lt “Growler” or a 1lt “Squealer” for the consumer to take home and then return to pick out a new one to try.

The dispenser has been a hit amongst beer geeks and regular drinkers alike and has been doing a roaring trade since going into operation four years ago. Another way to try some new beers is to attend their annual Beer Festival which is held on the last Sunday of November each year – attracting brewers and punters from across NSW and also further afield.

This year will be their 9th event and tickets sell out well in advance each year, so make sure you get your tickets early to avoid missing out. Warners at the Bay Bottle-shop is part of the wider Warners at the Bay operation, a family-owned business that also features a motel, bistro and live entertainment venue. For more information visit www.warnersatthebay.com.au