Booze your way through Regional South Australia
Whether you love a craft beer or you’re a whiskey or gin enthusiast, SA is home to a huge list of unique breweries and distilleries, guaranteed not only to quench your thirst but also offering a great vibe to hang out, explore, and soak up the local atmosphere.
From rugged outback shearing sheds to lush rolling vineyards, South Australia’s regional breweries and distilleries are serving up a taste of our great state’s unique character.
So grab your glass, gather your friends (or your furry companions) and get ready for an unforgettable adventure as you booze your way through ten of the best regional breweries and distilleries across the state.
FLEURIEU BORN & BREWED – Langhorne Creek is best known for being a wine-lovers paradise, but it’s now also home to a unique open-air craft beer bar, with the unveiling of Little Pete Brewing.
Little Pete was founded by Warren and Beck Burgess in 2021. Both hail from an agricultural background – Warren an agronomist with a passion for the science behind brewing, and Beck is a consultant supporting local farmers and organising large-scale agriculture conferences.
Together they’ve created the ultimate destination to sit back, relax and enjoy the fruits of their labour – a nice cold frothie!
Little Pete, named after Warren’s great grandfather who was partial to a pint, offers a casual atmosphere where you can taste and purchase seven of their signature beers, or opt for a Langhorne Creek wine.
The perfect brew isn’t the same without delicious food, and they’ve got you covered with the option to “build your own platters” with local produce from all across the Fleurieu region.
If you’re not a fan of craft beer and want to quench your thirst with a drop that resembles a true traditional non craft beer then you’re in luck! Little Pete Brewing has recently released its flagship beer, “SA Draught”, celebrating South Australia’s rich brewing heritage.
Warren and Beck were previously selling their products directly to consumers while supplying specialized venues and bottle shops across Adelaide, Fleurieu, and the Adelaide Hills, but they are now living their dream by blending craft-beer, community and a stunning natural backdrop.
You can also enjoy their seven signature beers on their lawns where kids and furry friends are welcome.
AT MALLEE SPIRIT DISTILLERY, located in the heart of the Southern Mallee just a stone’s throw from the beautiful town of Lameroo, you can sit back and sip a G&T, Murray Mallee style!
The town’s Mayor, Ron Valentine and wife Robin are the owners of Mallee Spirit, turning a passion for great gin into a unique South Aussie business putting Lameroo on the map.
What started as a side hustle has grown into a must-visit experience for anyone passing through the Mallee region.
They’ve converted an old shearing shed which they call “Nelly” into their distillery and cellar door. The little country gem is rustic, welcoming and full of charm – just like the gins they create.
It all began with Robin’s love of gin, which she discovered during her Adelaide Uni days at the bar.
Over the years, she became a bit of a gin collector, and Ron, thinking it might save them a few bucks, bought her a still so she could make her own. Instead, it sparked a whole new adventure.
They have a diverse range of gins to please the palate including their fresh and citrusy signature Myrtle Gin, the Spice Gin that brings star anise, cardamom, and cinnamon together, or the light and fruity Strawberry Gin. And then there’s the Lemonchello (spelled with a twist), sweet and zesty with a sherbet tang.
A new national release with Garden Street Gin Club is
Mallee Spirits latest creation, Native Citrus – a zesty masterpiece, blending native juniper (boobialla) with the bright, citrusy punch of desert lime. Warm notes of coriander seed and cardamom add depth and balance, making every sip as crisp and invigorating as a summer breeze.
Ron and Robin have also paired their gins with a simple and scrumptious range of light meals, with a focus on local produce.
Next time you’re in the region make sure you swing by for a taste and to add some yarns to the shearing shed.
LOST TIDE SPIRIT CO is a micro distillery located on the foreshore of Stansbury on the stunning Yorke Peninsula.
Keira and her fiancée Bennett founded and operate Lost Tide Spirit Co, from their little beachside cellar door located in the historic Oyster Bay Hotel building overlooking Oyster Bay itself.
What makes this hidden gem even better is that it is joined to the popular Dalrymple Hotel also known as “The Dal” and one of the best seaside country pubs in the state with restaurant quality food.
The distillery’s vodka is the “house pour” at the Dal with many of their offerings featured on the pub’s cocktail menu.
Both Keira and Bennett are passionate distillers and cocktail and mixology enthusiasts, and they are making waves with their handcrafted premium small batch gin, cocktail liqueurs and vodkas that won’t break the budget.
They’ve created a range of classic cocktails with an Australian twist, are developing new liqueurs and cocktail recipes and have many more new and exciting things on the horizon.
Their Dirty Espresso Martini, a collaboration between a skilled barista and distiller, is a must try and their Chai Spiced Liqueur is also a liqueur lovers delight!
Wondering where the name Lost Tide Spirit Co. comes from, it relates to Stansbury’s unique “dodge” tides which happen twice a month, resulting in a day-long period of slack water.
It’s during these moments that fishing is slow on a “lost” tide and so Keira and Bennett reckon it’s the perfect time to enjoy a gin and tonic or a delicious cocktail with friends and family.
So next time you find yourself on the Yorke Peninsula, make sure to stop by
Lost Tide Spirit Co. in Stansbury, where it isn’t just about tasting incredible spirits – it’s about the experience itself!
THE ADELAIDE HILLS is well known for its award winning wineries but it’s fast becoming just as well known on the brewery and distillery scene with Union Bridge Brewing and Distillery leading the way.
Owners Steve O’Connor and Gerri Milham have been handcrafting a diverse range of beverages since 2015—from premium gins and vodkas to sparklings, whiskey, classic English beers plus much more.
Steve and Gerri are true South Aussies and they use time-honored techniques and locally sourced botanicals to ensure they capture the essence of our great state in every bottle.
In 2020 they transformed an old Cold Store in Cudlee Creek with a history going back to 1922 into a 1920’s style magical warm intimate prohibition style brewery, distillery and restaurant.
Not long after opening, it quickly became a must-visit destination in the Adelaide Hills capturing the hearts of those from in and out of the local community.
For those that aren’t a fan of beer, they’ve got you covered with a large range of traditional alcoholic sparklings and homemade sodas including their infamous Sarsparilla and Pine Lime, to name a few.
Union Bridge Brewing and Distillery is dedicated to crafting exceptional experiences and cherished memories.
Their ethos revolves around celebrating life’s most joyous moments and they have something to delight every palate with food that is meticulously prepared from scratch by their head chef with a focus on local ingredients.
LITTLE BLESSINGS BREWING is Laura’s hidden gem and Australia’s only church brewery. This restored 1875 historic church in the picturesque Southern Flinders Ranges has been turned into a craft beer lovers delight, with a newly-released Blessed Blend Gin added to the unique offerings.
The old church brewery was a dream come true for owners Craig and Cat Blesing when it was officially open in 2024.
The Blesings came across the church when staying across the road at Laura Caravan Park – and what was merely a pipe dream became a heavenly reality.
The one-of-a-kind brewery offers crisp refreshing velvety stouts, refreshing ales as well as a selection of other locally sourced beer, wine and spirits. Visitors can sip their favourite brews in the sunshine of the Little Blessings beer garden or surrounded by the incredible original stained glass windows which reminds guests of the amazing history of the church.
A brand new fireplace has also been installed, creating a very warm welcome for those cold days and nights in winter.
The delicious beverages pair perfectly with their menu of tasty finger food and a diverse range of popular food trucks are also available for
Little Blessings guests to enjoy.
SAM AND OLIVIA COLLIVER had a dream of making their own spirits using wheat from the family farm and opening the Yorke Peninsula’s first micro-distillery.
In late 2018 this dream became a reality as they converted an old machinery shed on the property into a micro-distillery which features a tasting room and deck with amazing rural views of some of the best cereal cropping land in the state, stretching all the way to the sea.
The Colliver family have grown their own wheat on the Sunny Hill Farm since 1872 which is used for producing spirits and giving visitors a genuine award winning ‘crop to drop’ experience.
At Sunny Hill Distillery you can sit back, relax and take in the incredible views while pleasing the palate.
You can join Sam on a special behind-the-scenes Distillery Experience, book a Cheese & Cocktail experience or choose your own adventure on a self-guided tasting platter.
It doesn’t stop there, they also offer gins infused with fresh raspberries, heritage roses and native strawberry gum, to coffee liqueur made using the 100 per cent wheat vodka, a combination of Columbian and Ethiopian beans, cold brewed, producing a smooth balance of coffee with notes of chocolate and caramel.
For the fans of chocolate liqueur they also use the world’s finest ethically sourced Belgian cocoa and a chocolate liqueur with premium ‘bourbon’ vanilla beans, a limited release single cask Rum, Limoncello with hand-picked Riverland lemons, and a special release French Oak Brandy, produced in collaboration with neighboring Barley Stacks Wine.
Patrons are also welcome to bring their own picnic, or you can order a Pick and Mix Platter which includes some of the finest fresh South Australian produce, including cheese from Udder Delights and other tasty treats from Martha’s Kitchen.
Get your crew together and enjoy one of the wine, food, and live music events that they host throughout the year. There’s always something happening at
Sunny Hill.
MAINSTREAM BEERS will always have their place, but South Australia is spoilt for choice when it comes to craft beer microbreweries, and Penny Red Beer Co is no exception.
Just 40 minutes from Adelaide in McLaren Flat, Penny Red Beer Co is a laid-back craft brewery where you can kick back with a cold one and even bring your furry friends along. Set in the heart of the Fleurieu Peninsula, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy great beer, good vibes, and some cracking views.
Penny Red Beer Co has 12 taps & one handpump, offering 13 different beers, and the best part is that they are brewed onsite, making it a must visit for any beer lovers!
The story behind the brewery begins with founders Jess and Craig, who relocated to the lucky country from the UK a decade ago, bringing a shared love for craft beer, a new love for the Fleurieu Peninsula – the perfect recipe to create something special.
A permanent food van onsite offers a core range of delicious pizzas, with a mix of special events and mobile caterers throughout the year.
This intimate craft brewery is a local favourite with a cosy fireplace to keep you warm during the cold winter and chilled acoustic vibes to add to the laid back atmosphere.
TIN SHED DISTILLING CO. has opened its first-ever Distillery Door in Nairne, just 20 minutes from the toll gate, offering a new way to soak up the Adelaide Hills. What started as a backyard hobby over 20 years ago has grown into a multi-award-winning brand, with co-founders Vic Orlow and Ian Schmidt at the helm.
Visitors can sample their premium spirits, including whisky, rum, vodka, and gin, all crafted and aged on-site using hands-on techniques. Their Iniquity Whisky, which scooped three awards at the 2024 World Whiskies Awards, is a must-try for whisky lovers. A tour of the barrel room gives you a glimpse into the ageing process, while live music from some of South Australia’s best musicians every Friday to Sunday sets the perfect atmosphere.
But it’s not just about the spirits—Tin Shed also brings a culinary experience to the table. Their smokehouse BBQ, led by head chef Anthony Albrice, features bold, authentic flavors using produce from the Adelaide Hills and across South Australia. Enjoy the menu in their expansive outdoor space, complete with fire pits, a Yoder Smokers pellet smoker, and a Parilla wood grill.
Tin Shed’s new home is more than just a distillery—it’s a destination where great drinks, good food, and even better company come together. Whether you’re a whisky enthusiast or you’re hankering for a classy cocktail without having to drive down the hill, this is one spot worth checking out.
CRAFTING A SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE Sawmill Gin located in Sevenhill overlooks rolling vineyards in the heart of the Clare Valley where they bring their love of Gin to life.
Established in 2022, Sawmill Gin is housed at The Curly Goose, a working vineyard and event centre where you have the opportunity to taste our state’s finest gins at the cellar door with scrumptious chef paired food.
The owners of Sawmill Gin bought a vineyard and didn’t know how to make wine, so they introduced gin to the area instead and they are the first gin distillery in the Clare Valley.
Focused on a traditional approach, the distillery is dedicated to using traditional methods to create incredible products with great results.
Their intimate vineyard gin-making experience is one to tick off the bucket list. It gives you the opportunity to distill your own Gin, enjoy a farmhouse style lunch and take home a bottle of your own creation.
Exciting news for the whiskey lovers, their Mid North Whiskey has passed the initial tests and they recently used the last production day of the year to put down 200 litres of what will be their first Whiskey release.
Sawmill is also celebrating a recent gold medal win for their Mr Wriggles at the Sydney Royal Spirit Awards which is reason in itself to head to the Clare Valley for a tasting with a difference.
MCLAREN VALE is renowned for its world-class wines and stunning landscapes yet this charming town is home to another kind of treasure, The McLaren Vale Distillery.
Established in 2014 by owner Jock Harvey, this award-winning distillery is renowned for producing premium single malt whisky. It also crafts gin and fortified wines, all while maintaining a strong commitment to sustainability.
With six generations of vigneron heritage, the Harvey family’s dedication to quality shines through in every product they craft, earning a legendary reputation and awards in the distilling and wine industries for their single malt spirits.
McLaren Vale Distillery is located on a 127-acre estate and is perched on top of a hill offering guests an incredible view of the surrounding Fleurieu Peninsula landscape, making it a popular destination for weddings and events.
A new tasting room doubles as a warm, inviting function space, perfect for guests to relax and enjoy all year round.
McLaren Vale Distillery offers group tastings, a unique barley to bottle experience where guests can learn about the process from barley to bottle and taste amazing single malt whiskies, gin, liqueur, whisky and fortified wine tastings.
