Nestled on a hilltop west of Kingscliff, Red Earth Brewery is aptly named in honour of the Tweed’s rich volcanic soil.
In November 2019, the huge wooden doors of the repurposed packing shed swung open for the first time, letting in a stream of thirsty locals eager to try the selection of beer on offer from the area’s latest craft brewery.
Hatched from an idea of how to diversify their avocado farm, owners Marty and Liz Hannah took on three other partners to open their venture: Zeke Hower, Head Brewer (formerly of Stone & Wood), Tom Lee Lewes and Richie Foreman, a former rescue helicopter team.
Enter through the front doors to face a rustic corrugated back wall decorated with the best collection of vintage ‘Doors to Nowhere’ that we’ve seen, starkly contrasting with the dozen gleaming fermenting tanks.
When we visit, there are five beers on offer: their core range of four (Rising Sun Pale Ale, Mango Ale, Fruit Tree Neipa and Lightning Lager) plus a seasonal release that comes out monthly. There’s also a selection of Jilly Wines and locally made Gurbuchi (an Aboriginal native kombucha) available.
Part of the tightly knit farming community of the region, the brewery’s slogan is ‘Brewed by mates for mates’. It’s a mateship that gets businesses working together, with by-product spent grain from the brewery being used by Farm & Co to feed their rescue pigs, as well as by Byron Bay Cracker Co. to make the crackers used in Red Earth’s snack platters.
Talking food, patrons are well-catered for with a bar menu of estate avocado guacamole and mango salsa with Burringbar’s Doña Cholita totopos, Alstonville Quality Meats’ Red Earth’s IPA-soaked beef jerky and smoked Sicilian olives, Burringbar’s Cheeses Loves You cheeses served up alongside fare from a rotating fleet of around twenty local food trucks.
Got no plans for the weekend? We can’t think of a better time or place to sample a good brew than Friday Happy Hour (3.30 – 6pm) at Red Earth when $6 schooners are on offer, along with live entertainment. Alternatively, combine your visit with lunch down the road at Farm & Co. It’s worth travelling south to embark on a country adventure in our great Tweed food bowl.
Red Earth Brewery, 592 Cudgen Rd., Kingscliff NSW, Ph: 0491 729 326 Open: Fri – Sun 11am – 8pm
NOTE: Good Food Gold Coast visited Red Earth brewery as a guest.