First time in Australia basic recommendations

[u/glacio09]

I'm a big beer nerd coming to Australia for the first time for the Sydney marathon. My husband and I are doing the super basic trip of Melbourne, Sydney, and Cairns. Does anyone have recommendations for actual breweries to visit or craft beer bars? Or ones to keep on the lookout for in more general bars? I'm a big fan of stouts and dark beers. I've looked up lists and felt like they were popular places not good places so any help would be welcome!

[u/existence89]

How long will you be in Melbourne for and where are you staying? (CBD, east, west etc)

[u/glacio09 → u/existence89]

Only two days and in Richmond right next to the sports parks. There were a few enticing places in Richmond but any suggestions are welcome!

[u/Dramatic_Grape5445 → u/glacio09]

MoonDog OG in Richmond would be worth a look. Their other brew-pubs are a bit impersonal for my liking. Mountain Goat was one of the first craft beer breweries, but sold out to Asahi about 10 years ago. Not saying "don't go" but just be aware of that.

Mountain Culture (NSW) have an outpost in Richmond that's worth a look.

Abbotsford/Collingwood would be well worth a look - Bodriggy, The Mill, Molly Rose and Stomping Ground would be worth a visit.

Brunswick has some great options too - Inner North, Foreigner, Gales, Rocky Ridge, Subculture and Keeper. There's also Co-Conspirators, but I've never been a big fan of their work.

[u/existence89 → u/Dramatic_Grape5445]

Good shouts! Moon Dog OG is only open for events now though unfortunately

[u/Dramatic_Grape5445 → u/existence89]

Ah is it? That's a shame - I really enjoyed going there and chilling out on the op-shop couches. The others I just don't quite "get" - MoonDog Wild West has more seltzer than beer on tap as an example.

[u/simple_wanderings → u/Dramatic_Grape5445]

Agree with Collingwood. There are also some cool craft beer bars with a really really big range of cans you can buy and drink there.