Can’t go past the Irish pub in Civic near the bus interchange – just a nice atmosphere and they server Guiness.

George Harcourt for cheap good grub and bulmers.

A DUI bike ride away from home too

You gotta love the Wig & Pen in Civic for the best, freshest and most interesting tap beer in Canberra.

And Plonk! A tiny little shop full of interesting imported beers from around the globe and heaps of domestic craft beers (…and not a single VB).

Although I hear they’re in the process of moving to bigger premises at the moment, anyone heard any rumours about where that might be?

Debacle is a joke. The beer there is so over-priced, that anyone other than people in the high income bracket, or people just there for a couple of pints find it unaffordable.

I’m presuming the Irish pub near the Civic bus interchange you are referring to canberracafe.com is King O’Malleys? If so, then I agree, it has a great atmosphere, and the beer is reasonably priced also, which probably makes it my overall favourite.

Wig & Pen is also fantastic for the beer, but the shop itself is far too small, and the layout does not do well with the limited space provided.

lumnock said :

]
Wig & Pen is also fantastic for the beer, but the shop itself is far too small, and the layout does not do well with the limited space provided.

Oh, true, the Wig&Pen is small – but when I said Plonk I meant a beer shop called Plonk in Manuka…

I have spent enough time at the Wig and Pen to have worn a VicePapal groove into some of the furniture. The beer is good – if you can’t find something that suits, you really shouldn’t be drinking. The food is, perhaps, a bit one-noteish – pretty well done, but some change would reward the regulars.

Best grog shop is George’s Liqour in Dundas Court, Phillip.

PJ’s on West Row is just as good as Kingos and has better beer prices.

yeah I was referring to King O’Malley’s.. Great pub, lots of room.

sirocco said :

And Plonk! A tiny little shop full of interesting imported beers from around the globe and heaps of domestic craft beers (…and not a single VB).

Although I hear they’re in the process of moving to bigger premises at the moment, anyone heard any rumours about where that might be?

All I know is… they’re closed at the moment (very sad!). The online whitepages listing still shows the same old address but they’re not there any more. Nor is there a sign saying where they are moving to.

List of bottle shops with a decent beer range:

•Vintage Cellars Oaks Estate (not affiliated with the Coles chain)
•First Choice Phillip
•Cox Kelly, Uni Ave Civic
•George’s Liquor Stable Phillip
•Braddon Cellars
•Dan Murphy’s Belconnen (especially when you can get a six pack of Tui, the greatest beer ever brewed, for only $15, right Mael?)

Pubs with an unusually good range of beers on tap:

•Wig and Pen
•Debacle
•Belgian Beer Cafe
•Transit Bar (only place in town with Matilda Bay’s Alpha Pale Ale)
•Harmonie German Club
•and Filthy’s/Durham between them have a few unusual ones.

As for bottled beers, notable mention goes to Kremlin Bar on Northbourne, which has a range of Baltika beers from St Petersburg. There are many different styles in the range, many of which are awful, but worth a try for something different.

I’m pretty sure I’ve seen all the places for decent beer in Canberra, but maybe there’s a gem somewhere that I’m missing out on. You’ll never find me in a pub or club that doesn’t serve either Cooper’s or Zierholz. Fortunately there are a few southside venues not too far from home that have Zierholz on tap – Deakin Soccer Club, Woden Tradies and the Hellenic Club. Thanks for that Christoph; when I feel like a beer at 3am and I have to go to the Tradies, finally I can enjoy a pint of something decent and not have to settle for Pure Blonde.

oh sorry, forgot to add Plonk! to that list, they had a pretty average range when they started but now they’re selling a pretty solid range of small NSW microbrewery beers. Worth a look.

Danman said :

George Harcourt for cheap good grub and bulmers.

A DUI bike ride away from home too

I second the George. Good for a few pints and a good cheap meal. Good atmosphere and friendly service. Best pub available for Gungahlin area. I also don’t mind the G Lakes if you count that as a pub.

My favourite grog shop is Dan Murphys in Belcompton Westfield. Great range of booze and it is always cheap. Probably better for their wine selection though. As for a convenient bottle-o for Gungahlin, Denman Cellars is quite good.

I like this pub at the moment:

Best pub since Pamela Andersons Norks

I think Plonk might have closed down. I am going through there today so I will check, but i did here it closed.

I also heard it from the proprietor a few months ago that he was considering moving to Narrabundah or some other (non Manuka or Kingston) inner south location. Said the parking situation was pretty ordinary for his patrons in the current location and he could get better rent and larger premises elsewhere, but as mentioned earlier, no indication that’s happened.

mouthface – he’s defintely closed at his Manuka location. Shame.. a very friendly fellow. Hope he does reopen somewhere!

Do any of them have Cafferys on tap ?

@Meconium – yep, thats right. If a proprieter of a booze purveying venue *cough* the Durham *cough* were to put Tui on tap, he’d increase his patronage by a whole heap.

Then Ingee would complain because neither would he be able to get a seat, the menu would only have ‘fush and chups thunkscuz’ on it.

wig and pen – best beer in canberra, maybe the known universe. maybe not, but’s good but. small but too but. so stay away. stay.

i have a good source of ansa – pints (500ml) for $17 a six pack, but not telling where. big jim usually has a good range, but too far for me just for a bottle of beer.

Dan Murphy’s in Tuggers has a good range of Australian and imported beers – not all of it cold. Anywhere with Zierholz on tap is ok with me. If you’ve got the patience try making your own. The guys down at Kambah Village will set you up with everything you need.

Danman said :

George Harcourt for cheap good grub and bulmers.

A DUI bike ride away from home too

except when I was more adventurous and walked home on a thursday night, back when foxy was playing the oldies and goodies – stuff you could sing to….

Danman said :

George Harcourt for cheap good grub and bulmers.

A DUI bike ride away from home too

except when I was more adventurous and walked home on a thursday night, back when foxy was playing the oldies and goodies – stuff you could sing to….

Clown Killer said :

Dan Murphy’s in Tuggers has a good range of Australian and imported beers – not all of it cold. Anywhere with Zierholz on tap is ok with me. If you’ve got the patience try making your own. The guys down at Kambah Village will set you up with everything you need.

both at the bar or the bottle shop. great free entertainment when some patrons have had a skin full as well…

I actually meant the home brew store around the back of the shops, but yes coming to think of it the chaps at the tavern will probably set you up with anything you need – or if they don’t have it, they probably know a guy who can get his hands on one … just meet back here in two hours …

LOL isn’t there a famous tagline about the watering hole in Kambah..?

As the weeks go by and I lay the slab down for my shed I get closer to brewing in kegs at home.. Then Ill have my own bee-ah on tap Even going to make an illuminated solar powered automatic sign that says “Bar Danman” in old english font

in this forum, does anyone know where I can get a-hold of coopers vintage? my local liquor has stopped selling it, and I am too long between care packages from SA…

Devon?? what the hell is that? Try bung fritz – devon will be nothing more than a nasty memory….

Peterh, last couple of places I saw Coopers Vintage Ale in Canberra was Dan Murphy’s in Tuggeranong, that would have been a couple of weeks ago.

First Choice (bro) in Phillip have Vintage Ale. If you like Tui so much head to Rotorua in NZ, while I was there I had so many vouchers giv for free pints of Tui given to me, I couldnt drink them all!

I like the Wig and Pen as well. I reckon Canberra is big enough to support another brewpub. Zierholz brewpub anyone? I love the ones in Sydney. Lord Nelson and Redoak are two of my favourites. Redoak makes probably the best beer ever, Im drooling thinking about their Honeyale now…..

The bottle shop in Gungahlin TC, down near the pizza shops and McDonalds gets my vote.
Dan Murphy at Belconnen Mall is good too.

As for pubs, I’ve only been to George Harcourt a couple of times, not overly impressed with it, can’t swing a kitten inside and meals are average. I quite like O’Neil’s Irish pub in Dickson.

I would like to make special mention of the bottle shop at Erindale between Pizza Hut and the Cheesecake shop. The service there is excellent. Nothing is too much trouble for the owners, in fact im sure if you asked them to break a bottle over their heads for your amusement they probably would. the ber selection is decent for a shop that size, and they also stock the best Jerky in Australia. I recommend the Honey Pork Jerky, its excellent.