The Valley Brewhouse: Where Heritage Meets Craft Beer Excellence

Source: The Valley Brewhouse

Welcoming visitors to the Hunter Valley's famed wine country, The Valley Brewhouse stands as a testament to both regional history and the evolution of Australia's craft beer movement. With its distinctive heritage-listed beehive-shaped red brick kilns visible from Wine Country Drive in Nulkaba, this venue represents far more than just another stop on the tourist trail—it's where the Hunter Valley's craft beer story truly began.

The kilns that now serve as the venue's iconic landmark once formed the heart of a thriving brickworks operation dating back to 1880. For nearly a century, this 10-acre site produced the bricks, roofing tiles, and sewage pipes that built the region. At its peak, the brickworks employed more workers than any business outside the local mines.

The property's transformation began in 1989 when it became a tavern, with accommodation added in 2002. The real revolution occurred in 2003 with the establishment of the brewery under founding Head Brewer Luke Scott. This made it the region's first craft brewery, emerging just as mainstream breweries were closing their doors.

Since 2007, Keith Grice has led the brewing operations, and his impact on the Hunter Valley's craft beer scene cannot be overstated. "When we started out here, there were around 50 breweries in Australia," Grice recalls. "Now, even in this economic climate, there are around 700. Blue Tongue came along just after us, but we were the original craft brewery in the region after all the mainstream closures in the 80s."

Grice's journey into brewing began unexpectedly. After moving to Newcastle to study chemistry, he initially harboured academic ambitions. "I used to make home brews as a student to make cheap beer, but it wasn't until years later, when I took it up as a hobby, running science experiments in my garage, that I caught the beer bug! It became an obsession, and it just made sense to get a job to subsidise my brewing habit!" His two decades at the brewery have earned him multiple awards.

In early 2024, Campbell Rogers and business partner Josh Gamgee of Rogers Hotels purchased the property. Rogers brings extensive experience from managing venues including the Sunnyside Tavern, the Mayfield Hotel, and the Holmesville Hotel.

Source: The Valley Brewhouse

"It's all about creating an environment that people enjoy and want to spend time in," Rogers explains. "It has to be fun, safe, and serve delicious food. All our venues are a little different and a bit quirky in their own way. The Valley Brewhouse is obviously a craft beer brewery, and it's our first time working in this space. It's a lot of fun."

The brewery's unique location near wine country shapes its approach to beer-making. "Being so close to wine country means our market is a bit different," says Grice. "People are on a visit, on holiday, looking for fun experiences, and wanting to try different things. We tailor our beers to suit that market. We have a small core range, and we do a lot of one-off limited releases."

Working alongside fellow brewer Daniel Gayner and Cellar Door Manager Claire Bullen, Grice continues to push boundaries. Their collaboration has produced inventive brews, such as the Bounty Hunter, a coconut- and chocolate-flavoured stout inspired by Bullen's love of Bounty Bars. The team constantly experiments with limited releases, from German-influenced Oktoberfest beers to seasonal specials. Visitors can experience the brewery through comprehensive tours on Fridays at 5pm and Saturdays at noon and 5pm, or guided tastings Tuesday through Saturday at 11am and 2pm. The core range includes the approachable Draught—Grice's self-described "gateway beer"— alongside favourites like the tropical Hazy Pale Ale and various limited editions.

Beyond beer, The Valley Brewhouse offers a complete entertainment experience. The bistro serves premium pub meals throughout the week, while the Smoke House Kitchen operates weekends in the outdoor Beer Garden, serving smoked meats from 11.30am to 5pm.

Live entertainment fills the venue every weekend, with monthly Beer Pre-Launch evenings featuring new releases paired with canapés for $49 per person, followed by Blues Sundays showcasing limited-release beers, smoked meats, and live music.

Set across five acres with twenty picnic tables, a massive new kids' playground, and multiple function areas, including the renovated KilnHaus event space, The Valley Brewhouse welcomes locals and tourists alike. With ten craft beers on tap and genuine passion driving every pour, it's where Hunter Valley's brewing heritage continues to evolve.