Crafty Robot Brewing

Have you ever tried coming up with a name for, well, anything? From kids to businesses, it’s harder than you might think. So it was for Genevieve and Damien Rowe of Crafty Robot Brewing, who ended up naming their Grote Street brewery for a few things: Damien’s background in science and his nickname growing up (“robot”), and craft beer, naturally. Along with robo-Mascot Eddie, the team opened their place in the autumn of 2023.

A homebrewer turned pro, Damien studied brewing in the US before returning home to work at Mismatch. At Crafty Robot, he’s making small-batch beers with love for both the classics and new-world styles. That means you’ll find a crisp, sessionable lager made to the letter, plus anything from a red XPA to a vanilla-and-raspberry stout pouring on tap.

The family- and pooch-friendly beer garden is where many punters park up for a session, on picnic tables shaded by big umbrellas. As at any good brewery, a tasting paddle here is highly encouraged as there's always something new to try. Local wines, spirits and ciders are also on hand for non-beer drinkers.

A session here also involves Detroit-style pizza courtesy of Lost in a Forest co-founder Charlie Lawrence. He’s lifted his Square Slice game from his beloved, now-closed Adelaide hills eatery and brought it here, using pans imported from Michigan and a signature cheese blend to create that authentic Detroit-style cheese "crown". Come for twists on classic flavours you’d find in the states – including the Buzzbomb (sopressa, mozzarella and Lawrence’s signature chilli-infused honey); and the Jesus Fish (anchovies, confit garlic, chilli, parmesan, mozzarella and panko).