Scottish craft-beer brand Brewdog seems set on world domination, having opened dozens of bars, pubs, hotels and breweries across the globe since launching in 2007, including taprooms in Brisbane and now, the historic Pentridge Prison site in Coburg.

The brewery, which attracted criticism for its recent “anti-sponsorship” advertising for the Qatar World Cup and its workplace culture, has partnered with Australian Venue Co (AVC) for the Melbourne opening. The local hospitality juggernaut operates more than 180 venues nationwide, including a raft in Melbourne, such as Garden State Hotel, and The Espy – and it’s given Pentridge’s more than 1000-square-metre E Division a redo.

The prison yard is now a beer garden with a timber deck and 26-tap container bar, while the old bluestone building is all high ceilings and cosy nooks, kitted out in Brewdog style. “It’s industrial … that sort of stone and metal,” Evan Gargaro, AVC state manager, tells Broadsheet. “You definitely feel like you’re in a Brewdog bar.”

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The beers all come fresh from Brisbane and, while many will be familiar for Brewdog drinkers, there have been a few localised tweaks. “Brewdog is known for IPAs and pale ales, but they found in the Australian market that we prefer lighter-style beers,” says venue manager Harrison Jones. That means the well-known Punk IPA has gotten a little pop-punk. “It’s Punk XPA in Australia,” says Jones. “It’s a bit lighter … more based around the Balter, Stone & Wood-style beers that are popular [here].” Other Aussie-exclusive brews include Shandy Shack (a mid-strength lemonade-and-lager ode to the RSL classic), Brown Snake Ginger Beer and a Melbourne-only E Division Pale Ale.

Brewdog has found notoriety over the years for over-the-top ales like End of History, a 55-per-cent alcohol beer packaged in a taxidermied squirrel, and its Wonka-esque gold beer can promo.

The food menu is half plant-based and leans on Brewdog favourites like sticky-glazed wings with blue-cheese sauce and 200-gram smashed-patty burgers, but AVC executive chef Telina Menzies has squeezed in some local favourites. “We’ve got six amazing parmas,” she says. There’s a classic pub-style chicken, two plant-based options and a caesar-salad-inspired one topped with bacon, a soft egg and croutons.

Elsewhere, the “Hoppy Meal” combo comes with a burger, a drink, a Brewdog toy and special dessert. “We made an amazing gelato with Shandy Shack, and you get like a 50-cent cone with that,” says Menzies. “If you have two scoops, you have a standard drink.”

Brewdog Pentridge
Pentridge Prison, E Building, T101/1 Champ Street, Coburg

Hours:
Mon to Wed 12pm–10pm
Thu 12pm–11am
Fri & Sat 12pm–1am
Sun 12pm–10pm

brewdog.com/au/pentridge