Collingwood’s Molly Rose Goes “Beer Hall Chic” With a New Menu and a New Head Chef

In 2023, when founder Nic Sandery expanded Molly Rose’s small Collingwood taproom, he upended brewery expectations by opening a slick Southeast Asian restaurant (one that served one of the best set menus in town).  

“The Southeast Asian menu was really excellent, but it started to feel like maybe we were missing the point,” Sandery says. “The menu wasn’t quite aligning to the sort of service that we’re offering, the kind of experience we want people to have. It was feeling a bit too stuffy, a bit too restaurant-y. So we thought we’d make things a bit more relaxed, open the space up and lean into being a beer hall rather than a restaurant.”

The Hot Listed brewery’s new food menu, driven by new head chef Sam Field (ex-The European), takes inspiration from European beer halls and pairs well with drinks. Mains include chicken schnitzel with sauerkraut, mashed potatoes and pepper sauce; pan-fried barramundi with sauteed potatoes and greens; and a kohlrabi parma.

A sizable lamb rump is a great sharing option, as well as a beer focaccia. “It’s as simple as swapping out the water for beer,” Sandery says. “We’ve been experimenting with a bunch of our beers and getting some pretty interesting results, so we’re keen to serve a few of those.”

Weekly specials will include a happy hour that runs from 4pm to 6pm Wednesday through Friday, trivia and burger nights on Wednesdays, and $25 steak nights on Fridays. There’ll also be vinyl nights where local musicians and artists can bring and play records from their collections.

There have been some small changes to the fit-out, intended to help the venue feel “Collingwood beer hall chic”. The dining room has been opened up, and a glass wall surrounding the kitchen has been removed. Long picnic tables have been added, encouraging larger groups and some co-mingling.

Ultimately, the shift is about returning the focus to the glass. “The best beers I’ve had are all tied to the experience and how I felt at the time,” Sandery says. “So much of the enjoyment is derived from how you’re feeling, what you’re seeing, how you’re interacting with other people – if you give people a fantastic experience it makes the beer taste better.”

Molly Rose Brewery
279/285 Wellington Street, Collingwood
(03) 9113 6046

Hours:
Wed & Thu 4pm-10pm
Fri 4pm-late
Sat midday-lateSun midday-6pm

mollyrosebrewing.com
@mollyrosebrewing