Mountain Goat has been brewing in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond since before craft beer was even called “craft beer”. It was founded by mates Cam Hines and Dave Bonighton in 1997 and sold to Asahi in 2015.

Now, Mountain Goat – which helped pioneer organic beer in Australia with its Organic Steam Ale – has a Sydney brewery in the heart of Newtown’s south King Street. There are four fermenters brewing beers that are only available in Newtown, with 12 taps pouring Mountain Goat’s range, including the crisp Organic Steam Ale; the hoppy, fruity Pale Ale; and the Summer Ale.

One such exclusive beer is the Newtopia Pale Ale: a US-style ale with notes of citrus and stone fruit. It's light, tropical and perfect for summer sessions in the beer garden out back of the brewery.

This space was once a furniture store, but has been completely refitted. The vertical walls of the sawtooth roof have been replaced with glass, creating a surprisingly bright space behind the street side’s windowless front wall. A beer garden offers outdoor seating, and fermenting and brite tanks are displayed at one side of the bar. The space reflects what Mountain Goat is about: really good beer.

The menu here is an extended line-up of pub classics: hot wings, burgers, schnitzels and a 300-gram rump streak with grain mustard and beer butter. Given the brewery is in the heart of Newtown’s vegan strip, there is also a handful of plant-based options, including the charred field-mushroom burger; gnocchi with zucchini, garlic, kale and fresh ricotta; hearty salads; and vegetarian pizzas.