Newstead Brewing Company

Went down to Newstead Brewing Co for a company lunch and had some of the most scrumptious finger food lunches! Package included a drinks tab and a pre-ordered set menu which had deliciously prepared items like pumpkin arancini balls (my personal favourite on the day) and pizzas. Overall, great atmosphere to be at and enough outdoor heaters to keep us warm. Super friendly staff who kept us well fed, assuring that food is coming out while catering for other patrons within the venue. Definitely would come back again for a proper lunch with mates! Recommend for company lunches or lunch with your family or friends.

A Fallen Legend - I have been a regular, satisfied customer here for over a year; however, since management changed 2-3 months ago portion size of food has dropped dramatically (60% smaller at least) and workers do not seem to care or have the passion for customers. The beers are fantastic, locally brewed beverages, though the brews don't solely make a venue. The photo below was $18 of Buffalo wings, for which I received 6 in total. I used to receive 12-15 wings for the same price. I am very sad; the cost does NOT reflect the quantity. I have been experiencing this for the past few months (since management change) and am greatly upset that Great Newstead Brewery will now only be a distant feeling of nostalgia.

FOOD & DRINK Newstead brews its own beers, and you’ll have over 30 to choose from. I opted for a Grizzly Oatmeal stout. This is serious, industrial strength stuff, with a dark colour and stiff, creamy taste. Great way to start the evening. For the meals, between four of us, we ordered mushroom croquettes ($12), two steak specials at a hefty $34 each (I misread the blackboard, thinking the price was $24) and two pizzas; a Margherita ($19) and a mushroom ($24). Although the croquettes were intended as an entree, everything came out at once. There were four balls to the serve. They were rich and creamy, with a crunchy batter, and accompanied by a spicy aioli sauce. The pizzas were as good as if they’d been prepared in an Italian pizzeria. They were decent sizes and brimming with delicious toppings like mozzarella, onion, mushroom and basil.The bases were thin and crispy. My Black Angus steak was well cooked, just the way I like it, but still tender and full of flavour. It came with roasted shaved pumpkin, sauteed brussel sprouts and a white sauce, the perfect complements to the meat. All the food was of a high quality. Clearly only the best quality ingredients are used, and full marks to the hard working chefs, because their meals are made with love, care and attention to detail. We couldn’t have been happier. My only complaint was the slightly blunt, bent knife that I was given to eat my steak with. AMBIENCE I love the cool, airy and expansive ambience of this place with it’s high ceilings, industrial style decor, strong lighting and the huge beer vats behind glass at the back. There are multiple dining areas, outside under cover or inside. Being a chilly spring eve we sat indoors just in front of the open plan kitchen. It was fairly empty, with just a smattering of other diners, mainly outside. We were virtually the only ones sitting indoors but that didn’t bother us and we enjoyed the calm, unhurried and laid back vibe. SERVICE Service was polite, friendly and efficient. The drill here is that you go up to the bar counter to order and pay, giving the cashier your table number. Then you go back to your table and wait. And yes, it was a bit of a wait of about 20 minutes, but then I guess that’s understandable as everything is delivered freshly cooked to the table. COMFORT We were comfortable at our large table at the back just underneath the giant beer vats. The furniture is fairly utilitarian, with wooden chairs with upholstered seats and large wooden tables with melamine tops. Temp inside was perfect for a cool spring night. The acoustics were good and we were easily able to converse, but that probably had to do with the paucity of other diners rather than any miracle of sound engineering. COST For my wife and I, we paid $84 for two drinks, a starter and two main courses, (a pizza and a steak.) This just shows the extent to which we are rapidly heading towards “Weimar Republic” levels of hyperinflation. Think about it: Two drinks, two meals and an entree at a quiet suburban pub, for 84 pesos. Thanks to the stewards of our economy for putting us in the predicament that we are in. TOILETS There are ample clean and well provisioned toilets down a little corridor behind the bar counter. SUMMARY We had a pleasant and fun evening here and everything ran smoothly. There are plenty of exciting beers to choose from. The food is fresh and tasty, and served in generous portions. Service is professional and efficient, and we enjoyed the casual, relaxed and spacious ambience. The location in Castlemaine Street is convenient, with easy street parking. I would probably avoid this place though on a “match day” or a “match night” given its proximity to the nearby Suncorp Stadium. Prices are on the high side, but then, you will enjoy a superior dining experience. BOOKING You can book online via the company’s own website, and it's a quick and seamless process. You’ll receive a quick confirmation, as well as both email and text reminders of your booking.

We had a great time here. The atmosphere is great with a nice industrial feel without being sterile or cold. The food tasted fantastic and I'm sure they were catering for booked with bigger appetites than us - we couldn't finish an entree an pizza because the serving size was so generous. Fast too - we only had to wait about 15 minutes. But it's the beer that you go for. Great beer expertly made and a great range. I guarantee you'll find something for every craft beer lover. I had the Amercian pale ale called out and a bout which hit the spot. One thing that you need to know is that parking is not great - uber or train are a better option and I'd be amazed if it wasn't packed too the gunnels on game day (view of Suncorp stadium is pretty good)

Fourth visit and always impressed - particularly with great staff often under pressure with pre-footy game queues. Visit last week had brilliant Butterfly Effect IPA (whoah-nelly strong) and faultless Spicy Chicken pizza delivered hot in under 10 minutes despite the crowds (nb not actually spicy unless you call Sriracha spicy - still 10/10). Can't wait for return visit.