The craft beer scene in Sydney over the last few years has been a bit of a desert wasteland – those pubs offering true beer with real flavour have been few and far between. It has been somewhat frustrating to see the slow Sydney growth, while in Western Australia, Victoria and South Australia (almost anywhere but here!) the industry has been alive and thriving for quite some time.

Thankfully though, things have begun to change and consumers like yourselves are beginning to search out and demand new beers with amazing taste. We have been lucky enough to enjoy a beer (or two!) at some of these brew pubs and thought we would share them with you.

Lord Nelson – Sydney’s oldest licensed pub and home to great beers like the Three Sheets Pale Ale and Old Admiral Old Ale which have been produced on site since 1985. This great historic pub is full of ye old atmosphere on Saturday nights

Redoak Beer Cafe – Australia’s most awarded brewery, with a plethora of Redoak beers available on tap or in the bottle, the beer appreciation dinners here are amazingly matched with fine food and great beer. Be sure to try the Oatmeal Stout.

Schwartz Brewery Hotel (formerly Macquarie Hotel) – With accommodation, pumping live music and great beer on offer, this pub has all your bases covered.

Paddy’s Brewery – located in the Markets Hotel at Flemington, the brewery has 10 beers on tap which it has been producing since 2001.

Harts Pub – home of Rocks Brewing, this great old pub has been operating as a home to craft beer for only a short time but is quickly amassing fans. With an ever changing beer menu its one of our personal favourites for a Saturday night or Sunday afternoon reading the paper.

4 Pines – a place with great beer, great food and great atmosphere. Once you step off the ferry at Manly and into 4 Pines you’ll be in beer heaven!

Murrays at Manly – Murrays have been producing excellent beers at their base in Port Stephens for quite some time. Now they have also taken up a spot in Manly where you can get all their brews while watching surfers in action ripping up the waves.

Australian Brewery – based at Rouse Hill and established in July 2010, this is on our “to visit list” of new breweries to get to. Luckily we’re going to also get their beer in store!

And reviewing the list above maybe things aren’t too bad – plus there’s also some great craft beer pubs such as The Taphouse, Australian Hotel, Pumphouse and King Street Brewhouse.