SOCIAL BANDIT BREWING CO

Jeff Whyte makes beer in small batches with the Austrian-made copper equipment he acquired from a defunct Japanese brewery. He uses local hops from Myrtleford in some beers, rye from a local baker in others. The brewery occupies the same space as a bar that’s pieced together from salvaged materials and recycled furniture. Add a stone-floored pizza oven, a list of local wine and street art spray-painted on a wall and it might sound like overkill. But the focus stays on the beer, a dozen of them on tap. Don’t miss the smooth, mature Jackie Brown Ale, hoppy Triggered pale ale, grassy wet-hopped Delinquent IPA and The Heff, an impressive version of a

German hefeweizen. Social Bandit Brewing Co,

223 Mt Buller Rd, Mansfield, (03) 5775 3281; open Thu-Sun 11am-9pm