Tallboy and Moose

ON A SATURDAY arvo, parents are letting their toddlers go free-range among the toys and books in the play area of Preston’s newest brewery bar. Older kids thwack ping-pong balls next to the shiny steel brewing equipment. An excellent indierock soundtrack completes the backyard barbecue scene. Fear not if you find kids a bother – there’s enough space here that they won’t encroach upon yours. It’s a big, light-industrial warehouse with a long wooden bar, a hanging garden of potted ferns, and frosted windows throwing late afternoon light across a speckled concrete floor. On pour are Tallboy and Moose’s excellent beers, all made on the premises. Expect an engaging mix of on-trend styles and easy drinkers like OPA (Hoppy Oat Pale Ale). Honey I Shrunk the North East IPA follows the trend of adding hops during, rather than after, fermentation that was pioneered by American microbrewers in New England. The technique creates a texture and flavour that can only be described as juicy – pulling the fruit characteristics from the hops without the intense bitterness and creating a texture akin to orange juice. Cream ale is easydrinking fun, understandably their most popular beer right now, while Honey I Shrunk the Porter is another mercifully low-alcohol cracker with all the coffee and dark chocolate bitter sweetness you want but the light texture that summertime drinking needs. If you’re keen for a feed you’ll usually find a food truck parked out front in the umbrellafestooned courtyard.