NEWCASTLE'S craft breweries are on the map - literally.
For the first time the city's burgeoning independent beer scene has been acknowledged as an important element in Newcastle's continuing diversification as a tourist destination.
Visitors and locals alike will be able to click on the "Brewcastle' interactive brewery map online or pick up a hard copy from hotels, tourism information outlets and bars, to plan their journey around Newcastle's various venues.
The map features breweries Thirsty Messiah, Grainfed, Shout, Method, Good Folk, Rogue Scholar, FogHorn and Modus, as well as craft beer-supportive venues Grainstore, The Edwards, Clarendon Hotel, Carrington Bowling Club, Earp Distilling and Beresfield-based Maltnhops Brewhaus.
The online map will feature detailed information on each venue, including directions, hours of operation, tap lists, menus and whether they're dog or children friendly.
Mini-bus tours will also be incorporated into the beer trail to provide more transport options for visitors.
"I'm already getting people coming down from Sydney because Newcastle is a destination," Thirsty Messiah owner and brewer Thomas Delgatto said.
"This map will really help to make it much easier for people to come down."
Plans to create a Newcastle beer trail, similar to the Inner West Ale Trail in Sydney, have been fermenting since June 2023 when the Newcastle Breweries Association was formed.
Mr Delgatto played a steering role in the submission process for the breweries to access $20,000 from the City of Newcastle's Tourism and Economic Development Sponsorship Program.
That money was spent on developing the beer trail map.
"City of Newcastle is committed to the ongoing sustainable growth of Newcastle's night-time economy through our Newcastle After Dark Strategy, which is focused on creating a safe, diverse, inclusive, vibrant, and creative after-dark eco-system, that offers positive experiences for our community and visitors," a council spokesperson said.
"The brewery trail is a wonderful example of industry collaboration and the bustling small bar and brewery scene that has been enabled in our city through vibrancy and planning reforms."
Newcastle's first craft brewery, FogHorn, opened in 2015 and owner and brewer Shawn Sherlock has watched on with pride as the city's beer scene has continued to grow and develop.
Having the beer scene recognised as an important driver of tourism has been a long-held ambition.
"This will give us a real focal point and opportunity to have something to offer both locals and tourists, and most importantly, the tourism authorities or groups who are looking for experiences to promote in Newcastle," Mr Sherlock said.
Grant Wearin, owner of Merewether's Modus Brewing Co, said the brewery trail was an opportunity for Newcastle's breweries to band together.
"It's a strong local initiative putting local brewers on the map and allowing us to operate more as a collective," Mr Wearin said.
"There's a tourism piece attached to that to bring breweries together and to try and somewhat replicate what the wineries have done out in the Hunter Valley."
