UPDATE: Sadly, as of Summer 2020 The Brewer’s Table is now permanently closed
June 2018
Where to start with The Brewer’s Table? This is Craft Beer 2.0 – the next generation, the premium, luxury Craft Beer Experience for folks who want to experience craft beer in a beard-free environment.
Don’t get me wrong, the Brewer’s Table is absolutely beautiful. If you want to really impress your date, this is the place to come. The ambience reminded me of the scene in Bugsy Malone where Dandy Dan is hanging out in his European-style garden with a string quartet playing in the background, a metaphorical million miles away from the hipster bustle of Lazarus or Hops and Grain, both of which are just literal minutes away. I was bloody glad I’d put a dress on.
The set-up at the Brewer’s Table divides those with means from the regular riff-raff by offering its Lager Garden as a more affordable option, with happy hour pricing on food ordered in the garden (still expensive, just less so). The focus on food is also reflected in the Brewer’s Table’s considerable opening hours – 11am – 10pm from Sunday to Thursday and and til 11pm on weekends, exceeded only by Lazarus and Uncle Billy’s. Considering how full-on up-market the Brewer’s Table is, you can’t fault them on the pricing of their beers, keeping up with their neighbours with pints of their own beers at $6 regular and $4 during happy hour. We were also pleased to discover that, although they don’t serve flights, all beers were available in 6oz pours – whether this is still the case I am unsure as it’s not currently on their website.
At our visit, less than a month after opening, the Brewer’s Table had six of their own beers on tap, all of which we tried, as well as a tremendous swell of guest taps from around the US and Europe. The Brewer’s Table specialises in lagers, a curious irony for a fancy restaurant that I rather enjoyed – setting the bar high for themselves. And the good news is, they didn’t disappoint. While the lagers did vary in quality, the majority came out rather well indeed, including their flagship Common Lager which was enjoyably rich and hoppy, the conversely light Idee Fixe Dark Lager, and the absolutely delectable Beets By Drew Beetroot Lager, but I will admit I am a total sucker for a beetroot beer. Their one non-lager offering, the Baltic Hash Porter, was also rather nice, albeit with a light toffee flavour that more resembled an English Mild. I’m glad to see that they have some new, exciting-sounding, beers on offer and look forward to dusting off a decent frock and stopping by. Drinks only, mind you.
Craft Beer Amethyst 