Gold Coast heaven

I’ve always enjoy coming to the Gold Coast aka the Goldie, Surfers etc. As a kid we holidayed here and I had some pretty memorable visits just after high school (Hoodoo Gurus at the Bombay Rock in ’89 (maybe)). There’s a familiar atmosphere when you walk off the plane and cross the Tarmac at Coolangatta airport. Take a deep breath and coat your lungs with SEQ humidity.

It’s a conference town and until last year I haven’t bothered  hunting the craft when I’ve made the trip. Last year showed promise. This year, the Goldie has delivered. The photo above is of a tap rack at a place called Surfers Sandbar. All six beers are brewed on the Goldie and represent 4 different brewers – all from the Goldie. All up there’s 20 taps at Surfers Sandbar and the fridges are chockful of bottled and canned goodies as well from the US (Sixpoint, Victory etc) and Australia. $12 lunch specials are good value. Insane value is the 4 beer tasting paddles (“skateboards”). Each beer is a middy and today one was 4 Pines IIIPA. Amazing.

This post is just an opening salvo and I hope to elaborate on some of my discoveries in later posts. This scene is developing rapidly and a brewery launched in the last month. Currumbin Valley Brewing put out their first beer last month – and it’s on tap at Sandbar. “Look Out” is a double IPA – 8% ABV. First beer a DIPA? That’s like starting a test innings with a back foot cut for 6! Bloody good beer. ABV understated.

Surfers Sandbar: 52 The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise, Queensland