In the relatively new precinct of Darling Square is a wacky looking six story building called The Exchange. It looks like someone has stacked a series of silver coloured coiled garden hoses on top of each other. Apparently the coils are made of a timber called Accoya.
Inside the building is an eclectic collection of businesses and facilities including a library, a childcare centre, a “collaboration hub”, a Cantonese restaurant occupying a whole floor and a dozen takeaway joints in a mazy ground. In amongst all of that is a Batch Brewing Co Bar with 19 taps that seems out-of-proportion to the small bar space.
On the day I visited, there were almost no “safe” choices on the taps with some of the more exotic combination of flavours I’d seen since GABS. it is probably not a bad call, as you couldn’t fail to find a food item to match any of the beers or ciders on offer.
Wayward Brewing must be good mates with Batch, as they have seven offerings, only surpassed by Batch with eight. Black Hops, Hawkers and Lost Palms all have one each, and before the mathematicians pile on, I don’t know made the other cider. Included in the Wayward beers is their crazy Sourade Blue Blast Berry Gose – electrolytes and beer.
After kicking things off with a Helles Lager, I went with a Small Batch called “The Butterfly Effect Blackcurrant and Pea Blossom Wheat Ale. The name was too long for the taphead and I didn’t find out about the Pea Blossom until I went for the check-in. No matter, the blackcurrant dominated all, including the colour. Surprisingly the beer went well with my Indonesian chicken drumettes.
To finish off the session I went for another flavour combo – Fashion Tips from Lost Palms. This was a “Pineapple and Peach Milkshake IPA”. I’ve now had two beers from Lost Palms, who are based in Miami Qld and they will be high on the agenda of any future Gold Coast visit. The aroma was like a golden circle fruit salad and the winning flavour was the peach, almost like a Melba, which could have been cloying until the bitterness came home late.
This place is a real find. Bintang Bro serves great chicken, Golden Century is an institution and to have all of this with nineteen taps of great beer just can’t be beat.
Batch Brewing Co Darling Square: 1 Little Pier Street, Haymarket
back of the ferry 