Friday night in Richmond with mates. Opportunity to visit the new Mountain Culture venue in the old Fox Friday site. But then it occurrec to me – why not visit two mountains. The OG mountain, Mountain Goat is a 350m walk away.
Mountain Goat is one of the pioneers of Australia’s craft beer scene. Yeah sure, they were bought out by Asahi in 2015, but visiting their North Street home makes you realise they haven’t lost their original spirit. The place was buzzing. I scored an Untappd unique and life was good. Mountain Goat is 28 years old, they’ve been in North Street since 2004 and they’ve made over 370 beers over the journey. Long may they continue.
Mountain Goat set the table for the craft beer industry in Australia. The current king of the independent scene in Australia is probably Mountain Culture. Winners of the Hottest 100 Beer vote for the last three years, they are prolific and increasingly ubiquitous. Their opportunistic acquisition of the failed Fox Friday sites in Perth, Hobart and Melbourne will only increase their ubiquity.
I’d been to the old Fox Friday venue a few times. I was a sucker for their chilli. And they had a very strong IPA game. Unfortunately, Fox Friday were one of many victims of the First Guardian managed investment scheme scandal, which severely impacted their funding. It wasn’t pretty.
The fit-out doesn’t look too different, but the menu has completely changed and the beers are all Mountain Culture. Seven core beers and the rest seasonal and limited releases. Untappd unique heaven and thank heavens for schooners. Mountain Culture has never shied away from a solid ABV. All the beer is from NSW, but beers brewed onsite are coming soon.
Definitely a couple of Mountains to visit when in Richmond.
Mountain Goat Beer: 80 North Street, Richmond VIC
Mountain Culture Brewery Melbourne: 148/150 Murphy Street, Richmond VIC
back of the ferry 