Every guest who’s ever turned up in heels has thanked us afterwards for not warning them in writing. So here it is, in writing.
Shoes
Closed-toe. Every working brewery in Australia legally requires closed-toe shoes on the floor. That includes the part of the floor between the bar and the toilets. We won’t let you on the cellar walk if you’re in thongs, sandals, or open-toe heels.
A pair of clean sneakers is perfect. Don’t overthink it.
What you wear on top
Canberra is a layer-and-a-jacket city year-round.
- Summer (Dec–Feb): Light layers; bring a thin jumper for the inside of the breweries (the cellars are cooled to about 10–12°C and you’ll be in them for a chunk of the day).
- Autumn (Mar–May): A jumper plus a light jacket. Mornings are cold; afternoons are warm.
- Winter (Jun–Aug): A real coat. Beanie if you’re sensitive to wind. Brewery taprooms are warm, but the walk between venues is cold.
- Spring (Sep–Nov): Layers and an umbrella. Spring rain in Canberra is real.
What to leave at the hotel
Perfume and aftershave. I’m serious. Brewers are smelling and tasting beer all day. A guest in heavy fragrance can throw off a brewer’s nose for half an hour after they leave. The polite move is to rinse off any fragrance before you arrive.
Strong-smelling skincare falls in the same category, especially anything menthol-y or eucalyptus-y. We had a guest once who’d just put on Tiger Balm and the brewer politely asked us to step outside.
Big handbags. Most cellar walks are a tight squeeze around tanks and pipework. A backpack is fine; an oversized tote is a hazard.
What to bring
- A water bottle. Most breweries have water on the bar, but the coach between venues doesn’t.
- A printed booking confirmation if you have one (we don’t strictly need it, but the phone-out-of-battery scenario happens).
- A genuine willingness to ask the brewer questions. The tours are better when guests engage.
What we provide
A tasting-notes card per tour, a take-home Canberra craft beer map, and (on full-day tours) a printed run-sheet. You don’t need to bring anything else.