Hip Hops’ journey started back in 2020 when founder and director Shaun Reeves reached out to founding brewer Adam Gibb (formerly White Brick Brewing) with a prospect to get something off the ground after hearing of White Brick’s closure due to the pandemic. Being a business advisor and accountant in the area for more than 30 years, Shaun’s knowledge of the Moreton Bay region paired with his passion for beer and his community sparked what is now known as Hip Hops Brewers.

Despite the challenges of opening a brewery in the post-Covid climate, the beerhouse is now built and open for business at The Sheds, a newly converted string of warehouses turned drinking, dining and shopping hub. When deciding on a venue to house Hip Hops, Shaun believed locking in a space at The Sheds was a no brainer.

“If you mix the letters of Brendale around you can actually spell beer land, so it seems to be destiny in that respect,” says Shaun. “An oasis in Brendale is really what we’ve got at The Sheds, I felt I really couldn’t replicate in another venue what Doug and Jennifer Fisher (The Sheds landlords) have put together.”  What has been created at Hip Hops is a relaxed family-friendly space for community to come together, celebrate and create memories, while enjoying a pint (or two).

Hip Hops’ ethos of recycling, resusing and repurposing is evident as you make your way around the venue, where you can spy a slew of up-cycled furniture and decor, like some old pine slabs that have been converted into tables, offsetting the cold stainless steel of the shed with the warm timber. Filling Hip Hops’ large interior, which comfortably seats up to 150 people, is a space for production (where all of the magic happens), a kitchen, keg room and consumption area, as well as a mezzanine featuring a second tasting room, which can also be used as a function space or co-working area.

While still a working canvas inside, Shaun hopes to promote creativity in the community and visually evolve the brewery’s walls to be filled with local art, whether it be large murals or smaller pieces. Fulfilling Hip Hops main core values of craft, community and karma by encouraging and supporting the local artists, producers and community members that support them.

When it comes to the brews, Hip Hops houses 21 taps filled with the likes of everything from a crisp, clean lager and West Coast IPA called Kapow to a dry Irish stout and chilli coffee dark ale, as well as a range of session ales, sours and hard seltzers (Hard Sars, Boozy Lemonade and Ginger Zing) brewed with fermented rice syrup and local syrup. Hip Hops’ brew team includes founding brewer and Moreton Bay stalwart Adam Gibb who is working alongside senior brewer Jarrett Bravo (formerly Newstead Brewing and Happy Valley). “They complement each other really well as Adam does the solid malt-driven brews, and Jarrett loves his hops and sours,” says Shaun.

Keep an eye out for the handmade paddles (made by Jarrett’s Dad), which are soon to hit the shelves, as well as six Heritage Brews that you may recognise from the late White Brick Brewing. If you don’t have time to sit in and enjoy a jar (although we suggest you do) you can take away a couple of funky cans designed by Shaun himself.

Other than beers, punters will find a spectacular selection of wines, including local sips from Ocean View Estates Wine in Mount Mee, as well as a range of non-alcoholic beverages that are far from your usual suspects. We’re talking non-alcoholic drops such as fermented sodas dubbed Bin Juice from Ibis Brewing (we promise it tastes better than it sounds) and refreshing sparkling teas made by Pinnacle Brews. Gin lovers will be delighted to hear that Hip Hops will soon welcome Guy Dalby of Copper and Cane, a local gin distiller with a big local following, who will be joining the team onsite with a range of spirits from his copper pot still.

The food menu spotlights Aussie beer tapas, focusing on simple but delicious bites made from local produce, designed to be shared and enjoyed by hand. Featuring a sumptuous selection of burgers, toasties and snacks, including Hops’ signature falafel balls made with house made labneh, pomegranate, rocket and mint, Copper and Cane gin marinated olives, and crispy squid tossed in Hopsmith smoked-malt- and-chilli salt.

Hip Hops Brewers is now open to the public. Click over to the Stumble Guide for operating hours and other important details.

This article was written by Bryanna Rossow from The Weekend Edition.