Breweries & Distilleries
Craft beer, cider and small-batch spirits
The best breweries & distilleries in Adelaide Hills
The cool ranges have become a hotbed for craft brewers, cider makers and gin distillers, many with relaxed taprooms and beer gardens.
Read our guide to breweries & distilleries ↓Browse breweries & distilleries by area
78 Degrees Distillery $$
View →Native-botanical gin and whisky in the Hills
A Hills distillery at the LOT.100 producer hub in Hay Valley, near Nairne, making gin with native botanicals, plus vodka and whisky.
Crafers Hotel $$
View →A handsomely restored 1840s coaching inn at the top of the freeway, pouring Hills beer and serving proper pub food.
Deviation Road $$
View →Award-winning traditional-method sparkling
A family winery near Longwood acclaimed for its traditional-method sparkling, with an intimate cellar door tucked into the high Hills.
Lobethal Bierhaus $$
View →Craft beer in a historic mill town
A friendly independent brewery in the old woollen-mill town, pouring a rotating range of craft beers in a relaxed cellar-door taproom with food.
Mismatch Brewing Co $$
View →Hills craft beer at the Adelaide Hills Distillery precinct
A craft brewery at the LOT.100 producer hub in Hay Valley, near Nairne, pouring ales and lagers beside 78 Degrees gin and Hills cider.
Prancing Pony Brewery $$
View →Award-winning craft beer with a big taproom
A multi-award-winning independent brewery near Mount Barker with a spacious taproom, beer garden and full food menu built around its core and seasonal beers.
The Hills Cider Company $$
View →Apple and pear cider pressed in the heart of orchard country
A Hills cidery at the LOT.100 producer hub in Hay Valley, near Nairne, pouring apple and pear ciders with a restaurant and lawns on site.
Uraidla Hotel $$
View →A revived hilltop pub with its own brewery
The restored heart of Uraidla's revival, a country hotel with a sunny beer garden, market-garden-driven menu and the Uraidla Brewery next door.
About breweries & distilleries in Adelaide Hills
Beyond its famous wines, the Adelaide Hills has become a hotbed for craft beer, traditional cider and small-batch spirits - a natural fit for a region this rich in apples, pure water and good produce. Taprooms and cellar doors are relaxed, family- and dog-friendly places built for lingering over a tasting paddle.
The apple-growing heritage runs straight into the glass at cideries like The Hills Cider Company at Hay Valley, pressing genuine local fruit into crisp, dry cider. Independent breweries such as the multi-award-winning Prancing Pony at Totness, near Mount Barker, and Lobethal Bierhaus in the old woollen-mill town pour rotating ranges with food, while 78 Degrees (formerly Adelaide Hills Distillery), which shares the LOT.100 precinct with the cidery, builds gin around native botanicals.
Many makers cluster in shared precincts - beer, gin and cider under one roof - so it's easy to sample widely. As always with a tasting day, bring a designated driver for the drive home through the ranges.
Breweries & Distilleries in Adelaide Hills - frequently asked questions
What are the Adelaide Hills known for when it comes to breweries and distilleries?
Beyond its cool-climate wine, the Adelaide Hills has become a hotbed for craft beer, traditional apple and pear cider, and small-batch gin and whisky, helped by the region's apple-growing heritage, pure water and good local produce. You will find taprooms, cideries and distillery cellar doors pouring everything from Lobethal Bierhaus and Prancing Pony beers to The Hills Cider Company's fresh-fruit cider and the gins of 78 Degrees, the distillery formerly known as Adelaide Hills Distillery.
Where are the best breweries and distilleries in the Adelaide Hills?
They are spread across the ranges, with clusters around Lobethal, Uraidla, Hahndorf and the Mount Barker and Woodside area. A standout is LOT.100 at Hay Valley, between Nairne and Woodside, which brings Mismatch Brewing, 78 Degrees (formerly Adelaide Hills Distillery), The Hills Cider Company and more together on one orchard site, while Lobethal Bierhaus, Prancing Pony at Totness, the Uraidla Hotel brewery and Kersbrook Hill Wines & Cider are all worth seeking out.
Do I need to book, and are these places family and dog friendly?
Most taprooms and cellar doors are relaxed, family-friendly and welcome dogs in their beer gardens and outdoor areas, with plenty of grassy space for kids to run around at venues like Lot 100. Casual tastings and paddles are usually walk-in, but it is wise to book a table for weekends, larger groups or when you want a meal, as popular spots such as Lobethal Bierhaus can fill quickly.
Which days are breweries and distilleries open in the Adelaide Hills?
Hours vary, so always check ahead, but the busiest trading is generally Friday through Sunday, with some smaller cideries and taprooms only open on weekends. Larger venues like Prancing Pony, the Uraidla Hotel brewery and Lot 100 trade more days across the week, so plan a midweek visit around those if you want a quieter experience.
When is the best time of year to visit for cider and craft drinks in the Adelaide Hills?
The Hills are a year-round destination, but autumn is especially good as the orchards around Lenswood, Lobethal and Basket Range come into apple and pear harvest from roughly late February to early June, when cideries press fresh fruit. Cooler months suit cosy taprooms by the fire, while warm spring and summer afternoons are ideal for lingering over a paddle in the beer gardens.