Find the perfect drop

For beer enthusiasts, Queensland is nirvana. The Sunshine State is home to the iconic XXXX Brewery in the capital, where tours are a regular occurrence. But Brisbane is also considered the craft brewing capital of the country - the bulk of Australia’s microbreweries reside here. It’s not just Brisbane which has a passion for independent beer - the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast brewery populations are flourishing, thanks to the likes of Balter, and Land & Sea. Slowly but surely so too is up north, with cities from Townsville to Cairns boasting their own beers. 
 
While once Queensland’s reputation for wine may have been lacking, times are changing. The Granite Belt is considered one of the state’s best districts for wine growing and drinking - follow the region’s Strangebird Wine Trail to sample traditional vineyards like Ballandean Estate, as well as emerging labels. 
 
But the Sunshine State is just as passionate about spirits, as our population of distilleries reveals. Rum and Queensland have long gone hand-in-hand - Bundaberg Rum remains a state icon, though independent distilleries are also flourishing, particularly in the realm of gin; distilleries crafting their own are emerging everywhere from Noosa to the Atherton Tablelands.