Our Western Explorer full day tour cruises to Ipswich for award-winning beers


Join us to visit some amazing breweries that sit outside the main city centre. This brewery tour combines fresh air with fresh brews as we explore hidden microbrewery gems in the outer-city, western suburbs of Brisbane.

We’ll leave room in the esky so you can bring some delectable drops home with you to savour later. With new brews on tap all the time, the lineup of venues may change from tour to tour, but we guarantee four breweries, 16-20 unique tasters, and a delicious lunch to keep you fuelled up.

Other tours outside the city limits: Northern Exposure, Eastern Expedition, Southern Sessions

Half day option: Dash of Brisbane

Prefer spirits? Try our Brisbane Distillery Tour

  • Tour operates on Friday, Saturday, Sunday

  • Pick up times: 11:45am – The Gresham (CBD) / 12:00pm – Prince Consort Hotel (Fortitude Valley)

  • Tour lasts roughly 7 hours

  • Visit 4 breweries; all tasters & lunch included

  • Photo ID required; Must be 18+ to participate

  • Minimum 4 guests required to operate.
    If minimum numbers are not reached your order will remain as “PENDING” and we will be in touch with options.

Our Western Explorer tour visits four of the following venues.
We may mix it up a bit, but below is a rough itinerary of the day.
Lunch is generally served at the second brewery we visit.

Guests have the chance to check out one of Brisbane’s hidden breweries, Common Ground, set inside Milton Common, where you will receive a warm welcome and cold beers. Their taps are always rotating, with several guest beers on tap, and serving anything from an IPA to a sour, so come along to see what’s on today!

The drive out west goes quickly, and is totally worth it when we arrive at 4 Hearts Brewing, located in the Pumpyard. Pumping out delicious food, head brewer Reece ensures the beers are fresh and tasty – and award-winning! – and pair beautifully with a pub lunch. Live music is generally the soundtrack of the afternoon, so we will take time to kick back and relax here.

A short drive back toward Brisbane sees us visiting White Lies Brewing Co in Sumner Park. One of the smaller breweries we visit today, we will have the chance to chat with owner/head brewer Lee “Smiley” McAlister and taste what he has on tap. Keep an eye out for his deceptively tasty Russian Imperial Stouts or treat yourself to one of Australia’s best hazy IPAs.

Situated in Seventeen Mile Rocks is the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it brewery, Lucha Brewing Co. Born from a love of Mexican wrestling and good beer, Lucha offers an excellent range of beers on tap and a welcome space in which to enjoy them. Have a chat with head brewer, Damien, while you soak up the atmosphere. It may be small, but it packs a punch!

Gaining their name due to their venue being an old munitions factory, Ballistic Beer Co offers our guests the VIP experience. Immersed in the heart of the brewery is a table reserved for us, with empty glasses waiting to be filled. Delivering what is some of the best beer in SE Queensland, someone from the brewery will have a chat with the group about their history and growth thus far. The industrial vibe and delicious beers will make our final stop a highlight of the day.

Where a location is indicated, we will pick up you outside the venue so please keep an eye out for our van – you can’t miss it!

Pick Ups:

  • The Gresham (308 Queen Street, Brisbane) is an historic pub in central Brisbane. From Central Station, exit toward Ann Street. Past the ANZAC Memorial and through Post Office Square, next to the NAB, you’ll find The Gresham tucked away. Alternatively, you can exit toward Edward Street, head down the hill and turn left onto Queen Street. Walk about 1/2 block and The Gresham will be next to the NAB on your left. Please note The Gresham does not open until 4pm on Saturdays and is closed on Sundays; we will still pick up here and there are plenty of places around Post Office Square to get a coffee and/or breakfast.
  • Prince Consort Hotel (230 Wickham St, Fortitude Valley) is a very short walk from the Fortitude Valley Station – come out, hang a left and turn right and there you are!

We are flexible with our drop-off locations within the city based on guests’ needs and requests.

Included in the price: transportation in our private, air-conditioned van, guided brewery tour with explanation of the brewing process, all beer samples at the breweries we visit, lunch, beer education and history, snacks, and witty commentary (well, we think it is).

Please note that we are visiting working breweries and it’s suggested you wear closed-toe shoes so you don’t miss out on any of the fun. Also, since they don’t always run on a set schedule, we will try and catch the brewers in action but that can’t always be guaranteed; keep an open mind on the day because no matter what or who we see, the beers are always epic. Sometimes the itineraries will change at a whim; this may be because of traffic, a last-minute decision from the brewery or any number of things, so we ask for your patience and flexibility.

If there is a brewery or distillery you’re keen to check out, please include the request in the “Special Requirements” section when making your booking and we will try our best to make it happen.

Not finding the tour you want on the date you need? Check our Tour Calendar to see which tour is currently running on what date. Or feel free to give us a call – we might have created a special tour for the day that we can get you on, or we may be sold out. But you’ll never know unless you ask. We’re always happy to help and check availability for you.