What it is
Forrest is a little town in the Otway Ranges, about an hour and a quarter inland from Torquay, with roughly 170 people, a lot of mountain bike trails and a lot of tall trees. Forrest Brewing Company is the brewery, bar and dining hall in the middle of it, at 26 Grant Street, in the old general store.
It's casual on purpose. The brewery says you can eat in your riding gear or your Sunday best, and it's kid, dog and bike friendly. After a morning on the trails or a walk to Lake Elizabeth, it's where a lot of people end up.
How it started
Siblings Matt and Sharon Bradshaw founded the brewery in 2010, with the aim of bringing some life back to Forrest and brewing beer connected to the place. They brought the old general store back, renovated it and extended it, and it's now the brewery, bar and dining room in one.
The brewhouse is small, at 600 litres. It came from the 3 Degrees Bar and Bistro in Melbourne's QV building, and you can see it from inside the venue. Every drop is brewed on site, and nothing is contracted out.
Photo: Mattinbgn,
CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Rob Blackburn,
courtesy of Visit Victoria 
Photo: Rob Blackburn,
courtesy of Visit Victoria The beer
Forrest beer is made with Otways water and hand bottled, hand labelled and bottle conditioned. The brewery says all its beers are preservative free and vegan friendly. It's also growing heritage hops in Forrest itself. There are year-round beers, seasonals and the odd one-off brewer's special.
The year-round four
Silvertop Lager (4.1%), a Pale Ale (4.8%), an Irish Red (3.6%) and a Stout (4.5%). Easy-drinking beers, and none of them heavy.
The specials
Sticky Fingers (5.5%), Strawberry Smacker (4.5%) and Untamed Turkey, a big one at 7.5%. What's around depends on the season.
You can buy bottles to take home, or order cartons online for delivery around Geelong, the Surf Coast and Melbourne.
Food
The kitchen does a seasonal menu of international and modern Australian dishes to go with the beer, from breakfast through to dinner on the late days. There's local wine, soft drinks, coffee and cake too. It caters for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free diets.
It only takes bookings for big groups, because there's plenty of room for walk-ins. On long weekends it gets busy up in the hills, so get there a bit early. There's outdoor seating, and well-behaved dogs are welcome outside.
When it's open
This is the one to check before you drive, because it's only open four days a week. When we looked in October 2026:
- Friday and Saturday, 9am to 9pm, for breakfast, lunch and dinner (the kitchen closes at 8pm)
- Sunday and Monday, 9am to 5pm, for breakfast and lunch (the kitchen closes at 3pm)
It's closed Tuesday to Thursday. For group bookings, call 03 5236 6170. The latest hours and menus are on the Forrest Brewing website.
Getting there and making a day of it
From north Torquay, go inland through farmland to Birregurra, then south on the Birregurra-Forrest Road. It's about 80 km and an hour and a quarter. If someone's having a few, they're not driving back, so pick a driver before you leave.
Most people pair it with something outdoors. The Forrest mountain bike trails start from town, and our mountain biking guide covers them. Lake Elizabeth, with its platypus and its walk, is just out of town. Our Lake Elizabeth and Stevensons Falls guide has both walks. Stop at Birregurra on the way for coffee, or come home through Deans Marsh for a different road back.
Forrest Brewing FAQ
How far is Forrest from Torquay?
About an hour and a quarter from north Torquay, via Birregurra.
What days is Forrest Brewing open?
Friday to Monday when we checked. It's closed Tuesday to Thursday.
Do I need to book?
Only for large groups. Otherwise just turn up.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, well-behaved dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating.
Is the beer brewed in Forrest?
Yes, all of it, on the 600-litre brewhouse you can see from the dining room.
Are there vegan and gluten-free options?
Yes. The kitchen caters for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free diets, and the beers are vegan friendly.
The rest of the local beer is in our Torquay breweries guide. On the coast road, Salt Brewing at the Aireys Pub is the closest thing. For the long way round, see Deans Marsh and the inland road. Staying in north Torquay? Check dates at Holyday House.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 19 October 2026. Opening hours, patrols, rules and closures change — check with the source before you go.
- Forrest Brewing — Forrest Brewing Company (official)
- Opening hours — Forrest Brewing Company (official)
- Location — Forrest Brewing Company (official)
- Forrest Brewing Company — Visit Great Ocean Road