Image credit: Watsacowie Brewing Co
While the Yorke Peninsula is synonymous with all things sunshine and seafood, the seaside destination is home to more than stunning national parks and beach getaways. Watsacowie Brewing Co is a rustic gem nestled in the regional location of Minlaton, with the microbrewery a must-visit on your next trip to the Peninsula.
A stone’s throw from the bustling township and other seaside locales, such as Hardwicke Bay, the dedicated taphouse has been slinging beer for the Southern Yorke Peninsula for the last four years, set to celebrate its birthday next week.
Pouring more than pints, the family-owned and run brewery has poured passion into each beer they produce and the venue they’ve created, being the Yorke Peninsula’s first independent brewery.
Behind the sliding doors and the industrial fit-out lies a place that is a true delight, with lofty high ceilings, barrels of beer being brewed on-site and a lush lawn for families to sprawl out on in the summertime.
“We’re about providing a good time – we’re a venue where you can come for 20 minutes or come for the whole day,” says owner and director Brendan Phasey.
“We have anyone from families to 90-year-olds. We try and produce something for everyone’s taste.
“My favourite thing is coming here on a Saturday and Sunday and having a band playing and seeing so many families enjoying each others company and the products we make.”
An array of local food trucks and musicians set up shop across the weekends, playing to the crowds that fill the tap house – taking your sunny Yorke Peninsula weekend sessions to the next level.
“We’ve invested quite heavily in supporting local musicians and bands,” says Brendan. “We’re trying to offer an experience that’s not really here on the Yorke.”
“We’re always keeping busy, one of the things our regular customers say is that every time they come, there is something new going on.”
While the brewhouse has an impressive 15 beers on taps, Brendan says his favourite is the Jazzy Red Ale, lovingly named after his 17-year-old Kelpie, Jazz. Standing at 6% ABV, the fruity froth is an enticing combination of tropical fruit, berries and mosaic hops – a mix that is sure to tickle your craft beer taste buds. With summer starting to sizzle, Watsacowie is also pouring a refreshing zesty seltzer to punters looking to cool off from the heat or to enjoy on a balmy summer night.
As for the name? Watsacowie pays homage to both the location and the Phasey’s time moving to the Yorke Peninsula.
“It’s a bit of a dad joke really,” says Brendan. “We noticed a lot of places are suffixed with cowie when we moved here…we were sitting around having a beer one day and my brother asked ‘what’s a cowie?’ and it stuck.”
Cowie also translates to water in Narungga, with the previous Minlaton township name, Minlacowie, meaning ‘freshwater well’.
Although walking the Yorke is a more known pastime, here at Glam Adelaide, we can’t think of a better way to get to know the Peninsula than by tasting the best it has to offer.
You can find Watsacowie Brewing Co at 9 Depot Road Minlaton, SA, Australia 5575.
Keep up to date with the microbrewery online and on Facebook. You can purchase the delightful brews online as well!
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