A New Venture for Molly Rose Brewing

Come for the inventive craft beers, and stay for the mouth-watering food options at the Collingwood-based Molly Rose Brewing. Everyone’s favourite neighbourhood brewery and bar has upped the ante in designing an unforgettable culinary experience in their newly expanded venue, which now encompasses a gorgeous bar setting, restaurant, lounge, private dining room and chef’s table section, and an enchanting beer garden.

Opened in 2019, founder and brewer Nic Sandery has done a stellar job assembling a core range of craft beers, including the much-loved When Life Gives You Lemons and Little Hazy Beer. Its limited-release offerings of sour beer, farmhouse ale and stout are distinct, delicious and delightful to consume. Some recommendations include Smile with your Eyes, a peach and grapefruit gose; Tinker, a tropical sour ale; Strawberry Sublime, a non-alcoholic sour brewed with strawberries, limes and a sprinkle of sea salt; When Life Gives You Brett, a farmhouse ale; and Short & Stout, a dry stout that is surprisingly easy to drink.

To put it simply, Molly Rose has outdone itself with their stunning expansion. The centrepiece bar exudes opulence with its rounded dark wood bar, effective light fixtures and rounded mirrored bar shelving. The restaurant area is a perfect intimate setting for #datenight, with an understated industrial feel maintained by stained and frosted warehouse windows.

Now to the food. All I can say is wow. In Melbourne, it can be an easy trap to design a people-pleasing menu that while although great, you can’t help but think you’ve eaten these dishes before. Molly Rose truly exceeds expectations and legitimises its place in offering a Modern Australian fine dining offering. The menu is influenced by Nic’s family visit to Darwin and the NT capital’s food scene.

‘Dining in Melbourne has changed a lot from paired wines to just paired wine drinks and there’s a greater interest for really unique beers. We have this opportunity to do this really fun project with innovative pairings where people can enjoy the food that’s been made in front of them with the beer that’s been made right next to them,’ says Nic Sandery.

The indulgent menu is a gastronomic journey you don’t want to finish. To begin, order appellation oysters served with green nahm jim and crispy shallots. The pan-seared scallop decorated with carrot with burnt butter puree, chilli jam and finger lime is mouth-watering and fresh. The mushroom crisp dish of pink oyster mushrooms, almond cream and oregano is aesthetically pleasing. Small plates include the stuffed chicken wings – absolutely amazing – and they are stuffed with baccala, house hot sauce, garlic chive and kewpie. These are perfect for any occasion. Balancing the wings is the fresh and healthy cucumber and whipped tofu salad. The Asian-spiced kangaroo tartare is also excellent.

Now to the mains. The options are all appetising, in my opinion, but I couldn’t go past the drunken fried rice, a dish of prawn, bean, cabbage, green peppercorn and Thai basil, and the roasted chicken, served with gailan, crispy garlic and jaew. To finish off what was a 10/10 meal was the banana ice cream dessert served on a black rice bun and adorned with sour beer caramel and crushed peanuts. Simply divine.

Put Molly Rose high on your list for your next night out. The expanded establishment is worth the fanfare, and the menu is exceptional. We cannot wait to visit again.

Molly Rose Brewing
279–285 Wellington Street, Collingwood 3066
Open Wednesday – Sunday
mollyrosebrewing.com