Malt Shovel Taphouse

The Verdict

Off the beaten track a little, you’ll find this mammoth watering hole in Birtinya—conveniently between Caloundra and Mooloolaba for the northern players out there. 

For those who aren’t familiar, Malt Shovel is the craft beer bar for Lion, creators of refreshing brews like Eumundi Brewery, Little Creatures, Byron Bay Brewery, Furphy and James Squire to name a few. And this new space, the second to open in Australia and the first in Queensland, showcases them all. 

A large island bar and an open kitchen, where locally-driven dishes will be pumped out, can serve up to 400 people. Another hero feature, and a first for the Coast, is the inclusion of a French-built rotisserie which has a total of 10 spits. From this beauty of a machine, will come beer-marinated half chicken, rolled lamb forequarter and pork belly porchetta served with tasty sides and gravy or in a roll with beer battered chips.  

Created as a space where you can bring the whole family—there’s even a dedicated games area, filled with pinball machines and arcade games for the younger fans—skip your usual hangout spot, load everyone in the car and drop by Malt Shovel Taphouse for a cold one. They’re ready for you!