The Ale Trail: The new best way to the South Coast of NSW

By Zach Havard

A new initiative on the South Coast of NSW is bringing in fans of a cold one from around the country to try its Ale Trial, a tour of 27 spots for a beer from Wollongong and southward.

The Ale Trail is the brainchild of Nigel Ayling, a former president of the Merimbula Chamber of Commerce who came up with the idea in the hope of boosting tourism numbers to the South Coast.

The map of the Ale Trail covers the best 27 breweries, pubs, hotels and taverns on a 393 km strip on the stunning coastline between Wollongong and Eden.

“I think we’ve been quite successful with that,” he told the Daily Telegraph.

“A lot of people think the south coast ends after Wollongong, so we wanted to create a map which shows that isn’t the case, while also showing people where some of the best beer in the world is.”

After printing 20,000 brochures of the map and displaying in the venues involved as well as local visitor centres, Ayling said the Trail has gone off!

“I’ve been seeing so many people sharing the map online, tagging their friends, saying they need to do the whole trail,” he said.

“You know we had a pandemic, fires and now cost of living is making it harder for small businesses to run,” he said.

“That’s why this map is so important, because it’s driving tourists into the area and helping them during not so great times.”

You can view the entire map HERE.

Three spots to check out if you’re heading to the South Coast of NSW:

Jervis Bay Brewing Co. – One of the biggest drawcards to the Shoalhaven Coast, this brewery is perfect for kicking back in the beer garden and enjoying the food trucks like Cheeky Taco and Nomad Kitchen BBQ with a beer in hand! PS – If you’re in Jervis Bay, check out the Flamin’ Gala Brewing Co.

Jervis Bay Brewing Co. – 3 Duranbah Dr, Huskisson NSW 2540.

The Dromedary Hotel – In the foothills of Mount Gulaga, this is a classic and historical Australian pub dating back to 1895. Enjoy the cafes and boutique shopping on the main street before heading to the pet friendly beer garden and get yourself a pub feed!

The Dromadery Hotel – 14 Bate St, Central Tilba NSW 2546.

Reub Goldberg Brewing Machine – The Reub could produce the finest craft beer in the Illawarra, home to a small tap room as well as a beer garden and hosts live music every weekend. It also prides itself on sustainability measures, claiming to not even produce enough waste to require a commercial bin.

Reub Goldberg Brewing Machine – 81 Meadow St, Tarrawanna NSW 2518.

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Jervis Bay Brewing Co. Nigel Ayling Reub Goldberg Brewing Machine The Ale Trail The Dromedary Hotel