The Valley Brewhouse

The Valley Brewhouse brews on site at Nulkaba, near Cessnock, and pours the results across a wide gravel beer garden of picnic tables, umbrellas and a brick fireplace. What is on tap moves with the brewer's mood: a hazy IPA, a red IPA at 7 percent, an old-school amber lager and a vanilla milk porter have all had a run, each with its malt and hop bill written out. Beers are sold by the glass, with tasting paddles for anyone who wants to sample across what is pouring. Wine and cocktails come from the main bar for a group that is not all on beer.

The bistro runs seven days for lunch and dinner, with bar snacks in between and weekly food specials from Monday to Thursday. On Saturdays and Sundays the Smoke House Kitchen fires up in the beer garden with a menu that changes each weekend, serving until it sells out. Three function spaces take everything from a kids' birthday to a larger event, and children are welcome throughout, so it works for families and groups rather than only a couple stopping in.