Byron Bay’s Stone & Wood Brewing Co needs little introduction. Founded by a local trio in 2008 (and then sold to beverage giant Lion in 2021), it’s now one of the country’s most recognisable craft beer brands. This cavernous brewery and HQ – a steel-and-wood monolith at the Byron Bay Arts and Industry Estate – is a high point in the success story.

Enter the shed’s towering wooden doors via the dog-friendly, timber-clad beer garden and you’ll be met with 31 shiny brewing tanks, high tables to your right, and a cluster of picnic tables straight ahead. Behind a sturdy concrete bar, the brewery’s most popular creations – the Pacific Ale and Green Coast lager – are pouring alongside “pilot” (or experimental) styles. A skylight-studded roof floods the space with light, while a colourful double-storey mural and greenery take the taproom from industrial to cosy.

Local caterer 100 Mile Table is on food duty, pumping out a rotating menu that might include a Korean schnitzel roll with kimchi, cheese boards and curries. It’s all designed to highlight Northern Rivers produce.

Intimate brewery tours happen around twice a day most days, and include a guided walk around the brew deck, a rundown of the brewery’s history and sustainability mission (Stone & Wood is certified B Corp) and, of course, several beer tastings.