From just 8 breweries in 2021 to around 30 today, the South Coast Ale Trail is celebrating five years of connecting craft beer lovers with the breweries, people and places that make the NSW South Coast so special. And we’re marking the occasion with a birthday celebration at the Sapphire Coast Turf Club on Thursday 5 November.
Five Years of Great Beer and Great Destinations
When the South Coast Ale Trail launched in November 2021, the idea was simple: bring together independent craft breweries along the NSW South Coast and encourage visitors to explore the region through its beer.
Starting with just eight breweries, the trail connected some of the region’s most passionate brewers, stretching from Wollongong in the north to Pambula near the Victorian border.
Five years later, the South Coast Ale Trail has grown to around 30 breweries, creating one of Australia’s most scenic craft beer adventures.
Unlike an inner-city brewery trail, where visitors might walk between breweries, the South Coast Ale Trail is a journey through spectacular coastal landscapes, historic towns, beautiful beaches and picturesque countryside. Every brewery has its own story, its own personality and, of course, its own beers.
Along the way, the Ale Trail has helped showcase not just the breweries themselves, but the growing community of local producers and businesses supporting the region’s craft beer industry, including Ryefield Hops, Voyager Craft Malt and Mogwai Labs Yeast.
In 2025, the South Coast Ale Trail’s collaborative approach was recognised with a Business NSW award for Outstanding Visitor Economy Collaboration, highlighting the important role craft beer can play in regional tourism.
Celebrating at the Bermagui Cup Ladies Race Day
To mark our fifth birthday, we’re partnering with the Sapphire Coast Turf Club to bring a special South Coast Craft Beer Precinct to the Bermagui Cup Ladies Race Day on Thursday 5 November 2026.
Four South Coast craft beer businesses will be showcasing their beers on the day:
- Sapphire Coast Brewery – representing the local Sapphire Coast brewing scene.
- Longstocking Brewery – one of the region’s established craft breweries, based in Pambula.
- Resin Brewing – one of the original Ale Trail breweries, based in Bulli at the northern end of the trail.
- South Coast Tap House – Merimbula’s dedicated South Coast craft beer venue, which is also celebrating its first birthday in November.
Visitors will have the opportunity to sample beers from across the region, discover new favourites and celebrate the people who make South Coast craft beer so special.
The craft beer precinct adds another attraction to an already popular race day, featuring a seven-race TAB meeting, Fashions on the Field, food vendors and a great social atmosphere.
A Birthday Worth Celebrating
The fifth birthday is about much more than the number of breweries on the trail. It’s a celebration of collaboration, regional tourism and the passionate people who have helped put South Coast craft beer on the map.
Over the past five years, the Ale Trail has encouraged visitors to venture beyond the usual tourist attractions, discover new towns, meet local brewers and experience the region from a different perspective.
Whether you’re a dedicated craft beer enthusiast or simply enjoy discovering great local experiences, the South Coast Ale Trail offers another reason to explore this beautiful part of Australia.
And what better place to raise a glass to five years than at one of the Sapphire Coast’s favourite race days?
Join Us at the Races!
Bermagui Cup Ladies Race Day – South Coast Ale Trail 5th Birthday Celebration
📅 Date: Thursday 5 November 2026
📍 Venue: Sapphire Coast Turf Club, 1695 Sapphire Coast Drive, Kalaru NSW
🕧 Gates Open: 12:30pm
🎟️ Entry: $15 general admission at the gate. Reserved seating packages also available.
🚌 Transport: FREE buses running to and from the track, with pickup locations across the region.
For event details, tickets and bus information, visit Sapphire Coast Turf Club.
Come along, enjoy the racing, discover some great South Coast beers and help us celebrate five years of the South Coast Ale Trail.
The South Coast Ale Trail. It’s not a destination, it’s a journey!
Explore the trail at www.southcoastaletrail.net.au
Please enjoy responsibly. RSA applies.
