Beer reviews: Cupitt IPA from Ulladulla and San Francisco's Anchor Porter are malty joys

Breweries. They're popping up everywhere. And what a bonus it was to find Cupitt beers out on the western edge of Ulladulla. We'd called in for lunch and a glass or two of Rosie Cupitt's semillon – which she grows next to the restaurant and makes in the cellar underneath, with the help of sons Wally and Tom.

The boys also make beer and serve it at the bar-patio area next to the restaurant – a marvellous place to sip ultra-fresh ale and enjoy views over the vineyards to the Budawangs​ and Burrill Lake.

The Cupitts write, "All our beers are single batch and brewed in a 300-litre microbrewery on the property … unpasteurised, unfiltered and preservative-free". They offer the beers on tap at the restaurant and bar and in take-away two-litre, refillable "growlers".

Cupitt India Pale Ale 150ml glass $10

Brothers Tom and Wally brew their full-bore IPA at the family winery-brewery-restaurant complex at Ulladulla. It's available on tap and in takeaway two-litre "growlers" ($32, including $8 refillable-container deposit). This is a true west-coast IPA style, big on citrus hops aroma, intense, lingering bitterness and full, rich, round malt flavours.

★★★★

Anchor Brewing Co Porter 355ml $6

What better end to a big walk on a cold, wet day than a warm, rich porter. The historic Carrington Hotel, Katoomba, serves San Francisco's Anchor porter in its Old City Bank pub, alongside locally brewed beers. This is warm, buoyant, luxurious porter – each mouthful a juicy, malt joy.

★★★★★