Five of a kind: Brewery fare

Bright Brewery

With a million-dollar-plus expansion completed, Bright Brewery possesses one of the most spectacular homes in the Australian beer world. The brewery, bar and restaurant are impressive enough; that it has a beer garden overlooking the Ovens River and surrounded by high country mountains is the icing on the cake. That and the ever-improving range of beers, from the citrusy Blowhard Pale to one-offs like the tart and fruity Pinky Framboise.
Details: 121 Great Alpine Road, Bright, 5755 1301, brightbrewery.com.au

Bridge Road Brewers

It's less than a decade since Ben Kraus founded his first brewery in a building owned by his parents. Today, Bridge Road is undergoing perpetual expansion in the Old Coach House in Beechworth's centre and Kraus regularly brews with international stars of the beer world. He recently created a shiitake beer called Umami with Provenance's Michael Ryan. There's a vast array of beers on tap plus food ranging from gourmet pizzas to delights such as ''Beer Butt Chicken''. Bands play in front of the tanks on weekends.
Details: Old Coach House, Ford Street, Beechworth, 5728 2703, bridgeroadbrewers.com.au

Hargreaves Hill

Few Victorian microbreweries take their dining as seriously as Simon and Beth Walkenhorst, founders of Yarra Valley's Hargreaves Hill. Their original brewery was destroyed on Black Saturday, but their cellar door and restaurant survived and they soon started brewing again in nearby Lilydale. Simon and brewer Glenn Harrison produce one of the finest ranges of beer in Australia. The food, these days favouring share plates, is no less refined, making their venue an excellent alternative to the region's wineries.
Details: 25 Bell Street, Yarra Glen, 9730 1905, hargreaveshill.com.au

Temple Brewery

After making a name for their excellent beers that brewed on other brewers' gear, East Brunswick's Temple opened their own venue to much fanfare in December 2011. Since then they've enjoyed widespread praise for their beers, and after a series of setbacks, they relaunched recently. A dude-food-friendly new menu is designed to match their lean and clean beers.
Details: 122 Weston Street, East Brunswick, 0418 557 875, templebrewing.com.au

Mornington Peninsula Brewery

In just three years, Mornington Peninsula Brewery has grown into one of the most respected breweries in Australia. It collected its first major trophy at this year's Australian International Beer Awards and is midway through a major expansion. Its home down the road from Mornington Racecourse serves great pizzas, but the real stars are head brewer AG's in-demand beers.
Details: 72 Watt Road, Mornington, 5976 3663, mpbrew.com.au

James Smith is Good Beer Week festival director.