Malt Traders looks out for CBD singletons

We're always immensely cheered to see new independent bottle shops open; sometimes it can seem they teeter on the brink of extinction thanks to voracious supermarket-owned chains.

Malt Traders, in Brisbane's Market Street, opened this Monday and is the brainchild of Nick Pinn, who also owns Malt Dining in the same street, and Aquitaine in South Bank.

The new shop not only sells a range of wine carefully selected by Pinn's sommelier Lucy George, but also 'growlers' of beer. They're big brown 'moonshine' bottles that can be refilled by tap in the shop (currently on pour is local crew Green Beacon's Windjammer IPA and Stone and Wood's Pacific Ale). There's also plenty of other beer choices in the fridge, with the opportunity to mix and match single bottles to make a bespoke six-pack.

Pinn says one of his aims is to provide for the under-represented but growing number of CBD dwellers. Singletons in particular are well catered for and can buy wine by the half-bottle or dinky little house-mixed bottles of classic cocktails such as Negroni and Old Fashioneds.

Malt chef George Clegg has also created take-home packs like braised beef cheek or pepperonata fettucini.

If they'd prefer to dine in, customers can buy a bottle of wine and a food pack which staff will heat up for you while you settle in at a large share table in the shop. (We reckon there could be a few romances made here).

While they suss out demand, Malt Traders is open until 8pm Monday to Wednesday, and until 10pm from Thursday to Saturday.

Details: 10 Market Street, Brisbane, 3236 4855