You can now crack a beer on the Manly slow ferry

Commuters on the slow ferry between Circular Quay and Manly can now crack an after-work cold one, with Harbour City Ferries awarding a food and beverage contract to 4 Pines Brewing Company.

The Sydney brewery is serving beer cans on board Manly ferries Narrabeen, Collaroy, Queenscliff and Freshwater. Brews such as 4 Pines Indian Summer Ale and In Season IPA cost between $8 and $10.

"The bar service is about improving customer experience and providing an additional service," Harbour City Ferries managing director Martin Kearney said in a statement.

Co-founder of 4 Pines Brewing Jaron Mitchell said: "We are hoping to amplify people's expectation of what customer experience can be, in places you'd never imagine it."

This is the first Freshwater-class ferry bar service since Harbour City Ferries began operating services in 2012 under its contract with the NSW government. Manly Fast Ferries already held a liquor licence.

Slow ferry beers are available daily from 4pm to 8pm or 9pm, depending on the service. Extra security will be on board during the peak times of operation and no more than 190 passengers can be served beer, with consumption contained to the forward upper deck, including the outer deck.

Harbour City Ferries has no plans to extend bar services to other boats in the fleet.

4 Pines was established in 2008 with a headquarters in Manly. It was bought by the world's biggest beer company, Anheuser-Busch InBev, in September. Anheuser-Busch InBev also owns Carlton & United Breweries, makers of Carlton Draught and Victoria Bitter.