Come away from the Hunter Valley with a new sense of reverence after bouncing between its best breweries and pubs.

Trade in the well-travelled winery trail to visit the Hunter Valley’s breweries and pubs. The region’s burgeoning ale trail is dotted with great breweries and pubs. Take your pick from our list of must-visit stops to experience a different side to the Hunter.

In short

If you only visit one brewery or pub in the Hunter Valley, make it The Pourhouse. Consider this pub your local while you’re visiting the Hunter Valley: it’s all about good vibes, craft beer and cocktails.

1. 4 Pines at the Farm

There is something about the Hunter Valley that invites escape. And while the region is best known as NSW’s Wine Country, Hunter Valley breweries such as 4 Pines at the Farm are also proving a draw. The fact you can stay and play at this family-run Hunter Valley brewery based at the Hunter Valley Resort means you will have a new appreciation for all the great things that are brewing here. All up, there are 12 quality beers on tap at the brewery, which overlooks the crumpled folds of the Broken Back Ranges.

Address: Cnr Hermitage Road and Mistletoe Lane, Pokolbin

2. Peter Drayton Wines and IronBark Hill Brewhouse

Silence settles like a blanket over this boutique Hunter Valley winery, distillery and brewhouse when the crowds thin out and you’ve settled into your villa at IronBark Hill Retreat. In addition to being a picturesque place to tap into the Hunter Valley’s craft beer scene at IronBark Hill Brewing, you can taste niche wines such as Montepulciano and barbera at Peter Drayton Wines and small-batch gin at the new Wildstreak Distillery. This terrific trifecta is at the foot of the Broken Back Range.  Bookings for Wildstreak Kitchen are recommended.

Address: 694 Hermitage Road, Pokolbin

3. Sydney Brewery Hunter Valley

Go behind the scenes at Sydney Brewery Hunter Valley, which produced its first batch of beer in 2014. The independent brewhouse, which has a sister venue in Surry Hills, Alexandria and Rozelle is a large-scale brewery built on the back of Lovedale Bar & Grill at the Rydges Resort Hunter Valley. It’s one of the most family-friendly places to eat, stay and play in the Hunter Valley.  Enjoy pub classics such as fish and chips alongside a pint of Lovedale Lager while overlooking the 9th and 10th holes of Hunter Valley Golf course.

Address: 430 Wine Country Drive, Lovedale

4. The Caledonian Hotel

For me, there’s nothing that inspires a thirst more than pulling into Singleton and seeing this iconic pub with its long verandahs and cast-iron balustrades. The Caledonian Hotel is popular with the local high-vis brigade who converge here to play pool and have a few pints. The Cali is also a top spot for Thai bites such as satay skewers, fish cakes and laksa. Rumour has it the hotel is one of the most haunted places in Australia. As a scaredy cat, I’m likely to ghost my mates and find alternate accommodation in the Hunter Valley.

Address: 40 George St, Singleton

5. The Pourhouse

The Pourhouse in Maitland is primarily an alehouse. But it is also part live music venue and eatery. Craft beer, classic cocktails, and considered pub grub coexist here in perfect harmony. Housed in the former Exchange Hotel, established in 1866, it operated as a hotel and then an antique emporium until 2013 when two Maitland mates decided to buy it. The Pourhouse gives off inner-west Sydney vibes. There’s great food, live music, craft beer and cocktails and all manner of nooks in which to kick back.

Address: 327 High St, Maitland

6. The Imperial Maitland

Have you even been to the Hunter if you’ve not stopped off at The Imperial Maitland. The Irish-themed pub is one of the mainstays in the region with its roster of karaoke nights and live entertainment. The wine list here includes a lot of Hunter Valley wines as well as pub classics such as cheeseburgers, salt and pepper squid and parmy toppers. Enjoy a walk along the historic Hunter River, find the best place to have coffee in the Hunter Valley and then make it to Maitland for a pub meal.

Address: 458 High Street, Maitland

7. The Royal Hotel

The Royal Hotel is an unpretentious Hunter Valley pub that is filled with families putting away fish and chips and schnitties and burly country blokes bending the elbow at the bar. There is an impressive range of beers on tap as well as locally made wines that provide a sense of place. The Sunday lunch here is legendary, and there is a weekly roster of trivia, live music and happy hours. Best of all you can bunker down at the simple pub-style room if you’ve had one too many to drive.

Address: 84 George St, Singleton

8. Pokolbin Cider House

Pokolbin Cider House now has a 200-seat outdoor area that looks over the gnarled vines of this picturesque property in Pokolbin. Be sure to book ahead for a paddle tasting and ploughman’s lunch: start with a Pear Perry, progress to Sweet Apple and Passionfruit Perry and onto The Dark Grape at the cider house. The cider house hits the sweet spot in the heart of Hunter Valley Wine Country with its dedicated dessert bar and regular Sunday acoustic sessions.

Address: 2342 Broke Road, Pokolbin

9. Hope Brewery, Pokolbin

Lovers of both beer and wine will want to hang out in the Hunter Valley that little bit longer when they visit the completely revamped cellar door at Hope Estate. If escapades with your tribe include big-ticket music events such as the Gin & Jazz Festival or Big Ram Beer & BBQ Festival hosted by Hope Estate, then this is the cellar door for you. In addition to the regular roster of music events, Hope Estate has nine brand-new artisan gins, vodka and moonshine to try as well as 15 wines.

Address: 2213 Broke Road, Pokolbin

10. Wollombi Tavern

Get out your favourite red-checked flanno and get down to this brilliant boozer in the village of Wollombi. While the original tavern founded in 1868 was destroyed by fire, thirsty travellers have included the current outpost in their bar crawls since the 1950s. That’s largely thanks to the allure of Dr Jurd’s Jungle Juice, an iconic elixir dating back to 1929. While Wollombi Tavern is the gateway to NSW’s Wine Country, you could do worse than park yourself here in the beer garden for pizza and pints.

Address: 2994 Great N Road, Wollombi

11. Harrigan’s Hunter Valley

The honeyed light that hits Harrigan’s on a sunny Sunday afternoon makes it a beacon for those looking for a place to have a pint in the Hunter Valley. Drop in at the weekend to see live music in the beer garden where you can eat al fresco under the terrace festooned with fairy lights and meet some of the chatty locals. Harrigan’s is the only pub located within the vineyards. It’s also two minutes from Hunter Valley Gardens, one of the best places to visit in the Hunter Valley, and offers both accommodation and dining.

Address: 2090 Broke Road, Pokolbin

12. The Valley Brewhouse

It’s a bar, it’s a bistro, it’s a beer garden. This grain-to-glass taphouse (formerly The Mighty Hunter Valley) is where you will find a range of the brewery’s own beers on tap. Set amid the historic brick beehive kilns in the old Potters Hotel, in Nulkaba, The Valley Brewhouse is a hub for craft brewers and the ideal environment for large groups with individual needs as there’s something for all. Book a tour on Fridays and Saturdays or a guided tasting on Wednesdays to Saturdays.

Address: Wine Country Drive, Nulkaba