21/08/2026
The Bridge Road Brewers journey began with a detour through Austria on a winemaking sabbatical in 2000.
Ben Kraus travelled to Europe for adventure and a deeper understanding of the wine industry he was part of. He quickly became immersed in the rich culture of beer and hospitality. Returning home with his Tyrolean parter Maria to Beechworth in 2005 they started brewing out of a shed in his parents backyard.
Decades later, most of it hasn’t changed. Still independent. Still owned by the two people who started it, and now their staff and supporters. Still brewing in Beechworth, in Victoria’s High Country, with hops grown in the local Alpine Valleys.
A few things have been picked up along the way. A pale ale named after home that’s been in every GABS Hottest 100 since 2008. The High Country Hop, a festival that’s been run since 2015 championing independent brewers, winemakers, distillers and artists. An Oktoberfest hosted in Beechworth and Melbourne, thanks to that detour through Austria. Venues in Beechworth, Brunswick East and Melbourne Airport. And a team of genuinely good people.
That’s us. Come join us for a beer.
Beechworth: the place we always called home.
Ben and Maria: the founders and owners of Bridge Road Brewers. Started as just the two of them, no plan B and a pretty good idea about beer.
More than two decades later, Bridge Road Brewers is still independent, still brewing in Beechworth.
And it’s still done the slow way.
Made with local hops from the Myrtleford area.
Over ten years of High Country Hop bringing independent brewers, winemakers, distillers and artists together to celebrate one another.
Our time in Europe shaped how we do hospo with good beer, good food and nobody checking the clock.
Beechworth born, spread a fair way further. Every good time we’ve had our people have made it.
Beechworth made and owned since 2005, our flagship Beechworth Pale Ale has featured in every GABS Hottest 100 since 2008.
