Australian Heritage Hotel, The Rocks

It’s a pretty Aussie to name things in the most clear and uncomplicated way. That’s the case with the Australian Heritage Hotel.

The Australian Heritage Hotel is most certainly very, very Aussie and it’s packed with heritage artefacts. It has real character.

Independent Beer

On tap you’ll find a mix of independent and multinational-owned beers. There’ll be the likes of Batch and Wayward alongside Carlton and 4 Pines. You’ll also find beers from elsewhere in New South Wales and interstate. Expect breweries such as Welder’s Dog, Capital Brewing, or Fixation.

The Australian Heritage Hotel also plays host to tap takeovers and special beer events. Whether it’s just a beer of the month on special offer or a well known independent brewer dominating the taps for a weekend, there’s generally a unique attraction for lovers of good beer.

Visit in winter and the aroma of mulled cider will waft through the pub. It’s almost enough to make you want to sit outside rug up against the cold.

Annual Australian Beer Festival

The pub has long been a supporter of local independent beer with their annual beer festival taking place around the streets of its home in The Rocks just before each Sydney Beer Week.

During this festival a great number of breweries set up tents and stalls and serve core range beers alongside some special releases. As the festival progresses the fun really gets going with brewers and brewery reps joining in the party before it culminates in the presentation of awards.

Full Of Character

Aside from the beer that’s available, one of the most attractive things about the pub is that it’s old and full of character. It oozes heritage. There’s an aesthetic that captures a bygone era.

Woven-back chairs evoke thoughts of Parisian street-side bistros or Belgian beer cafes. There’s elaborate lettering on the windows, black and white photos on the walls, and classic advertising for Victoria Bitter. It’s like stepping into a time machine.

It just happens to be a time machine in which you can get some of the most flavourful independent beer currently available in Australia. There’s no doubt that it’s a darn sight better than what would’ve been available when the pub first opened all those years ago.

Attractive For Tourists

Being positioned at The Rocks, it’s naturally an attraction for tourists. That’s sufficient explanation for the kangaroos and koalas that surround the bar area. It also goes someway to justifying the emu, kangaroo and crocodile that’s used in the food menu. But even for locals all this does is intensify the sense of nostalgia one feels when sitting in this pub.

It’s a space in which you could while away hours sipping cold schooners of local pale ale or lager. Visit around Anzac Day or Australia Day, however, and your time is likely to be less laid back and far more rambunctious.

Suitable For Everyone

As with all good Australian pubs, the vibe here is welcoming and suitable for everyone. There’ll be people from Dave’s Brewery Tours stopping by, there’ll be couples sharing a pizza, there’ll be groups of mates rolling in to watch the footy, and there’ll be craft beer lovers perched near the bar sampling the newest and freshest IPA.

Bar staff are friendly and will explain the beers but the best thing about the Australian Heritage Hotel is that it’s just a bloody good old school Aussie pub.

Leave a comment below if you’ve visited the Australian Heritage Hotel or attended the festival.