WA’s biggest brewer Gage Roads opens Atomic Beer Project brewpub in Sydney

WA’s biggest brewer Gage Roads open their first-ever venue way over in Sydney this week when the Atomic Beer Project starts pouring at a renovated mid-century warehouse in Redfern.

Perth-raised head brewer Nick Ivey, who crossed the Nullarbor late last year for the role, and his team will brew on site with limited release, seasonal and experimental beers joining the core range Atomic Pale Ale, XPA and IPA.

Ivey worked for Gage Roads at their Palmyra brewery, which pumps out 14 million litres of beer each year, after a stint in Italy.

While the hospitality professional lobbed in Florence hoping to explore his love of wine, Ivey ended up working in a local brewery and his obsession with beer began.

The garrulous young brewer talked his way into a gig at Gage Roads and quickly rose through the ranks to become a senior brewer.

In late 2019, Ivey was appointed inaugural head brewer for the brewer’s experimental side brand Atomic Beer Project and headed east to help establish the Sydney brewpub.

Ivey will get to conceive, create and brew five beers that will join the three core range brews at the first hospitality venue created under the Good Drinks brand, which also acquired Broome’s iconic Matso’s.

On opening day, the taps will pour a single-hop hazy pale ale, late-hopped Belgian saison and Atomic’s already released Cryo Red Alert.

Ivey told The Crafty Pint that he is keen to experiment with cryo and other new hops.

“I’m crazy about cryo hops,” he said. “I love the influence they have on beer.

“I want to showcase great hoppy flavours, but I always want them to still be balanced and sessionable because that’s the way I like to enjoy beer.”

The venue, which can hold 200 patrons but has a current COVID-19 capacity of 81, boasts a two-tiered bar, dining and co-working spaces.

Head chef Jordan McLeod, who recently helped open Sydney Thai restaurant Longrain’s Tokyo sibling, will offer a South East Asian-inspired menu.

Before he returned to Australia last year, McLeod also worked at the Japanese outpost of Sydney’s Greek eatery The Apollo and launched new restaurant Turntable in Tokyo.

Don’t worry, Gage Roads hasn’t forgotten their homies.

In October, they get cracking on building their first WA venue at the A-Shed on Victoria Quay in Fremantle. The big brewpub should open in summer 2021-22.