Shelter Brewing Co

The scale of Shelter Brewing would be impressive anywhere, let alone at the foot of the jetty on the Busselton foreshore. The fully functional brewery – which also has a restaurant, function rooms and capacity for 650 – is a joint venture between two fourth-generation local families: brothers Matt, Jason, Mike and Chris Credaro and brothers Zeb and Asher Packard-Hair.

The lofty two-level building cuts an impressive and imposing figure, with 10-metre floor-to-ceiling windows – designed to maximise the stunning view of the jetty and Geographe Bay – and more than 1000 square metres of ground-floor space. Construction began in August 2019, and, despite Covid, the brewery opened on-schedule in late 2020. It’s been designed with an emphasis on sustainability, which includes a 100-kilowatt solar-panel system that produces 80 per cent of the brewery’s power.

The beer – including a mid-strength XPA, a 6.8 per cent IPA, a summer sour, a classic lager and a red ale – is brewed on-site, overseen by director and head brewer Jason Credaro (ex-Little Creatures). Guests can take part in brewery tours, complete with beer paddles and tastings straight from the tanks. All the wine and spirits on the non-beer drinks list are Western Australian, too.

The food menu centres around an imported Italian Marana Forni pizza oven, which turns out crisp Roman-style pies. Other dishes – such as chilli mussels, pork ribs and 12-hour slow-cooked beef brisket – are designed for sharing and sit alongside a selection of smaller plates and burgers. The in-house cafe opens early in the mornings, serving house-baked cinnamon scrolls and coffee from Margaret River Roasting Co.