Iconic Scottish craft brewery Brewdog has set its sights on Melbourne.

Since launching in 2007, it’s established itself as one of the biggest craft breweries in the world. And this spring it’s expanding even further – opening a sprawling bar and beer garden at Coburg’s historic Pentridge Prison (which is already home to a food and drinks precinct, as well as a Palace cinema).

Brewdog’s Melbourne debut is thanks to a just-announced partnership with Australian Venue Co (AVC). The hospitality juggernaut operates more than 180 venues nationwide, including a raft in Melbourne – Kewpie (the former Bimbo) and Perseverance on Brunswick Street, and Richmond’s Harlow among them.

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While details about the new multi-level venue are scarce, it’ll occupy the prison’s more than 1000-square-metre E division building – with a fit-out that nods to the site’s past.

The centrepiece will be an expansive beer garden with red-brick accents, a shipping-container bar and a games area. There’ll also be a spacious dining room and lounge area on the ground floor and multiple events spaces on the first floor. And alongside Brewdog’s huge beer selection, expect a menu of burgers, tacos and wings.

Brewdog Pentridge is the brand’s second Aussie venture – it opened in Brisbane in 2019. But the new franchise deal with AVC means several other Brewdog locations will open across the country in the coming years – including its first ever bar in Sydney.

“Australia is one of the most exciting and dynamic craft beer countries in the world,” Brewdog co-founder Martin Dickie said in a statement. “Since opening our taproom and brewery in Brisbane, we’ve been blown away by the support we’ve received from the local community … We can’t wait for this project to get underway.”

Brewdog Pentridge is slated to open in spring.

brewdog.com/au