Grainfed Brewing Company

Grainfed Brewing brings its local beer focus to the Grainfed Shed in Lambton, where beer is brewed, packaged and sold from the one Newcastle site. The brewery has been operating since 2012, and the Shed opened in 2023 as a place for the community to meet over freshly made beer served directly from the tanks. Take-away beer is also available during service times.

The range covers a broad spread of beer styles. Sneaky One is a light, easy-drinking ale, while Old School takes a hop-forward West Coast IPA approach. Coal Porter is the darker option, described as rich with a smooth finish, and 2 Degrees is a crisp pale ale. Plan B is the brewery’s mid-strength, Game Day is a lager, and 45° South is a hazy IPA made with southern-grown hops. Lambton Pale offers a classic American pale ale profile with firm hop bitterness. Seasonal and limited releases add further variety, including the Japanese-style Dark Samurai rice lager, tart Raspberry Beret and anniversary beer 4th Date.

The Shed is set up as a relaxed gathering space rather than simply a place to buy beer. Its menu is intentionally simple and designed to match the beers, with wine, soft drinks and a small selection of spirits also available. That mix gives groups with different preferences an option beyond beer, while the welcoming layout suits catching up with friends or meeting people in the local community. The brewery also hosts alternating Thursday nights of musical bingo and trivia, with registrations from 6pm and games beginning at 6.30pm, plus live music on Friday or Saturday nights. The programme changes, so the brewery directs visitors to its social channels for details.

There is a clear hands-on story behind the operation. Founder and owner Lachlan MacBean has worked in Australian brewing since 2004, after a decade as a homebrewer, and studied brewing at Ballarat University. His experience at Bluetongue Brewery helped shape Grainfed’s focus on quality systems and production. After starting with borrowed equipment and spending a decade testing the market, he established Grainfed’s home at Young Road, Lambton. For Newcastle beer drinkers, that makes the venue a chance to try a locally produced range in the place where it is made, whether staying for a drink, joining an event or taking beer home.