Canberra Brewery Winery and Distillery Tour

Three drinks, one easy afternoon. This Canberra tour links a brewery, winery, and distillery in a single outing, giving you a broad taste of the region without arranging separate transport. I like the air-conditioned minibus, which means nobody in your group must sit out the tastings, and I like the mix of behind-the-scenes visits and actual pours. The main drawback is the fixed 1:30pm start and the non-refundable booking policy, so you need to be certain your plans will hold.

The tour costs $121.93 per person and runs for about four hours, usually returning to Braddon around 5:30pm. It is designed for a maximum of 10 people, which should make the afternoon more personal than a large coach outing. Still, the order of the stops can change, and traffic or venue operations may push the return time later.

At a glance

• Three local drinks in one tour: Visit a brewery, winery, and distillery rather than choosing only one style of drink.
• Start at BentSpoke in Braddon: Meet outside BentSpoke Brewery at 1:30pm, a handy Inner North starting point.
• Behind-the-scenes access: Learn how beer, wine, and spirits are made, not just taste finished products.
• Transport and snacks included: Ride in an air-conditioned minibus with water, snacks, and commentary.
• Small-group format: The stated group limit is 10 people, with larger private groups available by arrangement.
• A broad tasting session: Beer, wine, and spirit tastings are included, while takeaway bottles or cans cost extra.

Why this tour works for a mixed group

Many tasting outings ask you to commit to one drink. This one keeps the afternoon open. One person can focus on beer, another on wine, and somebody else can pay closer attention to gin or other spirits. That makes the format useful for couples and friends who do not share exactly the same tastes.

I also like the way the tour connects production with tasting. You are not simply driven from one bar to another. At each stop, you hear about the process, the local producer, and the story behind the drink. That extra context helps you understand why two beers, wines, or spirits can taste so different.

The tour is not a full-day wine-country expedition. At roughly four hours, it is a compact introduction to Canberra’s drinks scene. You get a sample of three kinds of producer, but you should not expect a long, leisurely stay at each venue. The afternoon is best viewed as a sampler with transport, rather than a slow tasting holiday.

Meeting at BentSpoke in Braddon

The meeting point is outside BentSpoke Brewery at 8/38 Mort Street, Braddon. The booking information also gives the address as 48/38 Mort Street, so I would check the exact map pin and venue directions before setting out. The start time is fixed at 1:30pm, and hotel pickup is not included.

Braddon is a practical place to begin because it sits in Canberra’s Inner North and has food, drink, and transport options nearby. Give yourself enough time to arrive without rushing. A late arrival could be awkward when the minibus is working to a set schedule.

BentSpoke serves as more than a meeting point. It is the first stop, where you start with beer production and tastings. You can expect an explanation of how beer is made, followed by samples of local handcrafted brews. The behind-the-scenes element gives the first part of the afternoon some substance, especially if you enjoy seeing the work behind a familiar pint.

The venue is also a sensible place to begin a tasting day. Beer is generally a less formal starting point than wine or spirits, and the brewery setting should help the group settle in. Snacks and water are included during the outing, which matters when several alcoholic drinks are served over a few hours.

Beer first, with a look behind the brew

The brewery visit is built around two things: production and tasting. You learn how beer is made, then try local brews while the process is still fresh in your mind. That connection is useful because you can ask your guide about the styles and ingredients you are sampling.

The tour promises a good amount of information about local producers and their stories. The exact beers are not fixed in the details provided, so you should expect the selection to change. That is normal for a working brewery, but it also means you should not book this expecting one specific beer.

I like that the first stop is not just a quick drink. A brewery tour can be little more than a walk past equipment, but the combination of explanation and samples gives you a better sense of place. You get an introduction to Canberra’s local drinks scene before moving on to wine and spirits.

The practical limit is time. Since the complete tour lasts around four hours and includes two more venues, this is an overview rather than a detailed brewery study. If beer is your main interest, you may wish the schedule allowed longer at the first stop. If your group has mixed tastes, the brisk pace is more of a benefit.

Wine tasting in the middle of the afternoon

The second visit takes you to a local winery, where you taste the latest vintage and hear about winemaking. This part adds a different rhythm to the day. After the brewery, you move from brewed drinks to fermented grape products, with the guide helping you compare the two.

The wording suggests the focus is on current production, so the wine selection may vary with what the winery is pouring. That is a plus for freshness, though it also means the exact lineup cannot be guaranteed. You can ask questions about the vintage and the winemaking process as you taste.

One particularly appealing account of an upgraded full-day outing described wineries and a distillery offering wine, cheeses, gins, and chocolates. Those extras are not listed as standard inclusions for this four-hour tour, so do not count on them. Still, the detail gives you a useful idea of the kind of local-product pairing that may be available at some venues or on an upgrade.

The winery stop may be the strongest part for people who prefer a slower tasting experience. At the same time, the tour has to keep moving to fit all three venues into one afternoon. If you want extensive vineyard time or several hours at one cellar door, a dedicated wine tour would be a better match.

Finishing with spirits at a local distillery

The final stop is a local distillery. Here you learn about the making of spirits and taste more local products. Ending with spirits gives the tour a clear progression from beer to wine to stronger drinks, but it also makes the included snacks and water especially welcome.

The information does not specify which spirits are served. Gin is mentioned in the account of the longer outing, including several flavours, but you should not assume that gin is the only spirit or that the same selection appears on every departure. The available pours can depend on the distillery and its current products.

I like the distillery stop because spirits often reveal the most about local ingredients and production choices. The guide can explain how the drink is made, while the tasting lets you compare the finished result. You also have a chance to buy more for later, though takeaway drinks are not included in the tour price.

This is another place where responsible pacing matters. You are tasting across three alcohol categories in one afternoon. The tour includes transport, but you should still eat sensibly, use the provided water, and follow the guide’s instructions. The minibus removes the need for a designated driver, not the need to drink carefully.

What the $121.93 price includes

At $121.93 per person, the value depends on how much you would otherwise spend arranging three separate visits. The price includes transport by air-conditioned minivan, a local or professional guide, live commentary on board, tastings, snacks, and water. It also saves you the cost and trouble of assigning a driver.

That package is fairly easy to understand. You are paying for access, tastings, transport, and the time of a guide who connects the stops. If you visited independently, you would need to coordinate opening hours, find a driver, pay for fuel or rides, and decide which producer to visit. The tour handles that planning.

The price does not include takeaway drinks. If you find a beer, wine, or spirit you like, budget extra for purchases. Hotel pickup and drop-off are also excluded, so you need to reach Braddon on your own and return there after the tour.

For a small group, the value improves because the format is more focused and social. The supplied details state a maximum of 10 people per tour, though larger groups can contact the operator. A separate booking field lists a maximum of 100, so if group size matters to you, confirm the expected number before paying. The tour is operated by Daves Tours.

The four-hour schedule and changing order

The usual plan runs from 1:30pm to about 5:30pm. You begin at BentSpoke, visit a winery, then finish at a distillery. The order may change slightly because the venues have their own operating schedules.

That flexibility is practical rather than a flaw. Working producers cannot always arrange every visit in the same order, and a change may help the tour run on time. Still, if one particular stop matters most to you, ask about the likely order before departure.

The return time is approximate. The guide and driver aim to bring you back close to 5:30pm, but traffic and venue operations can cause a delay. I would avoid booking a tight dinner reservation immediately afterward. A little breathing room makes the final part of the day easier.

The minibus is air-conditioned, and live commentary is provided while you travel. This is useful because the driving time becomes part of the tour rather than dead time. You can hear more about local producers between tastings instead of worrying about directions.

Who will enjoy it most

This outing fits you best if you want variety and convenience. It is a good choice for:

• Friends with different drink preferences
• Couples looking for a social afternoon
• Visitors with only one free afternoon in Canberra
• People who do not want to drive between venues
• Anyone interested in how drinks are produced
• Groups that prefer a small tour rather than a large coach

It may suit you less if you want a serious wine education, a long brewery session, or a quiet day at one cellar door. The strength here is range. You get three types of producer in one compact trip, not an in-depth study of one category.

The tour is for adults aged 18 and over. Most people can participate, but sturdy closed shoes are required. Bring a camera if you want photos, though you should follow each venue’s instructions about where photography is allowed.

Booking cautions and practical planning

The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed after booking. If your schedule is uncertain, this is a meaningful risk. Check your date, meeting point, and transport plans carefully before confirming.

The tour requires a minimum number of participants. If Daves Tours cancels because that minimum is not reached, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund. That protection applies to an operator cancellation, not to a change of your own plans.

Tours usually run Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with other days available on request. If you are visiting midweek, contact the operator rather than assuming a regular departure exists.

I would also confirm the exact pickup address because the supplied information gives two versions of the Mort Street number. The venue name is BentSpoke Brewery in Braddon, and the start time is 1:30pm, but a quick check before the day can prevent an avoidable mix-up.

Should you book the Canberra drinks tour?

Book it if you want a relaxed introduction to beer, wine, and spirits without driving. The combination of tastings, production visits, snacks, water, and a small-group minibus makes the $121.93 price easier to justify, especially for a group with mixed tastes.

Skip it if your priority is one deep, slow tasting experience. The four-hour schedule covers a lot of ground, and the stop order can change. For most people, though, the appeal is precisely that variety. You get three local producers, a guide, and a safe ride back to Braddon in one afternoon.

The experience has a 4.8 rating from 17 ratings, with 94 percent recommending it. An especially warm account praised the friendly group atmosphere and an upgraded full-day outing that included wines, cheeses, gins, and chocolates. The response from Gregg was signed with a simple thank-you, suggesting the operator keeps a personal tone. That fits the tour’s small-group design.

FAQ

Where does the Canberra Brewery Winery and Distillery Tour start?

It starts at 1:30pm outside BentSpoke Brewery in Braddon, Canberra. The supplied address is listed as Mort Street, with two different street numbers provided, so confirm the exact location before departure.

Where does the tour finish?

The tour ends back at the BentSpoke Brewery meeting point at approximately 5:30pm.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately four hours.

Which days does the tour operate?

Regular departures are available on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Other days may be available on request.

Are tastings included?

Yes. Beer, wine, and spirit tastings are included, along with snacks and water.

Is transport included?

Yes. Transport is provided in an air-conditioned minivan, and live commentary is provided on board.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You must make your own way to and from the Braddon meeting point.

What should I bring?

Bring sturdy closed shoes and a camera. The minimum drinking age is 18, and takeaway drinks are not included.