EP26 - The Last Day of Sydney's Most Unique Brewery

Craft beer is often about the beer.

This episode isn't.

On Wildflower's final day in Marrickville, Chat On Tap headed down to one of Australia's most beloved breweries to find out what happens when a venue becomes something more than a place to grab a drink.

As hundreds of people packed the brewery and spilled out into the street, Dave handed the microphone to the people who knew Wildflower best - the locals, regulars, beer lovers, industry veterans and friends who helped turn this warehouse into a community.

From first dates and Friday afternoon beers to wild fermentation, Belgian influences and friendships formed over countless pints, this episode captures the stories that made Wildflower special.

Because while breweries make beer, it's the people who create the culture.

In this episode:

🍺 The story of Wildflower's final day in Marrickville

🍺 Why this brewery became a pilgrimage site for beer lovers

🍺 The role Wildflower played in Sydney's craft beer scene

🍺 How a niche brewery built such a loyal community

🍺 Stories from locals, regulars and industry insiders

🍺 The unique world of mixed-fermentation and wild ales

🍺 What Wildflower's move means for Marrickville and the Inner West Ale Trail

🍺 Why the best breweries are often about more than what's in the glass

This isn't a farewell to Wildflower.

It's a snapshot of the community that grew around it.

And judging by the turnout, that community isn't going anywhere.

Guests Featured

🍺 Jason Trewin - Inner West Ale Trail

🍺 Coral - @HaveABeerWithCoco

🍺 Darren –-Former brewery venue operator

🍺 Scott – Long-time Wildflower regular

Links

🍺 Wildflower Brewing & Blending

📸 @wildflowerbeer

🌐 wildflowerbeer.com

🍺 Inner West Ale Trail

📸 @innerwestaletrail

🌐 innerwestaletrail.com.au

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:02

Welcome to Channel Tab for the show about pubs and the people in them. Today we're at Wildflower, which is one of the breweries in Marrickville in the Innerwest Ale Trail, but it's a sad day and an emotional day because it's their last day of trade before they pack up and they move to the country. So I think there's gonna be a lot of people here behind me that are gonna be sad that these are last drinks. Um I thought I don't know too much about this, so let's find out from the punters what they love about this joint. Um I think also to start off, the best place to go to is Jason Truan. You may know him from the show. He's been on before. Jace, uh, you are the the man behind the Inos Ale trail, or at least the marketing.

SPEAKER_01 0:43

Uh are you sad to see these guys leave the trail? It's a really sad day, I think. Um, but also, you know, uh Wildflower had a pretty good run. They've done 10 years here before they're moving to a rural, uh, a new home as well, which I think they're pretty happy about. I was sawing the tofu out back before uh he's a co-founder. And I think, yeah, they've had a really I think they've had a month-long uh farewell. It's been a bit of a like a like a John Farnham farewell tour, sort of thing. So I think there's been many drinks and many uh yeah, many last supples as well. And um, yeah, I think they've had a really amazing outpouring from the community. Uh, and lots of people have been able to say goodbye and have like one to ten farewell drinks. So um, yeah, so it's a special day, but um, yeah, I think they're looking forward to a break and looking forward to the the next incarnation as well.

SPEAKER_03 1:30

So what is the what is the sort of history of Wildflower, where they got here, what's what their what their vibe is.

SPEAKER_01 1:36

Yeah, so I think they they opened here in 2017, and I was told I did an early tour uh with TOFA, and they were saying that this is an old work foundry. I think he was saying that it uh made the bolts, the rivets that went into the Sydney Harbour bridge. Oh wow. So and then I pressed him a bit more about that. He's like, well, that's what they told me. I'm just gonna go with uh don't let the facts get in the way of a great story. Yeah, so exactly, exactly. So no more bolts and rivets are being made, but they have been making amazing, you know, mixed ferment uh uh beers for 10 years now. Um, and you know, they they get the yeast from native flowers, hence the name Wildflower, and then they've made these amazing mixed ferment beers that have, yeah, I mean, popular say a why, but also globally as well. So, and it's an amazing space, as I'm sure you've seen, and you'll take the take the cameras as well. Like it's uh like stepping into a time walk, really. It's like old beans, old purgated iron, like old dried flowers. It's it's a pretty magical spot on the outshot, and we'll be sad to see it go.

SPEAKER_03 2:40

Yeah, for sure. I I think a lot of people would come here for the the space in itself. It just feels it doesn't feel like it. You feel like you're on a farm in Europe almost, not not in the middle of Marriottville.

SPEAKER_01 2:50

So yeah, and long, you know, great to see so many people out as well. It's like uh it's uh busier than I've ever seen it, and um, yeah, it's unreal.

SPEAKER_03 2:58

And it's I mean it's it's also it's a very unique kind of brewery in a sense. Like I I first came here I just before the pandemic. I think it was the start of 2020. In fact, I think I was here the weekend before we locked down the first time. Oh, okay. It was like my last outing. Yeah, yeah. Um, and back then I didn't know too much about craft beer, and I think the bartender at the time I said, Oh, I mostly drink pale house, and he's like, This is not the place for you.

SPEAKER_01 3:21

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 3:21

Um, can you describe some of the beers?

SPEAKER_01 3:24

Yeah, so they're like a more European style with a mixed ferment, so very sour, like funky beers as well, but often blended with like they do a beer um uh with uh like natural honeycomb. They've had like really, really great relationships with producers um and also wineries as well. So they've done beers uh like honeycomb, as I said, but also like wine grapes, also like different fruits as well. So And they do a bunch of like aging in the barrel and that sort of stuff, and then they blend it together. So its full name is yeah, wild uh wildflower brewing and blending, and part of that is blending together different years of beers to make the best beers. So um just in terms of the creativity, it's um been pretty amazing. The food uh for a long time was unreal. They've had a lot of guest chefs as well. Pohin for their Sunday, they had the thing called Spring Fling, so like uh chef pop-ups, uh, which of Unreal Food. Uh and also for a while they had like a micro dairy cheesery called Bold Street Dairy that did the most amazing grilled cheese. That simple! Yeah, but also I think I just turned into like the street team ambassador of going, oh my god, you gotta try this grilled cheese, it's amazing. Everyone's like, grilled cheese, like are you in uni? Is this like a toasty? But everyone that had it, they were like, This is amazing, I'm coming back for it. So um, it's a real institution. Um and yeah, as you can tell today from the turnouts, yeah. And they're selling the glassware as well. Like everything, oh yeah, now tell us about the glassware. So I didn't like I didn't realise that people like people have been stealing the glassware for the last few weeks. Uh, you know, the farewell has been um, you know, like announced six, eight, even longer, weeks ago. Um, so people have been taking their own souvenirs, I think. So I think they're just getting in ahead of that, and then now they're selling the glassware for ten dollars. Um, and then Which is pretty smart.

SPEAKER_03 5:12

So I I thought this was a pretty cool ploy today. I'm drinking out of a plastic cup because I haven't bought a glass yet.

SPEAKER_01 5:17

$10, there you go.

SPEAKER_03 5:18

$10 for the glass, right? I'm gonna have to get one, but I was hoping for free unlimited refills, but apparently not.

SPEAKER_01 5:23

But that's okay, that's okay. So it's worthwhile.

SPEAKER_03 5:25

So but that's I think that was a it was a great way to go about it. They've just gone ten dollars for whatever beer.

SPEAKER_01 5:30

Yeah, it seems they just go like a like an ad on TV. Yeah, it's good. I think yeah, they want to kick all the kegs today. Um, they're selling t-shirts, tea towels, and then the rest of it will go online, I think, to sell on.

SPEAKER_03 5:44

Well, it is sad to see us. Thanks for giving us a bit of the history for the Inner West Ale Trail. Um, I look forward to what the space might be using.

SPEAKER_01 5:52

Another brewery takes it over. I mean, Dave, how much uh put put your money together, man?

SPEAKER_03 5:57

I don't know if you know how much this podcast makes, and it is not enough to own a brewery. Maybe a GoFundMe. You can dye me a copy Link in bio. Yes. Um Jason from the Inner West Ale Trail. Cheers to you. Um enjoy the day. Yeah, thanks. And uh let's go find out uh what everyone else thinks about this place and what they will miss. Cheers, guys. Okay, I'm gonna start with the punters with someone I wanted to get on the show for some time because we've become friends. We have. It is Coral, who you may see from Have a Beer with Coco. Yes. Coral Coco?

SPEAKER_00 6:28

Well, Coco's my nickname, Coral's my real name.

SPEAKER_03 6:31

Oh no, I figured that's weird. Do you have a preference?

SPEAKER_00 6:35

Well, I only Coco came about because when my kids were calling me and I didn't answer to mum, they said cocoa and I answered. So I'll I'll answer to either.

SPEAKER_03 6:45

Right. So you're uh you're a you're a beer enthusiast.

SPEAKER_00 6:48

I am definitely a beer enthusiast.

SPEAKER_03 6:49

Torrel has told me that she has been here no less than ten times.

SPEAKER_00 6:53

Yeah, no, yeah, it's a good spot to come.

SPEAKER_03 6:55

Yeah, so what what is it what has it meant for you over the years?

SPEAKER_00 6:58

Uh look, it's definitely been it's a niche market, some of the beers they've had here, but my favorite thing to do is on a winter's night to come in when the fire's going, order a check cut lager, and then sit as close to the fire as you can and really savour it. But yeah, I've met people here, it's it's a unique vibe, and I've always really enjoyed it. And I love sours and fermented beers, so it's been the place to come for that.

SPEAKER_03 7:23

Well that was yeah, I did it this before I um yeah, the first time I came here through, I was like, I didn't know what to expect. I've heard it was at the brewery, yeah. Didn't have anything for me, and as my taste has changed, I feel like I've matured into the drinks that they have here.

SPEAKER_00 7:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 7:36

Um, but you also told me that you have just wandered down by yourself sometimes.

SPEAKER_00 7:39

Oh yeah, I often come here by myself. I'll because it's because of the style of beer, not everyone drinks it. So I would pop in, have a beer, and then go meet friends at another brewery, and then vice versa, I'd be out with friends and then pop here on my way back to the train.

SPEAKER_03 7:52

So have they had anything on their menu or list that stands out over the years?

SPEAKER_00 7:58

Oh look, I am a big fan of the wild ferment yeast. I mean, to me it's the closest I'm gonna get to Belgian beer until I get to Belgium. So Right, right. So yeah, I've oh I probably couldn't name them, but most of the ones that have um Saints' names in them, like Thomas and the like, are really good. I love a good lager, but yeah, the wild yeast ferments are my go-to when I come here because you can't get them many places.

SPEAKER_03 8:23

So yeah, it there's not really been anything like around.

SPEAKER_00 8:26

No, yeah. And that's what makes it stand out.

SPEAKER_03 8:28

So will you get to Belgium?

SPEAKER_00 8:30

Oh, it is my hundred percent goals, yes. Goals, goals, goals. I'd love to. I'd love to go to Oktoberfest and Belgium um and experience a lot of these styles in their natural habitat.

SPEAKER_03 8:42

Which is um I mean the irony of those words, of the like the natural and the habitat, which is what why people's already been all about.

SPEAKER_00 8:49

Yeah, well, because in Belgium apparently there's an area, and I'm gonna sound really bad to the people that know and really intelligent to the people that don't, but there's an area where the yeast to strain is in the air, and so they actually ferment beer open because the yeast in the air ferments the beer. And I want to go there. Yeah, that's for me. And now my more knowledgeable beer friends would be able to tell you where and all the details. I don't recall them, but I know it's amazing and I'd love to visit. Chug it in the comments so that we know tell me the real facts and how I'm could have said it better.

SPEAKER_03 9:22

Um, will you be sad to see last week?

SPEAKER_00 9:24

Yes, it's definitely a um it's a unique community, like it has attracted the people that like these sorts of beers, and obviously people that know about it are frequent flyers. Um and I yeah, I don't know. Any I'm always sad when a brewery closes because I'm a craft bee girl and I love the community, and I every time one closes it feels like you lose a little bit of the community.

SPEAKER_03 9:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:47

And then another one opens and you're like, let's rebuild from there. But yeah.

SPEAKER_03 9:51

So where are you tipping? Because I don't think anyone knows where they're going to the country. Where are you tipping?

SPEAKER_00 9:57

Look, I could see them somewhere out near Mudgee or something where they can get some land. They're not too far from wine country, so they'll get people en route to those places, but they've got the space to do all this naturally and organically. And now that they've got a brand and a a known entity, they will do really well.

SPEAKER_03 10:13

Yeah, especially for that. I think there's a crossover into the other like to the wine community or whatnot, because a lot of the practices of their uh work has been, you know, it's kind of well I often say wild yeast beer and fermented beer is a little bit like wine, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:28

Um, but still beer. So if you're a wine drinker, then you're more likely to experiment with this side of things, and if you drink this sort of beer, then you're more likely to drink wine.

SPEAKER_03 10:37

So you sound like an amazing spokesp spokesperson for wildflower.

SPEAKER_00 10:42

For wildflower, yes.

SPEAKER_03 10:43

And for fermented beers.

SPEAKER_00 10:44

Yeah, I love fermented beers, so what can I say?

SPEAKER_03 10:47

Coral, thank you so much.

SPEAKER_00 10:49

No Brice, I can't cheese you because I finished my drink.

SPEAKER_03 10:51

That's okay.

SPEAKER_00 10:52

But that will be getting a refill.

SPEAKER_03 10:55

As we continue to um talk to the punters of wildflower, I've met Darren today. Darren, welcome to the show. Thanks very much. Uh Darren has some brewing experience, but I want you to tell me about Wildflower, what it's meant to you, like where you know, I I I I hear you frequented here a few times. I've been here a few times over the years. I mean, I have the greatest respect for Topher, what he does. And it's pretty quite genuine to Australia that not a lot of people are doing the styles of beer, and I think it shows today where there are people who actually do like his style and have come in today to support.

SPEAKER_04 11:28

I think absolutely fantastic.

SPEAKER_03 11:29

And so so what sort of events have you had here over the years? Uh I went to the Canton event a few weeks ago. Absolutely amazing. If you can obviously can't come back to here again, but if you ever get to one, Canton is absolutely just incredible as well, too. Um well I I don't know what that means. Explain that to me. Okay, so on Canton Day there race two beers from Belgium. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 11:53

And there's only certain places in Australia that will stock or do it in Venn.

SPEAKER_03 11:58

There's one in Sydney and one in Melbourne. And that's only two places. Oh wow. But they pick where they want to do it. Okay, as well, too. And it has to be around the same style as what you know they're doing. So it's such an amazing day. You come in, have a lot of people, it's pretty selective. Yeah, you know, you just can't buy a ticket, you gotta be selected for it. Yeah, right. You know, it's pretty cool stuff around it. And then we come in and just share bottles all day, and it's absolutely incredible. How do you noticed about the people that come to Wildflower? I know you've been in the brewing game, so you would have said a lot of patronage. Correct. Is there a is there a particular type of people that have chosen this as a community? They seem very loyal.

SPEAKER_04 12:38

Yeah, I think I think Marathon as a whole. Um a lot of people do support local breweries as well, too. And obviously Marathon, we're really lucky because we've got a lot a lot of breweries around here, and you know you're not short of going anywhere.

SPEAKER_03 12:52

But every brewery around here is different. They have their own beer styles, their own type of customers, um, owners, and everything's a whole family.

SPEAKER_04 13:00

You know, they're all different. So on a day, if you feel like a particular beer, like okay, I want to feel like a lag or a pullsna, you know, I'll go to kicks. I want a super heavy 8% bear, I'll go to Brackett. Bracket, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 13:13

That's a really cool sour ale that no one else does, or come here, you know, and the options are definitely there, or future as well, too. So you think the um the NOS ale trail is gonna have a whole felt? Definitely, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 13:26

I think there's oh no, there there's still room for another cup of brewers, I think, as well. Yeah, yeah. To make it more interesting, but I don't know. I haven't seen anybody come up.

SPEAKER_03 13:36

Obviously, it'd be some for sale around here, you know, as well too. Yeah. Um so yeah. And it did did do days like this make you miss the brewing industry? Oh, totally, 100%. And I see a few people here that I've have you seen for while and I love this sort of stuff. Yeah, yeah. So you know express, I just bumped into him, had a couple of beers with him. Yeah, yeah. It's just over there, and I love I just love the industry. I love um the friends I've made over the years as well, too. And you can I can go anywhere around here and bump into someone I know. Yeah, yeah. That's what I love about it. Yeah, yeah. What was your history for for people who uh Oh for me probably uh six years ago, I came up with the idea for 12 taps. Yep. So member South and three business partners came in. We had a concept around helping regional brewers get into Sydney, also local as well too. Yeah, um but having different types of taps rotating all the time.

SPEAKER_04 14:31

I mean we had 12 taps as well too. And we've had a venue here in Glebe and Monomer, both shut now, but due to COVID, as you mentioned, yeah. But I'm I missed the industry myself and I I'm still in evolved with it to a certain degree where I know like still a lot of people.

SPEAKER_03 14:50

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So and I meet new people like yourself. Yeah, I it's fantastic. I mean, I'm I'm very new to the industry, and I I come from a different lens because uh I'm a you know, I'm a media background and a storyteller, and like I do I like to capture that, so but I yeah, I've I've found it so amazing the people I've met. Um everyone is so welcoming. I mean, maybe because they're like two or three pints deep every time you meet them, but like yeah, sometimes.

SPEAKER_04 15:14

But the craft the craft industry as a whole, everybody knows each other. Once you get involved with it, you can make new friends.

SPEAKER_03 15:20

Yeah, all their friends for life, like and I I've noticed from from all the way down from brewers to to venue managers to enthusiasts or or bloggers, maybe like myself, or whatever, compared to other industries, there seem to be a little like the competition is lower. Yeah, everyone is a little bit more like, oh, you're doing that, cool. What what help do you need? Yeah, but these guys will bounce with each other as well, too.

SPEAKER_04 15:43

Yeah, and I know a few brewers that oh I've run out of this and then go down to the brewery and get it. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 15:48

It's like oh, just pay me back what you can and you just replace it when your stock comes in, or you know. So there's definitely that sort of in the marketplace, I think, as well. Too. Looking at this street party. Oh my god. And this is in like the last hour. Yeah. Uh we're through three hours into the last day of of trade. Um, I I saw two people in the street. I'm like, and they're are they allowed to be on the street? Now the whole street is filled with everyone.

SPEAKER_02 16:10

Last day I didn't probably really care. Like, your industry. What are you gonna do?

SPEAKER_03 16:16

Yeah, what are you gonna do?

SPEAKER_02 16:16

Close our license? Like, no, no. And there's more people coming.

SPEAKER_03 16:20

Yeah, you say, well, street again.

SPEAKER_02 16:22

It's really good. I love the industry.

SPEAKER_04 16:24

Yeah. I think it's really collective and it's still around, it's still there, it's still vibrant. I don't think it's picking up. I think every week I see more people, more venues as well, too. So cost living hasn't impacted I guess too much, I guess, to a certain degree, though. But look at this, look at today, like yeah, this is this is fan absolutely fantastic. Yeah. Imagine having this every weekend.

SPEAKER_03 16:48

Like it's a dream.

SPEAKER_04 16:51

The last day, let's celebrate.

SPEAKER_03 16:54

Cheers to you, Darren. I really appreciate you um sharing your thoughts on Wildflower and uh we'll enjoy today. Thank you. And um you're allowed to cry up to three or four times. I've got some tissues. Somewhere. I went to speak to some punters and they said don't speak to us, speak to Scott. Scott is apparently the super fan. Scott, thanks for joining the show. Thanks, Dave. Um, are you sad? Wildflower is leaving us? Uh yeah. It's gonna suck. Only because it's like it's you know, like having like a Saison brewery like in the area, which you know isn't really sort of normal. So, especially all like the the funky beers and everything. Yeah. So yeah, it's uh hopefully where they sort of move to, like again, like I said, it's not closing, it's only moving somewhere. Hopefully it's not like too far away. Are you a local? Originally I was, I've sort of moved down, but so we're at Panania now, so it's like you know, not local-ish, but not too far away. So, how often would you come? Uh so back in like 2019, I used to come and work here on a Friday. Oh, yeah, yeah. And so there wouldn't be sort of many people, so I would yeah, just sort of like work here and sort of drink the beers and everything. Uh so this has like extra special meaning for you. I yeah, yeah, it was like it was only because like I would always sort of bring my friends here and say, oh, can't have these beers and they would hate the beers. So you bet so uh but yeah, I think it was always that interesting place you could sort of bring people, and you know, I think it always had like a really great sort of vibe of sort of like you know, friends and family and everything. Have you met people here that you like you would bring people here, but did you make friends just by being here? Uh like well, I'd say with like Misha and like like different sort of bar staff that had worked here. So uh my sort of girlfriend like Marnie, it was funny, like you know, um she went to high school around here, and so there's like people here that sort of work behind like sort of bar staff, and yeah, like it would just I think it was always like a community of like sort of different people. I I think it was more so the fact that you could come here like you know on different days and you could just chat with sort of people. So it wasn't necessarily that building like you know huge sort of friendships, just everyone like you know really loved the beers and you could have fun with that. Yeah, yeah. So it does it feel like this, it almost feels maybe for you it feels like a bit of a nostalgic community thing now that you have like also moved and then you know that they're about to move, and it's like, oh my god, wait, where is that part of my life for?

SPEAKER_02 19:13

Uh yeah. Yeah, when you when you say like that, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 19:19

We're getting old and then you can't come out as much. Uh oh oh yeah, I am about to have this sort of baby, so whereas you know sort of baby or an actual baby? An actual baby. Actually, I am I'm about to have an actual baby, so me too. So congratulations, congratulations in August? Uh October.

SPEAKER_02 19:35

October, I can't.

SPEAKER_03 19:36

Actually, I would have loved to actually done our baby shower here, but they shot too shut too soon. Um, so yeah, I think it was more so all that thing where you could like bring a baby, and like there's like we've bought like friends with kids here, and like they play with a chalk, they draw around, like that was it. Like it's a you where you know it's a bar pub sort of brewery, but it wasn't like you know other places, you know. You could bring you know kids in here and everyone could have fun. Like you look at now streets kids, or you could bring sort of kids, all kids, so sort of yeah, kids of all ages. My um my uh ceci who's been on this show uh a bunch. We came here recently and she sat down with the kids and was drawing chalk on the ground. I was like, forget the bush of paper, we'll just go chalk and concrete. Yeah, yeah. So um, yeah, I think there will be that's that's a sad part of this community to be to be lost. But um, Scotty, I really appreciate your insights. Yeah, I'm sad for your loss. I'm excited for your incoming. That's a sort of child. See, sort of is a crutch word. I it's one of those things that I've got to try and get rid of. It's uh and I've just really like really yeah, it's like don't say sort of, don't say sort of. Um thank you so much. Thanks, Dave. Appreciate you chatting about your love for Wav Wa. All right. And I hope you have a great day today. Thank you. So it is certainly an emotional uh moment for a lot of the people in the community here. I think um that sort of keeps coming up as it that everybody really feels the kind of community vibe here. The the fact that this place is very special, very niche. A lot of people find it important, and I mean the space itself is so beautiful and wonderful, and I think people are gonna miss being able to just sit and hang out there. And you can see, I mean, look at this crowd. There is the biggest street party I think I've I've seen. Uh that everybody's here is just like we need to make the most of wildflower while we're here. So it was really lovely to be here on their last day. Um, and as much as it's emotional, at least it's not the end, it is just a transition into their next phase. So I look forward to taking this show down to whatever it is that they're doing next. Uh, we might try and catch in, catch up with the uh the founders and the owners uh of of and tell their story. But um, you know, if you go check out their socials and their blog posts on their website, there's a lot of that story that has already kind of been told and uh it's out there for people to you know enjoy and be nostalgic about, and that's that's really cool. So yeah, thanks for joining us on the show at Wildflower. Uh you can always uh get in touch with the show. Hello at chatontap.com. You can follow us on Insta Chat On Tap, and uh we will see you next week. Okay.