Smart Brothers Brewing — Restaurant in Melbourne

There are breweries that try to impress you. Then there are places like Smart Brothers Brewing in Hastings — where everything they pour, flame, and plate feels almost inevitable.

Like this place was always meant to exist.

The Pale Ale (5.0%) lays the first stone — a perfect foundation.

The malt profile hums with biscuity richness, lifted by a vibrant tropical hop character that manages to be clean, not cloying.

It’s elegant without arrogance — a beer that knows exactly what it is.

The Hazy Session Ale (4.2%) follows with a different kind of confidence.

Low ABV often means thin or forgettable; here it means layers — soft apricot, juicy mango, a mist of citrus — all tucked inside a pillow of haze so smooth you almost sigh when it hits the tongue.

Balanced. Thoughtful. Deceptively complex.

And then comes the Pineapple Milkshake IPA (6.8%) — a risk, but not reckless.

It blooms on the palate: bright pineapple sweetness cushioned by a creamy, lactose-rich body, with a bitterness gently pulling it back from excess.

It’s playful, yes — but it's also deliberate. It reminds you that beer can still surprise without betraying its roots.

Clean. Every beer. Clean.

But it’s not just the glasses that demand your attention.

The food here isn’t an afterthought — it’s an extension of the brewing philosophy.

The Smoky BBQ Burger arrives like a statement.

Handmade thick patty, flame-grilled to a perfect char, slathered in rich house-made BBQ sauce that smokes and sweetens in equal measure.

Every bite — juicy, sticky, indulgent — feels engineered to meet great beer halfway across the table and shake hands.

And the wood-fired pizzas — thin, blistered, just chewy enough — are no less remarkable.

The bases are house-made, the toppings fresh and curated, never overdone.

Each slice feels designed for that moment between sips when your mouth needs another story.

Together, it’s a communion: beer and fire, grain and flame, thought and pleasure.

Ok, I'm drunk, but that's NOT the point.

Smart Brothers doesn’t just brew.

They craft an experience.

And if you have a brain in your head and a heart in your chest, you’ll understand why I’ll be coming back — sober,...

Love this place! Hastings was crying out for a quality spot and Smart Bro's have certainly delivered! I first visited just to support the new local brewery, now I'm a regular visitor.

The atmosphere is great, the staff and service are awesome, seriously! The food is quality and always super fresh, a very consistent kitchen crew.

There is true skill on show from their brewers, there is something for everyone on the tap list even for a picky guy like myself. A great range of flavours and styles, obviously well produced and cleanly fermented.

As a customer I have really noticed and appreciate the reinvestment into the business, from a splash of paint to a new beer garden and a tonne in between you can genuinely see the care put into the business and that customers...

Small and simple Tap House. A very good selection of beers covering a classic style spectrum from their delightful light, and very sessionable Grisette, to a beautifully heavy, dark Porter. It's all brewed locally in very small batches too. They have a small but good food menu which accompanies the beer well. If you have non-beer drinkers with you, then they also offer a selection of wines. Add to this staff who are knowledgeable, dedicated, and provide excellent service, and you have a very compelling proposition for a casual drink with good friends. Highly...