NOW EXPERIENCING:Saint John Craft Beer Bar
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Saint John Craft Beer Bar

133 St John Street, Launceston, TAS, 7250
Phone
(03) 6333 0340
Website
saintjohncraftbeer.com.au
Instagram
@saintjohncraftbeer

Read time 4 Mins

Posted 11 Aug 2022

By
Luke Slattery

A list of top-notch craft beers and top-shelf spirits served with an unpretentious and democratic Tassie vibe make this a destination for good times for all comers.

people sitting in saint john bar
Why you go:Bar manager and local guitar hero Kilty Salter has a simple aim: to give his customers the chance to explore the wide world of craft beer, free of pretension. He doesn’t much care if you don’t know the difference between an XPA or an IPA, or if you drink nothing but lager. Here’s a chance to broaden your knowledge and taste without anyone behind the bar rolling eyes or raising eyebrows. But if it’s an education you’re after, Salter and his team are passionate, patient and knowledgeable. Expect lots of Tasmanian brews – it’s a thriving scene – but also a hefty and ever-changing line-up of tap and bottled beers from across Australia and the world, with 17 taps of rotating options and 150-odd beers in total. Tastes are freely and frequently offered; the dishwasher is always cranking. “The whole point of this place is the democratisation of beer across its many styles and types,” says Salter. “Bringing the good stuff to everyone.” It’s a bit evangelical – spreading the good word – without being preachy. In a row of modest street-front shops, adjoining the local CWA selling handknits and jams, Saint John has a roomy understated interior of nightclub black with polished concrete underfoot, simple timber tables and Chesterfield lounges. Think of it as Launceston hygge – a helping of Scandi-style cosiness.
Why you stay:Saint John is focused on good beer – with a world of well-crafted choices – and good times. It doesn’t do pints or paddles. On tap in the front bar are always a seltzer and a cider, a sour, a pale ale, an IPA, a dark beer, a weird beer and a gluten-free beer. Within those styles, the rotation and range are high. The one standard offering is Hobart’s Albert Brewery lager, the preferred Tassie lager at Saint John. “We like to give locals a chance to taste things they don’t often see down here,” says Salter. The same goes for the laden top shelf of single-malt whiskies, many from Tasmania and the peaty Scottish isle of Islay. The back bar, open Thursday to Saturday, has an emphasis on showcase runs, such as a suite of Moo Brew barrel-aged stout from 2017 to 2018, and a winter-release black IPA. There are no assertive style statements at Saint John, no demanding playlists or dress codes – aside from the ubiquitous beards and boots – and no discernible scene. Old dudes and young hipsters, local families and first dates are all here.
What to pair it with:Thought, care and generosity define the kitchen, which serves beer-friendly snacks, burgers and share plates daily from 4:00pm and lunch on Fridays and weekends. Slow-cooked pork jowl and house-made pickles feature on burgers and tacos, alongside a rich beef Wellington burger, layered with mushrooms, spinach, puff pastry and mayo laced with France’s pâté-like foie gras. Cheese and charcuterie plates are generous, and there’s as much care invested in the bean braise as in the saucy lamb ribs.
Regular’s tip:Part of the fun here is tasting a mouthful of a few tap beers before choosing your schooner. Brief details, including alcohol content, are scribbled on the tiles above each tap.
Don’t leave without:On a sunny day, claim a street-front table for a charcuterie board – generous portions of three cured local meats, house-made pickles and breads – and perhaps a bottle of Weihenstephaner Hefe, a classic German wheat beer from the world’s oldest continuously active brewery. Or, on a winter’s day, settle on a leather lounge with lamb ribs and a tap stout of the day. 
Make it fancy:A dram of Bruichladdich Octomore single malt from the very top shelf – reputedly the world’s peatiest whisky.
Who to take: Despite its lack of pretension – or perhaps because of it – Saint John Craft Beer Bar works equally well for a low-key date or a high-octane catch-up with mates. It’s a talking bar – not so much a speakeasy as a bar in which it’s easy to speak
Authour image
Luke SlatteryLuke Slattery is a journalist, author, editor, and a new Tasmanian.
Tags
Drinks DirectoryCasual catch-upAfter work drinksGood for groupsBarA+ spirits listRegional TASNon-alc OptionsBrilliant beer listOutdoor area
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