Hopsters Cooperative Brewery

Hopsters Cooperative Brewery is a member-owned brewery and taproom serving Sydney’s inner west, with its taproom at 198 Enmore Road, Enmore. It describes itself as Australia’s first co-operative brewery, established around the idea that beer lovers can help shape the business as well as enjoy what it produces. The brewery is democratically run, with members able to vote on key business decisions and have a say in the styles brewed.

The taproom’s beer offering includes Hopsters’ core range, regular limited-edition collaborations and a rotating selection of craft beers from breweries across NSW. The website also lists an organic wine selection and local spirits, giving non-beer drinkers options beyond the brewery’s own taps. For takeaway, the online shop lists Griffo XPA and Pale Ale in 16-can cases. Food is handled through partnerships with local restaurants, which can deliver to the taproom when available, and visitors can also bring their own food.

What sets Hopsters apart is the way members can participate in the brewery’s development. Membership includes access to events, tastings and brew days, along with discounts and a vote on beer and important business decisions. Members may also nominate for the board, join committees, enter brewing competitions and submit recipes, with the eventual aim of seeing winning homebrew recipes brewed and served at the taproom. The co-operative’s stated focus is on connection, learning, collaboration and community through beer.

Hopsters will appeal particularly to craft beer drinkers who enjoy trying changing beer selections, homebrewers curious about the process, and people interested in a more participatory way to support a brewery. It is also a practical option for groups looking for a taproom with beer, wine, spirits and flexible food arrangements. The venue’s story is as much about collective ownership and beer education as it is about what is in the glass, making it a distinctive stop for anyone exploring Newtown and the surrounding inner-west neighbourhoods.