Gordon Knight
AS architectural features go, a roof in the shape of a barrelling wave speaks volumes about Swell Taphouse.
Brewer Dan Wright, who started Swell in 2010, brings a love of surfing to beer-making – and Swell Taphouse has 16 sun- and-sea-inspired brews on tap under that roof, designed by architect Alex Sawers.
The inspiration for a taphouse came while Dan was working in the wine industry. He travelled through the US about 15 years ago doing a wine vintage tour. But it was the taphouses and brew pubs that caught his imagination.
“I thought, ‘why don’t we have any of these in Australia?’ – this was 15 years ago – and McLaren Vale where I live is the perfect place for it,” Dan says.
The kitchen at Swell is run by former Victory Hotel head chef Todd Steele, who in recent years has been catering for events such as the Porchetta Parties thrown by Dan’s wife and wine maker Corrina Wright, director of Oliver’s Taranga
The house wine is Oliver’s, but Swell will also do a wine of the month, inviting local McLaren Vale wineries to showcase their best work.
The taphouse is set on 900 sq m of lawn, with umbrellas, blankets and bats and balls for kids to play with. There’s also Mikey, the very mellow bulldog puppy, who avoids the games and instead simply sits with people. A dog’s life indeed.
Swell Taphouse, 168 Olivers Rd, McLaren Vale, swellbeer.com.au
Reproduced from here