The Perth Hills and Bickley Valley may be known for their vineyards, but there’s plenty more to sip. Here in the Perth Hills, rolling orchards of apples, citrus and stone fruit lend themselves just as well to making spirits and cider, and the region is also home to one of Perth’s oldest microbreweries. Local distillers are turning what grows around them into gin, vodka and whisky, and if a pint of something handcrafted sounds more your speed than a glass of shiraz, there’s plenty of spots for that too.
These Perth Hills spots pour craft beers, orchard cider and small-batch spirits:
Perth Hills Cideries
Core Cider House, Pickering Brook
Set among working orchards in Pickering Brook, family-owned Core Cider House has been making ciders from traditional dry and sweet styles through to fruit blends for over two decades. The Orchard Bistro serves seasonal menus built around local produce, with a sweeping view over orchards and bushland. The lush lawns of the “cider garden” beg you to throw down a rug, sip a cider and enjoy the family friendly spot.
Naked Apple Cider House, Karragullen
Naked Apple Cider House sits among 15 acres of native forest in Karragullen, with large, leafy gardens to spread out in. Their ciders are brewed on site, and the kitchen serves a delicious, seasonal modern Australian menu. The shady spot is family friendly, with a playground for the kids to explore. Kick back on the sun-dappled deck, or inside the cosy cottage with a long lunch whatever the season.
Carmel Cider Co, Carmel
Carmel Cider Co handcrafts multi-award-winning apple and pear ciders, barrel fermented from premium local orchard fruit. Their specialty is Méthode Traditionnelle, crafted with the same method used for making Champagne. Opening hours and pop-up events are posted on their Facebook page, so check before you go
Perth Hills Breweries
Last Drop Elizabethan, Bedfordale
You could be mistaken that you’d been transported to Tudor England, when you pull up a chair at this Bedfordale hills family run pub. Its on-site Last Drop Brewery has been making specialty handcrafted beers since 1992. Pioneers of Perth’s early microbrewery scene, there’s a kitchen on site too, so be sure to stay for a hearty pub British-style meal with your pint of ale. Leashed dogs are welcome in the award-winning grounds, which have an olde English ‘village green’ feel.
FOUND. LAB Byford
The team at FOUND hand-craft their own brews overlooking the lake at The Glades. Head brewer Will Irving has Hop Hog and Biggie Juice on his résumé, and the wider crew has worked at Feral, Little Creatures and Gage Roads. Food runs to sourdough pizzas and solid share plates, and there’s live music and regular pub quiz nights. The pretty water-side spot is family friendly and dogs are welcome in the outdoor dining areas too.
Dingo Brewery, Midvale
At the gateway to the Perth Hills, Dingo Brewery was set up in 2018 making traditional craft beers with Australian and international ingredients, plus no preservatives or additives. It runs to daytime hours (Tuesday to Saturday, closing at 1pm on Saturdays), so plan your visit accordingly.
Image credit: Dingo Brewery
Hogg Culture Brewing Co, Pickering Brook
This independent nano-brewery was started in 2019 by a father-and-son team inspired by the beer cultures of Europe. Beers are brewed in small batches and released to specialist liquor stores. Look out for the Dreamscape Hazy IPA, Hopportunity Knocks West Coast IPA, Nield’s Irish Stout, or the Le Hog Belgian Strong Ale at a pop-up event coming soon to their new Pickering Brook spot.
Image credit: Bickley Harvest Festival
King Road Brewing Co, Oldbury
Technically not in the Perth Hills, but within the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale, this family-owned brewery and restaurant is worth a mention. Craft beers and ciders are made on-site, so there’s something for both camps. The King Road Brewing Co menu covers pizzas, burgers and pub-style meals, the setting is casual and rustic, and a large outdoor area with a playground keeps the kids busy while the grown-ups work through a tasting paddle.
Image credit: King Road Brewing Co
Perth Hills Spirits
Mahogany Inn & Distillery, Mahogany Creek
Dating back to the 19th century, the Mahogany Inn & Distillery is one of the oldest inns in the Perth Hills and now combines a tavern, restaurant, accommodation and on-site distillery. Sip an award-winning spirit by the stills (chilli vodka anyone?) or a cocktail in the leafy beer garden. The heritage building has fireplaces for cooler days, plus the pub menu is delicious.
Image credit: Mahogany Inn & Distillery
HHH Spirits, Bickley
Founder Hilton makes four gins at his Bickley distillery, foraging and hand-picking the signature botanicals from his own land. He’s since branched out into small-batch whisky and vodka, building his own barrels in a nod to his Scottish heritage. His first batch of whisky was named Best Spirit in WA at the 2024 Beer and Spirit Awards. The rustic HHH Spirits cellar door is tucked into the forest. Drop by for a distillery tour, or, if you fancy yourself as a maker, book a gin-making experience.
Image credit: HHH Spirits
Lawnbrook Estate, Bickley
Lawnbrook Estate is a Bickley Valley winery, and its boutique distillery, The Packing Shed Distilling Co., is a great reason to visit. It makes small-batch spirits with local botanicals: Garden Party Floral Gin, Citrus Gin, Limited Dry Gin, a coffee liqueur and limoncello. Gin and liqueur tastings run at the cellar door, and there’s an on-site restaurant for when you’re craving a bite to eat with a gin flight.
Image credit: Lawnbrook Estate
Beelu Forest Distilling Co, Mundaring
This boutique Mundaring distillery makes award-winning vodka and limoncello in the bush around stunning Lake Nenia. Beelu Forest Distilling Co’s Saprock Spirits are made with Australian wheat and water filtered through ancient saprock granite. Tastings are by appointment, and keep an eye out for occasional onsite events, including Yin & Gin yoga sessions.
Image credit: Beelu Forest Distilling Co
Carmel Distillery, Carmel
Simon and Marie King run this small-batch distillery and take “hyper-local” seriously, making their base spirit from the pressings of local wine grapes. The Carmel Distillery range includes a Classic Vodka (named Champion Vodka at the Perth Royal Distilled Spirits Awards), Hills Dry Gin, and seasonal liqueurs like limoncello made from local lemons. There’s no permanent cellar door, though they are regularly found at market pop-ups and events like the Bickley Harvest Festival.
Image credit: Carmel Distillery
With 13 breweries, cideries and distilleries to choose from, there’s no shortage of reasons to sip your way around the Perth Hills.