BEERY BOLTHOLE’S PATHWAY TO HEAVEN
Despite its name, there ain’t no preachin’ going on at Preachers. Worshippers will instead attain inner peace at the end of a holy pint or two, most of it brewed right here in God’s own country. Set in a tiny old Georgian cottage, this bolthole and beer garden just up the hill from Salamanca is a favourite with laidback long-lunchers, after-workers and those up for a long session into the night.
There’s a solid range of heavenly Tasmanian vinos to knock back, but the real draws are the numerous boutique beers and ciders on tap, including popular locals Two Metre Tall, Hazards, Van Dieman and Gillespie’s Ginger Beer. It’s impossible to ever get bored with the brews, as new kegs arrive all the time. Down-to-earth and dedicated staff really know their White Rabbit Dark from their Mountain Goat Rye, and are more than happy to spread the gospel.
You can cleanse your soul inside – around the open fireplace is especially cosy in winter – or out in the grassed and be-decked beer garden when the weather allows (even when it doesn’t there are outdoor heaters to ward off the cold). The mismatched furniture and garden-shed bar is as welcoming as a mate’s backyard on Australia Day. Indeed, there’s generally some kind of celebration happening on public holidays, and even ordinary days occasionally see sausage sizzles and live music. Keep your stomach lined and your demons at bay with tasty bites like tempura mushrooms, calamari and sausage rolls. Or, better still, complement your beer-swilling fiesta with some beer-battered chips. You’d better thank God for all this now, just in case you’re in no shape to do so tomorrow.
