The one common element to all great beer pubs is character and “relaxed, friendly and warm; an old fashioned local with an eclectic crowd,” is how publican Jade Flavell describes Adelaide’s Wheatsheaf Hotel.
The pub, affectionately known as ‘The Wheaty’, is an icon of the Adelaide beer scene. It is, in fact, an icon of the pub, art and live music scenes in Adelaide. Since being reopened just over seven years ago it has become central to all of these aspects of Adelaide life.
From the moment you walk in the front door you know that Jade is spot on in her description. You get that feeling this is a friendly comfortable pub where everyone is welcome. Groups of people with their noses in beer glasses sitting at the bar is a typical scene and during winter you will see them warming themselves around the open fires.
In summer the beer garden will be full of people enjoying the summer weather. Out the back there is likely a band playing and you can wander around and see the latest month’s art exhibit hanging from the walls. If you want to just sit by yourself there are a range of newspapers available. If a game with friends is more your speed you can find darts, a pool table or backgammon and chess sets.
What you won’t find at The Wheaty is pokies, plasma screens or pub tab.
“We create a social space conducive to conversation rather than plasma gazing and there are plenty of punters who prefer live music to pokies,” Jade says.
One of The Wheaty’s biggest attractions is beer and Jade says they have found that people will travel, and travel often, for great beer.
“Many of our regulars come from miles away and still refer us as their ‘local’”.
They have 12 taps and a hand pump with a great range of beers from round the country and around the world. There are always at least two taps from SA micros such as Brewboys and Loberthal Bierhaus and you will normally find offerings from other Australian craft brewers including Little Creatures, Mountain Goat and Moo Brew.
If you are after something from further afield it’s not uncommon to find Mikkeller, Rogue and Renaissance on tap. In bottle the selection gets wider and deeper with amazing beers from all over the world that are regularly updated so there is something new to try every time you visit.
“Our bottled beer list is distinctive, seasonal and style-based featuring beer from quality microbreweries and imported world classics with a bias towards full flavoured and bottle conditioned brews such as Emerson’s, Sierra Nevada, Schneider and Chimay,” Jade says
“You won’t find Crown or Corona at The Wheaty,” she emphasises.
Of course, the selection of beers is excellent but the hotel has a commitment to great beer wine and spirits as well. Jade and her co-owners Emily and Liz make sure all their staff are knowledgeable about their products.
If you love great beer and you like a good pub then The Wheaty is really worth a visit. Drop in on a busy Sunday afternoon and check out a band. Pop in on a quiet Tuesday night and talk beer with Jade, her staff members or just another punter at the bar. Whenever you go I’m sure you will enjoy what is one of the best pubs in the country.
The Wheatsheaf Hotel
39 George Street, Thebarton, Adelaide
www.wheatsheafhotel.com.au
We’re planning a bit of an SA Beer Tour in June next year, when we pop over to Adelaide for a friend’s wedding…and The Wheaty is very high on my MUST DO list!
So thank you for this article! I am very much looking forward to our visit…even though it’s so far away…
I live about 60 km away from the Wheaty but I would consider it my local and drop in whenever I am heading anywhere remotely near town. It is a relaxed non pretentious genuine aussie style pub with funky music and most importantly ‘the’ best beer selection anywhere in South Australia. S.A. is unfortunately very conservative in all walks of life which unfortunately includes tastes in beer, so to have a pub like this is a rare jewel on our watering hole landscape.
Your SA beer tour will unfortunately be rather short in S.A. (like I said earlier we are rather conservative) I would rate the Beard and Brau range highly ranking them as our best craft brewery, Brew Boys are right up there and worth a visit to their cellar door to try their range. Most other craft brewers in the metro area only have one or two beers in their range which generally are of good quality but not spectacular . The Earl of Leceister is a good pub to attend due to their extensive selection of local craft beers and would save you many disapointing miles.
Out of town in the Adelaide Hills region I would recommend the Lobethal Bierhouse as a great destination for lunch and have a worthy beer selection, including their recently released yummy double IPA. Further south of Adelaide(about an hour or so) is the Steam Exchange Brewery in the lovely little river mouth town of Goolwa. There you will get to sit in the brewery itself and try their beers one glass at a time as you work your way towards the decadant Truffles porter.
Enjoy, from a local.