As the popularity of craft beer in Australia grows, it's increasingly common to come across bottle stores dabbling in the odd crafty brew. But to say Barny's in Rosebery is 'dabbling' would be to flirt outrageously with understatement. That's because Barny's is home to what's surely the largest range of craft beer in Sydney, and all the more impressive is how quickly it got that way.
It was only in March 2013 that Peter Lane and Shawn Davis took over the Botany Road store - a former not-so-crafty Cellarbrations - and set out with a new approach. It was an approach based on offering better quality products that were just a bit more interesting than you'd find at your average liquor store. Long story short, within the first nine months their beer selection was more than 700 strong and growing every week.
Having such a vast range, it seems slightly obvious to point out that Barny's stocks beer from just about every brewery in Australia that elects to bottle it (at times they're the only bottle store in Sydney where you'll find certain interstate brews). On top of that, the international selection is extremely weighty: from New Zealand to Scotland, to the Americas and Asia, there's scarcely a corner of the brewing world that isn't represented. Indeed, if you're after a beer that's the strongest, rarest or weirdest, there's a good chance you'll find it here.
It's Pete that takes pride in ensuring Barny's stocks the brew for you. An engineer by trade but beer enthusiast by nature, he's more than happy to seek out customer requests - that, in a way, explains how they've accumulated such a diverse range. It also means that the beers they do stock are there by design and aren't simply being brought in to make up the numbers.
If you should happen to prefer a grape-based beverage to that of the grain, Barny's has an impressive selection of local wines curated by Shawn, based on his two decades of experience in that industry. Having friends amongst the vines has meant Barny's frequently stocks wines that you won't find anywhere other than at the winery's own cellar door too.
With all that's on offer, you might expect Barny's to be a vast store where you have ample space to stroll the aisles open-mouthed. Truth is, the shop is of rather modest size but is filled to the absolute maximum - and probably a bit beyond. As good beer continues to occupy more time and fridge space, plans are afoot to increase its size, expand the selection even further and install a growler system.
Now with well over a thousand different beer lines, Barny's is a must-visit store for any serious Sydney beer lover.
Nick O
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