Sunshine Brewery

Sunshine Brewery is a small, independent brewery and tasting cellar door in Maroochydore, in the central Sunshine Coast. Visitors can drop in to sample beers, see what is currently on tap and take fresh beer away. The brewery also releases new beers over time, so the selection is intended to change rather than stay fixed. It is a straightforward stop for people who want to explore locally made beer at the source, without needing a detailed food or entertainment offering to make the visit worthwhile.

The brewery’s range has developed through experimentation and a clear interest in beer traditions from beyond Australia. Chief brewer Craig Dunsdon began brewing after years of studying beer and drawing inspiration from travels through Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Austria, including the Munich Beer Festival. He first built a small all-grain pilot plant, recreating beers he had tried overseas while developing his own recipes with southern hemisphere malt and hops. Some of those experiments have become Sunshine Brewery signature brews. One named example from the current team is Craic Irish Stout on Nitro, which Nalin Hird lists as his favourite Sunshine Brewery beer.

There is also a strong personal and community story behind the venue. Craig runs the brewing side alongside Daryle Cook, whose background is in business and whose New Zealand heritage informs her enthusiasm for malt, hops and produce. Nalin has joined the team with food-industry experience, home-brewing knowledge and practical training through a TAFE brewing course, working across the brew deck and front of house. The brewery acknowledges that it operates on Gubbi Gubbi country and includes a representation of a black swan, reflecting the Gubbi Gubbi meaning of Kuluin, created by Yindjibarndi and Pinikura artist Zoe Raymond of Wardirra Art.

Sunshine Brewery opened to the public in 2017 and has grown from a small operation into a producer supplying independent bars, restaurants and bottle shops on the Sunshine Coast and in Brisbane, while retaining its artisan focus. The website records 140 different beers brewed and 36 medals, including its first gold medal in 2023. Those figures add context, but the venue’s emphasis remains fresh beer, new releases and regular community support. It suits beer drinkers wanting to taste and take home something made locally, as well as visitors curious about the people and process behind a small Sunshine Coast brewery. Groups can share a tasting stop, while solo visitors have the option of chatting with the front-of-house team and exploring the tap selection at their own pace.