Freshwater Brewing inaugura Freshie Clubhouse

Freshwater Brewing Company’s Brookvale taproom has undergone a complete renovation, revealing Freshie Clubhouse – a new local brewpub blending surf aesthetic and modern hospitality.

Located in Brookvale’s craft brewing district and a stop along the Brookie Ale trail, the 250-seat venue was reimagined by the expanded Freshwater Brewing ownership team.

Lachy Sturrock and Sam Smith, owners of Cammeray bar and bistro Folly’s were long-time supporters of the brewery and officially joined the team in May, working alongside owners Tom Bruce, Marvin Slocombe and Chris Thompson on the updated venue.

Sturrock is a Northern Beaches local himself and says the Freshie Clubhouse is a celebration of the community’s quintessentially laid-back way of life.

“This is a true locals pub,” he said. “It’s a place for everybody, whether you’re visiting with your kids, your mates or your dog, and it’s always going to be a good time.”

Beyond the original industrial-style exterior, photos of local surfing legends and old newspaper clippings line the new Tasmanian Oak-panelled walls, while the retro feel continues in the carpet, booth seating, glass bricks and louvers.

The space includes casual dining and bar areas with a pool table, live sports on the TVs, and family-friendly area with chalkboard walls, astro turf and a basketball hoop.

The Freshwater Brewing Company brewery is still located onsite with more than 15 beers available on tap from the custom-made Oregon wood bar.

Expanding on its previous beer-focused offering, the drinks menu now features a curated wine and cocktail list.

Close to half of the cocktails on the list are made using Freshwater Brewing Company beers or hops while the wine list features a mix of Australian, Italian, French and South American producers.

One of the signature cocktail serves is the Goodie Bag – a fruity play on a whiskey sour that comes garnished with a red frog as a nod to the ones purchased from old-school convenience stores.

The Freshie Clubhouse food menu is inspired by the typical Northern Beaches fish and chips shop, featuring bite-sized potato scallops served with chicken salt and whipped sour cream, hot chips with salt made from native ingredients and an iceberg wedge with ranch dressing, bacon and parmesan.

When it comes to the mains, the team has reimagined the classic parmigiana to create the Parmi alla vodka.

Made with herb-crumbed chicken breast, smoked ham, alla vodka sauce, mozzarella and served with hot chips and seasonal leaves, Sturrock says it was inspired by Folly’s much-loved pasta.

“That dish has been huge for us. We wanted to bring something from our first venue over to Freshie, and what better way to do that than to marry it with one of the country’s most iconic pub dishes,” he said.

The menu also features crumbed lamb cutlets, a burger with the lot – including pineapple, bacon and beetroot relish – as well a fish burger made with crumbed barramundi, house-made tartare and iceberg lettuce.

Freshie Clubhouse is serving a happy hour from opening, with $6.50 schooners, $8.50 pints and $14 cocktails available from 4pm to 6pm every Wednesday to Friday and a $35 Sunday roast with all the trimming will join the menu from this weekend.

Freshie Clubhouse is open from 12pm until late, Wednesday to Saturday, and from 12pm to 10pm every Sunday.