Overview

Grainfed started as a small, independent brewing venture in 2012. The founder, Lachlan MacBean, came from a background in home-brewing and the commercial brewing industry; after many years he established Grainfed’s own venue and  in 2023  opened the Lambton taproom/venue. 

 

Grainfed promotes a “Think Local. Drink Local” ethos - and has become a gathering space where locals meet, share stories, and feel included.

 

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What They Offer — Beer, Venue & Experience

Beer Range: Grainfed offers a wide variety of beers. Their core beers include:

 

Sneaky One — a light, easy-drinking ale, known for being drinkable and sessionable. 

Old School — a classic West Coast IPA with hop character and traditional IPA traits. 

Coal Porter — a dark, rich porter with velvety finish. 

2 Degrees — a refreshing pale ale

Plan B — a mid-strength brew, offering good flavour at lower alcohol.

Game Day — a lager aimed for kicking back and casual drinking. 

 

Seasonals & Specials: Grainfed also releases rotating seasonal and limited-edition beers — including a NZ-style Pilsner (Over the Ditch), a red ale (Well Red), fruit-infused beers (Raspberry Beret), and other unique or experimental batches.

 

Venue & Experience: Their Lambton venue is relaxed and welcoming — with a bar, cellar-door, family-friendly environment, and simple food (sourdough pizzas, toasties, share-style plates). There are multiple seating areas, and amenities for entertainment (board games, pool table, darts, sport on TV) which adds to the pub-meets-brewery vibe.

 

 

Why Grainfed Brewing Matters in Newcastle

Longevity & Local Legacy: Having begun in 2012, Grainfed is one of Newcastle’s more established local brewing brands — showing persistence through changing craft-beer trends. 

 

Balance of Variety & Drinkability: With a mix of light ales, hop-forward IPAs, dark porters, lagers, and rotating seasonal beers — there’s something for both casual drinkers and craft-beer fans.

 

Community & Accessibility: Grainfed’s family-friendly, welcoming taproom with food, entertainment, and a friendly ethos makes it accessible to a broad audience — not just “beer geeks.”

 

Fresh Beer Culture: Their “tank-to-tap” serving stands out — for beers as fresh as possible, appealing to aficionados who value taste and quality.