Beer loving parents in Adelaide have a friend at Pirate Life Brewing and I for one, think it’s about damn time!

As parents of young kids, my partner and I occasionally NEED a strong drink. Sometimes we simply enjoy the subtleties of a frothy pale ale or a full-bodied IPA, and seeing as we’re also human, we deserve to leave the house every now and again too. We love a good Sunday Session which let me add, doesn’t necessarily mean the goal is to drink; these days it’s more about the social aspect. And where better, than a brewery who welcomes not just families, but fur babies too?!

Before the craft beer revolution, you’d be hard pressed to find a place such as this and now, if you walk in the doors of Pirate Life Brewing around lunch time, there will no doubt be a handful of prams parked next to the long tables as mums spend the arvo chatting away with friends. Toddlers play outside in the beer garden, making the most of the play space created entirely for them. A bunch of teenagers hang out playing pinball in the far corner and a baby bounces up and down on the lap of his father as he sips a South Coast Pale Ale (responsible parenting can include responsible drinking). Family friendly you ask? YES indeed!

The suburb of Port Adelaide has become a mecca for street art and this cracking industrial style venue is no exception. Home to my favourite; an impressive 40 metre flying peacock, Pirate Life is a feast not only for your taste buds, but also for your eyes. But speaking of tastebuds….

Don’t expect your typical pub food here. Chef Rocky Oliveira is so much more than that. With a relatively new state of the art kitchen featuring an indoor fire pit, the food is fresh, light and great for sharing. Their Grilled Squid was tender and quite frankly some of the best I’ve ever had. It was grilled to perfection and delightfully tangy, thanks to the Yuzo Kosho dressing. Apparently the Chicken Katsu Sando and Wombok Slaw is delicious too. I’m yet to try it, but that’s what I’ll be ordering next time. The kids menu is simple with a choice between Fish and Chips, Nuggets and Chips or Veggie Sticks/ Pick Plate. No complaints from my two – they were more than happy, especially when I mentioned the giant choc chip cookie and ice-cream for dessert!

There’s a solid list of brews, 24 beers on tap to be exact, including core and limited releases. If you’re not into beer, there’s also a very decent selection of wine, sprits, and cocktails. The brewery offers guided tours of the giant warehouse so if you’re keen to get behind the scenes this may be the perfect way to kill an hour and for a bargain price of $20, plus a complimentary schooner, it’s an absolute steal!

Beers at the barber shop are no longer just a distant dream, BUT a barber shop at a brewery? That’s just brilliant! Pirate Life Parlour give men (or mini men) the option of a haircut, beard trim or shave and in true Pirate Life fashion, they throw in a beer while you’re waiting. Luckily, our little dude was due a cut so we booked him in (albeit the beer went to dad). The guys were super friendly and made the whole experience worthwhile.

This is a great spot for catching up with your extended crew. It’s open 7 days a week with easy parking available off street. As you’d expect; weekends get busy, so it’s best to book if you want a table inside. Don’t forget to check out the awesome merch store as you leave. You can even grab a few take-aways.

Cheers!

Pirate Life Brewing
Location: 18 Baker Street, Port Adelaide, SA, 5015
Opening Hours: Sun – Thurs 11am – 10pm | Fri – Sat 11am – midnight
Phone: (08) 8317 2111
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