Walcha Taphouse

Belinda Bitter felt flatter than a dropped pie. Not in the literal, yeast-collapsed sense, mind you. Belinda was a lager, yes, but not just any lager. She was a meticulously malted, double-hopped, award-winning Australian brew with a pedigree smoother than a quokka on a slip 'n' slide. Yet, here she was, gathering dust in the back corner of The Taphouse, her amber glow eclipsed by the neon onslaught of trendy kombuchas and nitro sours.

It wasn't always this way. Belinda used to grace the taps of Sydney's hottest speakeasies, her caramel kiss swirling amidst exposed brick and Edison bulbs. Hipsters with ironic beards would wax poetic about her subtle spice and lingering honey finish. She was practically a celebrity, her face (well, label) plastered on bar menus and food blogger feeds.

But then came the craft beer tsunami. Suddenly, the taps overflowed with IPAs so aggressively hoppy they could win a staring contest with a chili, sours that could curdle milk at 50 paces, and stouts so dark they'd make Darth Vader raise an eyebrow. Belinda, with her classic, unassuming charm, was relegated to the bargain bin of yesterday's trends.

She tried, bless her bubbly heart, she really did. She pitched herself to trendy tapas bars, promising to pair perfectly with chorizo and peppers. She flirted with gastropubs, whispering of her refined elegance alongside artisanal cheeses. She even begged for a spot at a barbecue joint, claiming she'd quench thirst like a Bondi breeze on a sunburnt bum. But no dice. They all wanted the new, the weird, the tastebud-exploding flavors that made you question your very existence.

One particularly bleak Tuesday, as The Taphouse manager, Terry, dusted off a bottle of something called "Glitter Bomb Unicorn Tears," Belinda had had enough. She was going to take matters into her own, well, bottle. She hatched a plan so audacious, so deliciously devious, it would make Machiavelli order a round of responsibly sourced kombucha (on principle, of course).

That night, as Terry snored in his upstairs flat, Belinda used her pressure-built frustration to pop the cork off a neighboring bottle of Shiraz. With a glug-glug symphony, she siphoned herself into the empty vino vessel, her amber liquid replacing the ruby red. The next morning, Terry, bleary-eyed and craving a hair-of-the-dog, stumbled upon the "Mystery Shiraz." He poured himself a glass, expecting that familiar grapey goodness.

Instead, he was met with a hoppy surprise. A citrusy blast followed by a smooth malt finish, all underpinned by a hint of... Shiraz grapes? His taste buds did a tap dance on his tongue. This wasn't your average Shiraz, this was a revelation! Terry rushed to the bar, pouring the "mystery Shiraz" for his confused clientele.

Within hours, word spread like wildfire. The "Shiraz with a Secret" was the talk of the town. People flocked to The Taphouse, desperate to taste this revolutionary vino. Bars clamored for bottles, bidding wars erupted, and Belinda, in her clever Shiraz disguise, basked in the unexpected adoration.

She eventually revealed her true identity, of course, the grand unveiling a spectacle worthy of an Opera House gala. And guess what? Sydney loved her even more. They appreciated her wit, her resilience, and her damn good taste. Belinda Bitter became a legend, a reminder that sometimes, the classics are the most revolutionary after all.

So, next time you raise a glass at The Taphouse, remember Belinda. Remember that a little audacity, a touch of wit, and a whole lot of hoppy goodness can turn even the most overlooked brew into a legend. And who knows, maybe you'll find yourself sipping on a Shiraz that's hiding a secret worth savoring.

Had read about this new establishment but had not been there. Dropped in on a very hot afternoon and Sean recommended a couple of New England Cod Mouth IPAs. They went down an absolute treat sitting out the front watching the world go by. He also recommended the Commercial Hotel for a great steak Which we did, and we appreciated his advice. We will be back.

Had a lovely afternoon relaxing and the service from Sean is exemplary! Delicious Gin and food. The smoked trout was devoured. A treasure of Walcha

An excellent find on a trip from Newcastle to Armidale. Sean loves his beers and was happy to oblige my curiosity, while the food was great and beers were well priced and crafty. Well worth checking out!

What a little gem this was! From the moment we walked in we knew we were in for a great night. The owner, Sean, is so friendly and welcoming and we had no hesitation in taking on his recommendations for our tasting plates. The deep fried pickles are a must! He recommended beers and liqueurs for hubby to try while I stuck to a lovely shiraz and then whiskey from Aberdeen. I would love to retuen again and support this lovely man and his business

We stopped by this awesome little gem of a place today for a late lunch. Great food (shared the love with hubby) and a glass of wine, then a G&T to top it all off. Excellent!

the beer curation by Shaun is nothing short of spectacular . . . we love being Vespa riders, nothing compares

Awesome beers and a great place to relax and chat.

Deliciously warm and inviting! The food, beer and wine were outstanding, as was the atmosphere and service.
What a cracking little gem Walcha holds in it's heart of town!
Congratulations Sean & Holly, so well done !

What a lucky find!! Great tapas and drinks selection - particularly the gin. Engaging host. Thank you for making our visit to Walcha so delightful. We will spread the word 🤗

Very friendly staff totally enjoyed the pate definitely call in again

Stopped by for a quick bite and a drink and was surprised at how perfect everything was! Extensive drink menu, delicious food, friendly service and alfresco dining option.
10/10

After arriving in Walcha late afternoon, we were uncertain what the town might offer in the way of food. Of course there’s the pubs, but we were over pub fare and thought we would venture into the heart of the picturesque town to see what it could offer.

It seemed that most eateries were cafe style, with burgers and fries etc..., but the we spied the “Taphouse”. Uncertain and inquisitive, we, we were perusing the online menu, when approached by a local who had nothing but high praise for the establishment.

From the moment we stepped inside we were made to feel welcome by the host (Sean). The attention to detail and quality of the fittings and fixtures are evident. The minimalist approach to clean white walls, quality chairs and beautiful oak tables add to the modern feel. The owners have even put in sound boards to eliminate the echo which is evident in some more expensive city restaurants with hard floors.

The menu is not over complex offering a wide enough variety to tempt most palates, with an extensive drinks list, including a long list of gins, liqueurs and beers, including their own in-house brew. As a non drinker, I was impressed with their offering of Australian mineral waters from a Victorian spring (Hepburn) All too often I find that it’s overly sweet sugary offerings which one can only take in small amounts, but these were perfect.

Uncertain as to what we might expect, we decided on “fried pickles” for starters and a “Share the love” sampler plate for 2, which offers a taste the cured meats, rillet, cheeses, Sicilian olives, sourdough bread, crackers, prosciutto and terrine.

We didn’t have long to wait for the first taste treat to arrive. The fried pickles are a taste treat sensation, but were well advised to give them a minute as the inside might be too hot.
These crunchy morsels with the sweet tang of pickles were a fabulous way to kick off what was to come.

When the mains arrived it was a feast for the eyes as well as the mouth. Fresh ingredients, presented on a large platter with warm olives in a bowl. The quality is fantastic and reasonably priced for such a wonderful experience in food.

The owners (Sean) and (Holly) have a true interest in getting to know and understand their patrons and offer a true country hospitality, taking time to chat and share their passion for what they do.

Living in the inner part of Melbourne, we have an abundance of choice for food, but I would gladly drive to this beautiful part of the country to experience the food, the people and welcome that we experienced.

Those that know me well will know that my favorite word in the English language is “Serendipity” and this find was definitely one of those experiences.

We will be back!

Such a surprising and fantastic find on s rain interrupted journey.

A great selection of beer and spirits with well presented plates to match.

And the proprietor is fantastic too.

Just been to the taphouse in walcha. What an unexpected surprise. If you come to walcha you need to go for a beer or rhree like me. Owner, Sean, is very hospitable and the locals are great. Will be going again before I leave walcha.

Best place in town to grab a cold one and have a yarn. Always something good and different on tap!

Incredible little find - great food and selection of drinks. Excellent hospitality.

Real beer, real food and amazing hosts - love this place and a stop by the taphouse is on our regular weekly schedule!

A groovy bar that is such an asset to our little town. Always fun.

Modern tap house with a variety of craft beers and ciders in this quaint village.