Newcastle Herald

Beerhaus brings beers, barbecue and games to Westfield Kotara's rooftop

Beerhaus brings beers, barbecue and games to Westfield Kotara's rooftop
Beerhaus brings beers, barbecue and games to Westfield Kotara's rooftop

This is advertiser content for Rockpool Dining Group.

Rockpool Dining Group is bringing Beerhaus to Kotara's newly-renovated, rooftop dining and entertainment precinct, where the super-charged, beer-centric, social emporium, serving American-inspired, beer-friendly food will open on Wednesday, June 19 at 11am.

To celebrate the launch 500 barbecue brisket sliders will be given away from 11am and there will be a busy schedule of meet the brewer sessions, as well as family-friendly games to showcase the restaurant's unique character.

Happy hour kicks in from 4pm to 6pm with free Royal Snacks of gourmet sausage rolls, Texan sloppy fries, and Cajun popcorn chicken.

The launch activities continue on the weekend of Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June 23 with all-day shuffleboard contests and beer pong tournaments, live entertainment and chicken wing eating contests at 3pm each day.

Beerhaus Kotara is 600 square-metres and 340-seats of social-house fun, with a spectacular rooftop beer garden accommodating around 100 guests.

Beerhaus brings beers, barbecue and games to Westfield Kotara's rooftop
Beerhaus brings beers, barbecue and games to Westfield Kotara's rooftop

A 40-tap line-up of local, German and international beers is headlined by US craft beer pioneer Goose Island.

The huge, warehouse-style space has a soaring ceiling, post-industrial fit-out and reverberates with a busy schedule of interactive games, including shuffleboard, ping pong tables, pinball machines, giant Jenga and Connect Four, mini basketball, Skee Ball, cornhole and a media wall of large-screen TVs offering real-time sports and entertainment viewing.

Rockpool Dining Group Chief Executive Officer Thomas Pash described Beerhaus as a casual hang-out where modern-day millennial's, families and friends can connect socially and enjoy an affordable food, drinks and entertainment package.

"We've built an extraordinary, value-packed, dining and entertainment experience around great, beer-friendly food," Mr Pash said.

"Guests can come for lunch or dinner, stay for the fun and games and enjoy an unrivalled line-up of amazing beers and trend-setting drinks."

Beerhaus has forged an Australian-first partnership with American cult brewer Goose Island, which brings its first tap room in the country to the Kotara restaurant.

The tap room, or dedicated section of the bar, will feature up to eight draught Goose beers, beginning with IPA and Session IPA. Beerhaus guests will be amongst the first to try new Goose brews available in Australia and will be invited to exclusive tastings by the iconic brewer.

Beerhaus brings beers, barbecue and games to Westfield Kotara's rooftop
Beerhaus brings beers, barbecue and games to Westfield Kotara's rooftop

Aussie favourites 4 Pines and Pirate Life are also on tap, alongside prized Belgian brews by Hoegaarden and Leffe, German stalwarts Lowenbrau, Paulaner, Franziskaner, Spaten and Hofbrau and American bellwethers, Budweiser and Stella Artois.

Guests can also explore an innovative menu of boilermakers - a beer paired with a whisky - such as Jack & Goose, which teams Jack Daniel's Tennessee Rye with Goose Island Session IPA; cocktails such as Californian Sun, which features Goose Island IPA, Pampero Aejo, pineapple and lime; and shooters, including Fat Elvis - a mix of Frangelico, banana liqueur and Mozart chocolate liqueur.

Beer-tasting paddles are themed around dark beers, fresh and fruity ales, German brews and IPAs.

The menu caters to big appetites and all tastes.

The focus is on American-style burgers, sandwiches, steaks, barbecue and buffalo hot wings. Barbecue meats include beef brisket, pulled pork, pork riblets and half chicken, which are peach wood-smoked, slow-cooked and served with pretzel rolls and haus pickle. A trio of barbecue sandwiches are built to order.

Chicken wings come in servings of 10, 15, 20, or 50 pieces, tossed in one of five signature sauces and served with blue cheese dip.

There are po-boys featuring popcorn shrimp, meatballs, and buffalo chicken tenders; cheese, double cheese and southern-fried chicken burgers in brioche buns; five sensational chicken and pork schnitzels; build-your-own salads and wraps with haus-made dressings; and five varieties of fries - house seasoned, waffle, sweet potato, sloppy fries that are tricked up with chilli and cheese, and waffle fries loaded with cheese, bacon, sour cream and jalapenos.

Beerhaus brings beers, barbecue and games to Westfield Kotara's rooftop
Beerhaus brings beers, barbecue and games to Westfield Kotara's rooftop

Rockpool Dining Group Beverage Director Ali Toghani said as well as having an impressive 40 beers on tap, Beerhaus' American-influenced drinks list was new and novel, and perfectly complemented the American-inspired menu.

"As with the rise in craft beers, I expect we will see a renaissance in boilermakers, which originated in America, and if crafted thoughtfully and enjoyed sipping-style should complement each other and create a fabulous, new experience for the guest," Mr Toghani said.

Deliciousness is dialed-up during the daily happy hour, from 4pm to 6pm, with free Royal Snacks.

All-day deals include a $15 burger and beer on Mondays, a revolving line-up of two-for-one offers on Tuesdays, 10-cent chicken wings on Wednesdays, $35 barbecue platters on Thursdays, and Brew Crew sessions every Sunday.

Rockpool Dining Group has created 45 full-time and casual positions at Beerhaus Kotara and has supported the local economy by engaging around 50 professionals and tradespeople on the project.

Beerhaus Kotara: Northcott Drive and Park Avenue, Kotara, NSW, 2289 and is open from 11am till late, daily.

This is advertiser content for Rockpool Dining Group.