"That was always my thing, when I used to work behind the bar, pouring drinks in England, about 10 years ago. I used to ask people, 'what's your flavour?', and they'd tell me what they wanted to drink," recalls Adam Hardy, the ne'er-do-well brewer from Rogue Scholar Brewing.

From humble home-brewing beginnings, back yard party polling, and slowly building a loyal fan base of beer-loving Novocastrians, to convincing his cricketing mate, Joe Hamilton, to join him by leasing a dilapidated two-storey turn of the century building on Union Street, Newcastle West, Adam Hardy is, now, living the dream.

"All I've ever wanted to do is open a brewpub, where I can serve and sell my beers directly to the punters," Hardy told Weekender, just a couple of years ago.

Welcome to the future. Welcome to The Rogue Scholar; a cosy coop of dimly lit quarters where one can lay back and think of England, drink freshly brewed beer, enjoy the company of friends and tolerable family members, and, hopefully, soon, listen to live music from the back bar.

"It's pretty much a combination of all the good bars and pubs I've seen all over the world. I've just taken the ideas I liked and incorporated them into what you see," Hardy says.

The single-sheeted copper bar is smooth and shiny and perfectly showcases a series of beer taps, two of which are hand-pumps. The forest green bar stools are NAMCO, while the similar coloured bench seats were ripped from an old school bus, near Muswellbrook. One of the paintings in the dining room is of Emperor Crag, of the People's Republic of Crag, while the other pictures are mostly of rock stars drinking beers. There's Freddie, and David (both Byrne and Bowie), Rod, and Ringo, Bob, Jimi, Suzie and Debbie too.

No Johns, though. And no Gleeson.

Never mind, there's plenty of space for them in the live music scene, out back. This is where the magic happens ... or, rather, will happen once COVID calms down. There'll be brewing soon too, in the yet-to-be-installed brewery. Then, the beers will flow and be as fresh as ...

"We're pouring all our own beers, at the moment. We've got a Lager, IPA and XPA, a NEIPA, a Pale Ale, a Brown Ale, an English Bitter, and the Ginger Beer, of course. People can't get enough of that one," Hardy says. "The good thing about our license is that we can also feature guest taps, from time to time. I'd like to get some other local beers pouring through here, if I can."

The food, for now, is a rotating consort of food trucks shilling burgers and such in the lane-way, out back. But, once the kitchen's in, it'll be pies and mash, chips, and mushy peas. Proper English, innit.

"For now, we can only fit 29 in here, because of COVID. But, we're excited to be open, finally. Let's pour some beer!" Hardy exclaims, at long last, from behind his bar.

The pub adds to a growing food and drink scene in Newcastle West that includes newcomer The Rum Diary Bar, Jams Karaoke, Happy Wombat, Koutetsu bar, Family Hotel and Antojitos.