REVIEW: Archive Beer Boutique

Since the recent loss of the craft beer dedicated taps at the Grand Central Hotel's Platform Bar, Archive is now definitely the place to go for good beer in Brisbane. The fridges behind the bar are full of a dazzling variety of Australian craft beers - so many in fact, that they provide a rather large menu to help those new to craft beer navigate their way through the many delicious brews. Best of all, Archive has 8 taps all dedicated to serving up schooners of frosty craft beer.


Archive isn't exactly the new kid on the block anymore, but they've continued to develop their business and following very well indeed. They now have a private function room out the back decorated in the same style as the main bar (leather lounges, sofa chairs, books along the walls) which can be booked for parties, business functions, etc. In addition, Archive recently added a bottleshop (the Next Door Cellars) that stocks the same huge variety of craft beers you can get at the bar.


The food is modern Australian pub food, for the most part. There's steaks, fish, burgers, pasta, and pies, as well as a nice grazing menu with a good variety of small dishes. Beside each of the menu items is a recommended beer to compliment the flavour of the dish, which is a great touch. Prices tend to be a little high, with the mains mostly approaching the $30 mark, and the items on the grazing menu around $12. The quality of the food has been very good each time I've been there, but it's obvious the focus of Archive is its range of beer, as it should be.

Five spice dusted calamari
Archive has further cemented its place at the centre of the beer universe in Brisbane through its hosting of beer-related events. Apart from the annual Australia Day and Octoberfest events, there's the upcoming Ministry of Beers Craft Beer Festival, happening on Sunday the 1st of May, where you can pay a few bucks to taste craft beer from all over Australia and talk to the brewers. Tickets are limited and available over the bar for $15. Archive also hosts a regular beer club that features beer and food matching and tasting of new and limited release beers. (Check out the Events+Markets page for a list of these and other events).

Archive gets pretty busy on a Friday or Saturday night, and you might find it a bit of a fight to get to the bar. For me, Archive is at its best on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Sitting out the front with a cold brew, grazing on hot chips or five spice dusted calamari, and doing some serious people-watching. There's simply no better way to spend an idle afternoon - it's heaven.