A little more than a year Before Covid (aka BC), my friends and I were excited to watch the development of a new business in our tiny local shopping strip in Tarrawanna. The site of the old Tarrawanna Bakery was being transformed, with lots of local whispers about what was coming.
What eventuated was the Reub Goldberg Brewing Machine (RGBM), a brewery and venue that opened its doors in 2018. Owned and operated by life partners Billy and Anna (and their English staffy Kodah), the brewery teamed up with Gringa Taco Bar to offer great food alongside great beer.
The site lends itself to a lazy sunny afternoon with friends in the outdoor seating area and, sure enough, the RGBM team had a good summer after opening in late 2018.
No one could have predicted what followed.
First, the terrible bushfires and hot, dry and smoky conditions of the 2019/20 summer – and then Covid hit. Billy and Anna’s brewery managed to survive Covid by offering takeaway and home deliveries.
At the moment, with sunny and warm conditions, the outlook is bright.
RGBM’s focus is on providing quality fresh beer sustainably to locals. They brew all of their beer on-site, always mindful of the impact of their operation on the planet, and they made the switch to solar energy in 2020. Spent grain is used as feed for the livestock at head brewer Nick’s farm, with hop and yeast waste also used on his permaculture garden. The process water is recycled, and, as the beer only travels a few metres from where it is fermented, it stays fresh without added preservatives.
Their only packaged product is the Swap’n’Go Growler. For the uninitiated, the Growler is a resealable, double-wall insulated stainless-steel vessel that comes in 1.5L and 2L sizes. Simply purchase your favourite RGBM beer in the prefilled, prechilled growler, consume and return the empty in exchange for a full one. No waste.
Billy and Anna’s brewery development story began in 2014 with a 10,000km Bike2Brewery cycling adventure and associated brewery research. Their adventure started in Alaska, moving south along the west coast of Canada and the US, eventually reaching Costa Rica, where the heat slowed them down. The gruelling trip took them nine months, during which they hatched the idea of opening their own brewery back in Australia.
I chatted to Billy while he poured beers for the Thursday afternoon regulars. He told me of the kindness of people they met along the way, particularly after their bikes and all of their possessions were stolen in Washington state. Local police and emergency services staff took up a collection and handed over $1400 towards the purchase of new bikes. A local man they met in a hotel spoke to them about their plight, apologised for what had happened to them, then paid for their accommodation without saying a word.
Billy is originally from Wombarra and met Anna while living and working in Sydney. After 10 years away from the Illawarra, Billy and Anna settled in Thirroul after their trip and spent a year looking for a suitable site for their brewery.
They eventually found the disused and neglected building in Tarrawanna, a perfect fit for their bar and brewery, and served their first brew in November 2018.
The name of the brewery has its own story and is linked to the brewing machinery, which is in full view at the rear of the bar. In the last year or so, they have increased their brewing capacity three times to meet local demand. They no longer offer wholesale as their local sales are more than sustaining the business.
At the bar you can choose from eight beer varieties on tap, as well as their own passionfruit cider and mango seltzer (mango-flavoured alcoholic soda). There’s also a tasting platter. The only drinks not made on-site are the small wine and non-alcoholic beer selection.
Recently, during further renovations, an all-weather awning was added to the outdoor area. More development is planned, including an extension to the indoor seating area.
Pop in for a beer and a chat – doggy friends are welcome. There are so many great stories about this establishment, not to mention the stories of the locals you are likely to meet.
Reub Goldberg Brewing Machine
81 Meadow St, Tarrawanna
Brewery and Gringa Taco Bar opening hours
Thursday: 12-9pm
Friday: 12-10pm
Saturday: 12-10pm
Sunday: 12-9pm (live music 4-7pm)