Walk into Nomad's taproom on a Saturday afternoon and you will understand why this place has endured. The beer garden fills fast, sixteen taps are running, and there is an energy that is hard to manufacture. It is a local that actually feels like one.

Since 2014, Nomad Brewing Co has been pouring its heart into the Beaches craft beer scene from its home on Sydenham Road in Brookvale. It was here, when craft beer on the Beaches was still finding its feet, and it has watched the neighbourhood grow up around it. In 2025, new owners Pete and Elena took the reins, and the result is a taproom that feels reinvigorated without losing the unpretentious character that made it worth coming to in the first place.

"What drew us to Nomad? Simply put, legacy and possibility," says Elena. "As the oldest independent craft brewery on the Beaches, Nomad already held a special place in the heart of this community. For us, the opportunity to preserve that heritage while breathing new life into it was impossible to resist. Add to that a vision for art, culture and events wrapped in warm hospitality and exceptional craft beer." Their philosophy is straightforward: quality ingredients, traditional brewing methods and a willingness to experiment.

Nomad takes its drinkers on a tour, with beers named after places across the globe. The tap list runs from a crisp West Coast IPA (Pier 39) to a New Zealand Pilsner (Good Shepherd), a Pale Ale (Beachcomber) and three Stouts for those after more weight. The Monsoon IPA has been drawing attention with a Silver Medal from Untappd and a Bronze at the 2026 AIBA awards. This winter, look out for Salem, a limited-release New England IPA.

Beyond the beer, Nomad is a proper local: pool table, darts, the TV on for all sports, and a beer garden that is a tropical oasis in the heart of Brookvale. There is a Dip IT food truck and live music on weekends, plus happy hour Wednesday to Friday, 4pm to 6pm, with schooners at middy prices and house wines at 8 dollars a glass. Upcoming events include Merge Dating on 19 July (a relaxed, no-apps night for Northern Beaches singles) and the King Oche Darts Competition on 25 July. Bring friends, come for the beer, stay for the second round. Find Nomad at 5 Sydenham Rd, Brookvale, open Wednesday to Sunday.