PERTH | Running With Thieves is a South Fremantle craft brewery and distillery that’s fast become a reason in its own right to visit this part of town, just outside of Fremantle’s city centre.
Brooklyn Whelan had the idea to create an apparel label while on a flight back from Tokyo a few years back. He teamed up with his mates Scott Douglas (who built Black Brewing in Margaret River) and designer Pablo Frenkel, and soon the idea grew into not just apparel, but beer and spirits.
The former wool store has high ceilings and open windows facing the Indian Ocean, making the most of the Fremantle Doctor in the evening. It’s a very spacious venue. Long wooden high tables, big screens for when the footy is on, a 30 metre long bar, and capacity for 300 punters. Behind the bar you can see the brewing and distilling equipment on full display, and to the side, rows of stacked oak barrels holding whiskey that’s being aged.
Across the bar’s taps you’ll find Running With Theives’ 10 core range beers, plus a rotating selection of seasonal and limited brews. There are four set tasting paddles, but the bar staff are happy for you to have a try of anything. If you ask nicely, they’ll happily swap out something on one of the set paddles with something else of your choice.
Try their 6.2% ABV West Coast IPA, and the 5.6% ABV Hazy Pale. The former is dank with notes of grapefruit, orange, passionfruit, and pine. The latter is smooth, with flavours of orange, peach, mandarin, and mango.
On the spirits side, it’s house gin and vodkas, the former of which you can enjoy a tasting paddle. The spirits are also used, along with other local spirits, in a selection of tasty cocktails, classic and house creations. There’s also seltzer and seltzer cocktails, and a mostly Western Australian wine list.
The food menu is broadly Asian inspired, with a definite Japanese influence. It’s all food that’s designed to share and go well with beer, and uses locally sourced produce where possible. Think char sui pork belly bao, prawn and garlic chive potsticker dumplings, and Japanese fried chicken tenders.
If you’re interested in a brewery and distillery tour, you can book online. They’re held regularly each week. If you want merch or some beer, spirits, or bottled cocktails for home, there’s a dedicated retail section to the side.
Running With Thieves
218 Marine Terrace
South Fremantle
Western Australia 6162
Australia
Telephone: n/a
E-mail: [email protected]
Website
Open
Tue – Thu: 11:30am to 9:00pm
Fri – Sat: 11:00am to 10:00pm
Sun: 11:00am to 9:00pm