By Goya Dmytryshchak
Altona’s first bar will open its doors early next month.
Hopheads has taken up residency inside a former accounting office at 78 Pier Street, selling nearly as many craft beer varieties as there are days of the year.
Co-owner and director Ryan Cochrane, a 25-year-old craft beer aficionado, said the set-up would be the same as the first Hopheads in Point Cook.
“I was actually born in Altona Meadows and I went to school in Truganina, so I’ve always been around the area and for as long as I’ve known there’s never been a real drinking place,” he said.
“I’ve heard as well that there was supposedly a no-fly zone for bars and pubs, but we asked the question and the council was happy to have us and we thought this is a great place to be.
“I started working in craft beer places when I was 18 and I absolutely fell in love with it. It was just something completely different … it is still a trending thing. Craft beer in general is just taking over everywhere – it’s today’s wine.”
Mr Cochrane said the focus would be on domestic beer, but there would be many international brews.
“Currently in the coldroom we’ve got a Canadian Breakfast Stout from Founders aged in bourbon barrels with some maple syrup added to it and it comes in at around about 12 per cent alcohol,” he said.
“We’re all about an experience of beer so we’re happy to take people on a journey.
“If they’re just an everyday lager drinker we’re happy to accommodate to that but at the same time we want to try to push them just to get them a little bit out of their comfort zone.”
The venue is licensed for up to 105 patrons, including 50 up front and the rest in two rooms out the back, one of which will have a small lounge feel.
No food will be served but people can bring their own take-away or home-cooked food.
The venue is expected to open until 9pm Monday to Wednesday and 11pm the rest of the week.
