NOW EXPERIENCING:Manky Sally’s
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Manky Sally’s

Monday: 4:00 – 9:30 PM
25 Salamanca Place, Hobart, TAS, 7004
Phone
No phone
Website
moobrew.com.au
Instagram
@moobrewbrewery

Read time 3 Mins

Posted 20 Jun 2023

By
Alix Clark

Craft beer and Asian-forward street food? So far, so fun. Add a generous dollop of Mona wit and you’ve got yourself Hobart’s newest – and coolest – taphouse and nano-brewery.

Interiors at Manky Sally's
Why you goDavid Walsh, the founder of Hobart’s landmark Mona (Museum of Old and New Art), is known for his eccentricities and, true to form, he started a beer company after stumbling across a bottle he liked in Eastern Europe. Not a bottle of beer – an empty bottle. Some 18 years later, Moo Brew is one of Tasmania’s largest independent craft brewers, and Manky Sally’s (on Salamanca Place – geddit?) is its first taphouse, created to showcase its extensive range and bring a little taste of Mona quirk to the city. The entrance off Salamanca Place is lowkey and discreet, and once inside, the vibe is laid-back and welcoming. Moo Brew’s full range is on tap and you can ask questions of the in-house brewer. Locals drop in for after-work drinks, while visitors who’ve been immersed in Mona world all day can keep that mood going after hopping off the ferry nearby.
Why you stayIn true Mona fashion, this nano-brewery (yes, there’s a micro micro-brewery on site) is decorated with a mix of high and low style drawn from both the museum’s warehouses and Facebook Marketplace. Velvet and brass barstools make for comfy perching out front, where a reclaimed Axminster carpet brings old-school pub vibes. Towards the back, you’ll find ’70s-style leather chairs for intimate lounging and an alcove lined with more than 3000 Moo Brew bottles that houses a generously proportioned and stunningly veined marble table. Amber glass makes multiple appearances throughout the venue, and be sure to look closely at the light fittings outside the bathrooms (Bunnings. Plumbing. Aisle).
Bar counter at Manky Sally’s
Deinks served at Manky Sally's
What drink to orderBeer is the main event here – after all, Moo Brew is one of Australia’s older craft breweries and still independently owned. There are 14 beers on tap – Moo Brew’s full range plus a couple of experimental numbers that head brewer Jack Viney plays with in the nano-brewery at the venue. Some of these might turn into a regular beer, while others will forever be taphouse-only offerings. The Moo Brew range includes classics like lager, ale, pilsner, stout and IPA as well as quirkier styles such as farmhouse ale, a sour and hefeweizen, or wheat beer. A tasting flight of four beers is presented on a table-tennis paddle in homage to David Walsh’s love of the game. Beer not your thing? There’s a range of Tasmanian wines from Moorilla and Domaine A, also owned by David, and others available by the glass or bottle as well as non-alcoholic Tasmanian cider and local spirits. Check the specials board for the day’s cocktails.
What to pair it withThe menu has been designed to pair well with beer, so anything you choose is going to be packed with flavour. Chef Sam Bray has created a line-up of Asian-leaning bar snacks ranging from tapioca crisps to more substantial offerings such as Japanese-style okonomiyaki omelette. Fluffy and savoury, it’s topped with Tasmanian wild-shot venison – something that’s become available only recently, partly thanks to the efforts of artist and curator Kirsha Kaechele, who is David’s wife and a passionate supporter of sustainable food. The couple are both vegetarian, so there are plenty of meat-free options including a moreish vegan banh mi featuring mushroom, sunflower paté, crunchy pickles and chilli in a baguette with just the right amount of crunch. Sam is a fan of street food so there are plenty of grilled things on sticks such as Chinese-style spiced wallaby, Taiwanese-esque calamari and mushrooms skewered with lotus root. Almost everything’s under $20, making this a wallet-pleasing night out.
Food and drinks Manky Sally's
Seating at Manky Sally's
Regular’s tipWander down the mirrored tunnel past the kitchen and claim one of the comfy Tessa leather armchairs for a cosy catch-up. Or, if you’re with a group, head for the marble table in the bottle cave. There are no bookings and no VIP areas here – it’s first come first served.
Don’t leave withoutMake your excuses and use the bathrooms. If you’re facing the wall, there’s a continuous loop of beer being poured to, er, get things flowing. If you’re seated, look for the hidden words on the walls entirely covered with letter stickers – painstakingly applied by the Moo Brew team.
Who to takeObviously ideal for anyone who loves a beer, Manky Sally’s is also a great place to meet up with friends who love good food and interior style that’s anything but bland. Plenty of soft furnishings mean the acoustics are good enough to talk about sex and death (Mona’s favourite topics) to your heart’s desire. And the outdoor seating is the perfect place for people-watching (BYO Tassie tuxedo, aka a puffy jacket).
Authour image
Alix ClarkHobart resident Alix writes about food and travel for Gourmet Traveller, Country Style and the Weekend Australian, among other publications.
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Drinks DirectoryNon-alc OptionsBrilliant beer listCasual catch-upHobartAfter work drinksOutdoor areaBarBrewery or DistilleryVego Food OptionsRecently opened
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