Felons Brewing Co. will celebrate the opening of its new Barrel Room at Manly Wharf with a celebration headlined by Winston Surfshirt and Mental As Anything.

Launching on the first weekend of summer, the event will herald the installation of Felons’ new on-site microbrewery and the opening of the Barrel Room, the final chapter in bringing the full Felons Manly experience to life.

Winston Surfshirt perform at Felons Barrel Room on 5 December, followed by Mental As Anything (above) on 6 December, before wrapping up on 7 December with a day that begins family-friendly and evolves into a takeover by Australian dance label Sweat It Out.

All events are free to attend, inviting locals and visitors to enjoy beer, food and live music by the harbour as Felons Manly enters a new era.

“Felons Manly has always been about connection between people, community and place,” said Adam Flaskas, co-founder and director of Artemus Group.

“This summer, we’re excited to contribute to the cultural energy that already makes Manly such a special place, bringing together music, craft and community by the harbour.”

The brewery, led by brewery director Tom Champion and lead brewer Gareth Cooper, will feature daily tours, tastings and meet-the-brewer sessions, offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the brewing process. Guests can look forward to Manly-exclusive and seasonal beers that reflect the Northern Beaches’ coastal creativity, alongside Felons classics such as Crisp Lager, Galaxy Haze and Australian Pale Ale.

Upon opening Felons Manly, the team brewed a beer exclusively for the new venue, a crisp Japanese rice lager perfect for days by the Harbour. To honour the new waterside location they partnered with Seabin so that every glass of Japanese rice lager purchased, funds the removal of a piece of plastic from Sydney Harbour. Felons will continue its sustainability partnership with SeaBin, with more than 20,000 pieces collected to date.

Felons Barrel Room will introduce an evolution in the brewery’s hospitality and cultural offering, blending barrel-aged beer, Vietnamese cuisine and live music. A 700-capacity cultural hub and entertainment venue, Felons Barrel Room will feature a stage, bars and seating for more than 300 diners. The walls will be lined by more than 100 French oak barrels used to age a wide variety of Felons’ beers that will be made on site.

The menu, developed by Australian-Vietnamese chef Bao La and Ty Bellingham (Sailor’s Thai, Bathers’ Pavilion’s Betel Leaf), builds on the success of Saigon Supper Inn, serving vibrant Vietnamese dishes that pair with Felons’ barrel-aged beers, including a Barrel-Aged Crisp Lager matured for six weeks in Starward Whisky barrels. The drinks list will feature natural wines, signature cocktails and a refined back bar.