Craft Beer is making its mark on the shelves of your local bottle o..

The steady increase in craft beer drinking has led to a bit more choice in your local bottle shop, but for those of a hoppier disposition it can be hard to find good local beers and sought after world brews.

By far the best place to get good craft beer bottles is straight from the source, with many local breweries selling freshly-tapped beers on site. However, if you scratch the surface there are many craft beer bottle shops in Sydney with passionate owners stocking all things beer from funky pale ales to a more robust, dark stout and everything in between.

Check out some of the best craft beer bottle shops in Sydney below and get inspired for your next beery purchase.

152 Elizabeth St, Sydney NSW 2000

Located in the Sydney CBD, The Oak Barrel offers a huge range of international and local brews. Independent since 1956, they pride themselves on being a knowledgeable source for those who like a little more out of their tipple.

Wander past the vintage wines and spirits to the back of the store and you’ll find a cave-like craft beer haven with shelves upon shelves of interesting and exciting beers. Beer geeks will love their selection of Belgian beer which includes Trappists and Boon classics as well as their wide range of New Zealand beers from breweries such as 8Wired, Epic and Garage Project.

300 Illawarra Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204 Only opening a short time ago, Bucket Boys have quickly cemented themselves as a go-to for craft beer drinkers. Minimalist with an air of cool, the shop is set out like an art gallery for beer. There are over 700 beers available and the guys offer growler fills in-store. Not content with just selling beer, Bucket Boys also brew their own for limited release – so keep your eyes peeled in selected bars and at the bottle shop. Their international range is strong. Prowling past the fridges you’ll find a vast array of the best beer from around the globe. Expect to find Mikkeller abound, rare To Ol bottles and a few British finds from breweries like Siren, Buxton and Weird Beard. If you like American beer you won’t be disappointed with beers from Oskar Blues, Almanac and Evil Twin. Locally, Bucket Boys have a comprehensive range of Australian beer with over 300 different bottles to choose from.

Porter’s Liquor Bexley 287 Forest Rd, Bexley NSW 2207 A little further afield in Bexley, Porter’s Liquor doesn’t look like your usual small craft beer bottle-o. Although the store is part of a large chain, each store is independently owned meaning the owners can choose the stock. This is apparent by what they have available, with some lesser known European bottles from the likes of Nogne Ø. It seems the store’s real passion is Australian beer, with fridges full of a great selection of craft beer from across the country. There are also regular tastings at the store on a Friday afternoon for those who like to try before they buy.

252/741-753 Botany Rd, Rosebery NSW 2018

Barny’s is a popular stop for craft beer fans. A den of fridges filled with a wide range of craft beer from Australia and across the world, the store offers rare finds from the beer world. Expect to see a wide range of hard to find international beers such as Green Flash from the US, special limited edition brews from the UK’s Brewdog and some Rochefort Trappist beer from Belgium. Alongside this, the store stocks Australian favourites from brewers like Boatrocker, Modus Operandi and Pirate Life.

21 Kingston Rd, Camperdown NSW 2050

Camperdown Cellars has been a local favourite in the Inner West for the past few years. Its popularity stems from its helpful staff and wide range of craft beer. Customers can peruse over 650 craft beers from Australian breweries such as Batch, Two Birds and Moon Dog as well as international beers from the US and Europe. You can buy online but it’s worth a trip to the store to check out their specials and hidden gems.

Thirsty? Check out some local Sydney breweries you can grab some takeaways from here.