Craft beer? Few people – even beer drinkers – had heard of it a few years ago. Now the phrase – like the brews themselves – seems on everyone’s lips.

“Australia’s in the midst of a huge craft beer craze,” says William Wilson, who runs Cammeray Craft, a bar in Sydney’s inner north.

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Wilson finds people increasingly fussy about what trickles down their throats. “People ask where beers are from, which micro-brewery made them – even which individual brewer developed them.”

Pubs, small bars and liquor stores stocking craft beers are mostly in major cities, but micro-breweries supplying them are sometimes in the unlikeliest places – for instance, small outback towns. They’re tourist attractions in themselves.

Here are a couple of six-packs illustrating a “dirty dozen” of craft beer watering-holes.

Matso’s

At one of tropical Broome’s most popular dining venues, tables spill across lawns. Inside an historic building, on-tap brews include Pearler’s Pale Ale along with alcoholic ginger beer and craft ciders containing desert limes and wild ginger.

Two worth trying: a fiery chilli beer and another with a strong mango flavour. Or, combine the two in what’s called a “chango”.

60 Hamersley St, Broome

Badlands Brewery

Similarly high-profile, it’s inside Agrestic Grocer, a store highlighting local produce and incorporating a thriving café. A visitors’ lunch stop, it showcases local musicians.

Says Badlands’ Jon Shiner: “Our brews are English-style and available on tap, with Badlands Pale Ale top seller.”

426 Mitchell Hwy, Orange

Fish River Valley Brewing

“Ours are mostly American-style, contrasting with Badlands’ English emphasis,” explains brewer Mick Hoban who owns Fish River Valley Brewing with wife Deb. The Hobans plan brewery tours and a licensed café at their rural headquarters near Bathurst.

Meantime, they sell takeaway beer – but their Wheat Ale is served at Bathurst’s Webb & Co Bar and Church Bar (both with good restaurants) while their dark-hued Dirty Swamp is poured at Chicane Bar and Grill in Bathurst’s Rydges Hotel.

1446 Tarana Rd, Locksley; no website

Pigs and Pints

In Gold Coast holiday territory, Pigs and Pints enhances an already lively dining-and drinking scene.

Chef James Brady’s beef cheeks simmer for 36 hours. Sliders are a specialty (pork belly is a favourite; others include spicy Thai chicken and tuna with pickled ginger).

Among beers from Australian and overseas craft breweries: Western Australia’s Hop Hog, South Australia’s Vale Ale and Moa Blanc, a New Zealand wheat beer.

1823 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

Wheatsheaf Hotel

Adelaide’s suburban Thebarton is home to the Wheatsheaf, a beer afficionados’ paradise. As well as making their own, the pub sells hard-to-find imports such as brews from the Scottish Highlands’ small Cromarty Brewery.

Live music is regular; art exhibitions and poetry evenings are occasional. Visitors are encouraged to tour the brewery.

An ale called Booty Blocker Brown is popular with regulars.

39 George St, Thebarton

Cheeky Peak Brewery

On the Victorian side of the Victoria-NSW border, Wodonga’s Cheeky Peak (a few minutes’ drive from Albury) includes a shop selling home-brewing supplies. Tastings and brewery tours are promoted – with staff even helping enthusiasts get home brews started.

Best-selling beers: crisp Hip Hop Pale Ale and richer Ishana Indian Pale Ale.

67 Wigg Street, Wodonga

Nomad Brewing Company

Based on Sydney’s northern beaches, Nomad has a strong cult following among Sydneysiders.

Signature brews include Long Trip – combining pale and wheat malts with infusions of coffee beans, wattle seeds and organic pepper – and Sideways Pale Ale.

5 Sydenham Rd, Brookvale

Bentspoke Brewing Company

Politicians and bureaucrats are among customers at this craft brewery in the nation’s capital featuring 18 beers brewed on-site. A big seller: dryish Canberra Ale.

The restaurant, bustling at lunch, gives standard pub fare a quirky twist.

38 Mort St, Braddon

Borenore Brewhouse

No, “growlers” doesn’t describe grumpy customers. Instead, it’s Aussie, Canadian and United States jargon for 1.89-litre beer containers. They’re usually glass but brewer and former IT executive Marty Oliver prefers tougher stainless steel. Small bottles were recently introduced.

A derelict-looking shed behind the Borenore Store houses Oliver’s brewery. “I’ll keep the exterior but renovate internally to include a café,” he says.

595A Borenore Road, Borenore

Stone and Wood

One of Australia’s bigger craft beer brewers, this Byron Bay operation promotes Stone and Wood Lager, Pacific Ale and malty Jasper Ale.

Brewery tours are available and a shop sells T-shirts, caps and beer-related paraphernalia. Staff say tourists often stop at the brewery for lunch, tastings and a beer or three.

4 Boronia Pl, Byron Bay

The Monk

Along convict-built Fremantle’s famed “cappuccino strip”, The Monk’s seafood-angled restaurant is currently hot and consequently often full. Brewing happens in the centre of the restaurant with visitors invited to watch and ask questions.

Eight on-tap beers encompass The Monk Kolsch, The Monk Pale Ale and The Monk Wheat.

33 South Terrace, Fremantle

Small Acres Cyder

Finally, a pub with no (craft) beer – but a great place to slake thirsts. Seven minutes’ drive from Orange, it brews and serves small batches of craft cider – for example. Somerset Still – using traditional “olde English” methods.

Daily tastings behind its cellar door attract tourists. Occasional celebratory lunches pair food and cider (a recent example linked cider with authentic bangers and mash).

12 Akhurst Rd, Nashdale