The crew behind craft brewers Moo Brew will open their first consumer-facing space next February with Manky Sally’s, a microbrewery and taproom in Hobart.

Manky Sally’s takes its unusual name from its Salamanca location, though there’s a bit more to the story than that.

“I didn’t want to name it after a mediocre white man,” says Moo Brew’s managing director Lauren Sheppard.

Moo Brew, which released its first beer in 2005, is owned by David Walsh,  the decidedly not-mediocre white man behind Mona. He’s given Sheppard leave to raid the museum’s stash of exhibition accoutrements to spruce the place up, although right now it’s still a hole in the ground.

The venue will be part public bar, part nanobrewery, with capacity for about 70 punters. Stylistically, “it’ll tick some Mona boxes,” says Sheppard. Expect a tunnel, lots of reflective surfaces and trophy cases, along with Axminster-style carpets (think bold, clashing patterns) that were rescued from a Maria Island cottage.

Dinner will be on offer seven days, with lunch served Friday to Sunday. Sheppard has locked in transient local chef Sam Bray, who has worked many an event with Mona’s exec chef, Vince Trim, to run the kitchen. She’s briefed a “salty, spicy, street food-inspired” menu motivated by the same zero-waste policy as Mona restaurants and Faro and the Source.

Moo Brew will still produce the core range from its commercial brewery in Hobart’s northern suburb of Bridgewater, but the new venue will give head brewer Jack Viney a chance to experiment. “Trying something different with 7000 litres of beer is more risky, but on 300 litres? Not so much,” he says.

There are still a lot of details to work out, but it’s likely that Mona guests on the afternoon ferry will get priority access to tours and tastings. Other than that, it’ll be walk-ins only … unless your surname is Walsh.

Manky Sally’s will open at 25 Salamanca Place, Hobart, early 2023. For all the latest, head to moobrew.com.au.

Related news: Mona has launched a ladies-only high tea with butler service