Odd Culture is the first of its kind; a wild ale and natural wine bar that has made a home for itself within the second level of beloved pub The Taphouse Darlinghurst. Odd Culture, a first of its kind wild ale and natural wine bar, is now open in Darlinghurst. Located on the second level of award-winning craft beer pub, The Taphouse, Odd Culture will be serving up to Sydneysiders a constantly rotating menu of twenty beers on tap, twelve wines, and the largest bottle list of wild ales and sour beers in Australia.

Brothers James and Josh Thorpe purchased The Taphouse in 2017. It was the duo’s first pub acquisition and hospitality venture, bought in part to preserve the venue’s passion for local and independent beer. To expand on the venue’s already lengthy tome of alternative drops available, The Thorpes have decided to focus on the wild ale and natural wine movement. The result is a secluded area sandwiched between the ground floor and the rooftop bar, partnered with a self-described ‘serious, yet accessible drink offering.’

“We’ve found that guests are much more discerning with what they drink, which is a fantastic thing to see for the craft beer and natural wine movement, and has changed the landscape for the better,” says James Thorpe of the growing number of natural wine and ale ans. “People are actively searching for quality products, principles and producers they can get behind and want to be proud of what they drink. There’s so much quality and variety now because we care a lot more about what we’re drinking and where it comes from.” The resulting drinks list is a collaboration between bar manager Jordan Blackman (ex Chin Chin, Ananas) and venue beverage manager, Tom Evans (ex Royal Albert, Wayward). There is an ample selection of local and international wild fermented ales, sour beers, and natural and sustainable wines (produced with minimal intervention) available to sip on. Interestingly, there is no printed tap beer or wine list, instead a constantly rotating menu of twenty beers and twelve natural wines on tap.

Expect ales to include Sydney’s Wildflower Brewing and Blending’s ‘St. Thomas’ (a wild ale refermented with cherries), Belgian brewer Rodenbach’s ‘Alexander’ Flanders Red Ale, Boatrocker Brewers ‘Double Barrel Aged Brett’ berlinerweisse, La Sirène Brewing’s ‘Saisonette’, Two Metre Tall’s ‘Wild Cider’, and Garage Project’s ‘Dinky Pinky Rhubarb & Strawberry Barrel Aged Sour’. Wines will be poured by the glass to give optimum opportunity to try new drops. A mix of old and new vinos is integrated onto the wine list, with Australian winemakers like Victoria’s Konpira Maru and Chevre Wines, appearing alongside international producers such as Pheasant’s Tears from Kakheti, Georgia and Anne Sophie Dubois from Beaujoulais, France. There will also be cocktails; Odd Culture’s signature has been decreed as the ‘Sour Negroni’, made using homemade Rodenbach vermouth with citric and malic acids.

In a celebration of the power couple of wine and cheese, Odd Culture will have plenty of both. Fare features around a revolving door of natural cheeses cured meats and tinned seafood. The likes of which will include gorgonzola picante, Maffra cheedar and Barossa wash rind Roblochon, along with tins of squid in ink, octopus, and sardines by Spanish artisan Luis Escuris Batalla. Bar snacks and heartier bites will also be available via The Taphouse’s Head Chef, Rob Paget, including ‘The Toastie’ with nduja salumi and cheddar reverse toasted on thick sourdough and served with a pickle.

Odd Culture, Level 2, The Taphouse, 122 Flinders Street, Darlinghurst, taphousedarlo.com.au.