Bootleg Brewery (Margaret River)

The Food (as in, not another lasagna!)
To be fair, there was also a vegetarian wrap on offer as well. However, the menu described it as “Turkish lavish bread filled with house made spicy vege burger & locally grown fresh produce.” I despise spicy vege burgers! So I ordered the lasagna ($22), which was described as “layers of roasted vegetables of the season, pasta and a rich Napolitano sauce, topped with a mized seed and Bechamel sauce. Served with garden salad and chips.” It sounded alright, but having been to Duckstein only a few days beforehand who also failed to offer many vegetarian options beyond the vegetable lasagna, the thought of having to have another one was very disappointing.
The lasagna was quite badly burnt in places, with the filling failing to raise much interest. The chips were standard and served without sauce, and the salad was your average garden salad. In general, the meal lacked originality with only the generous serving size redeeming the drop in quality.

The Beers
While the Duckstein goes for quality over quantity in regards to food but is let down by its unappealing beers, Bootleg has been a long time favourite of ours for boutique beers. Aside from the darker beers such as the Raging Bull, the rest of Bootleg’s beers such as the Hefe and the Sou’ West Wheat are very enjoyable. At $10, the tasting tray of seven beers is probably the best value for money out of all the breweries in the region and is highly recommendable for any new visitors.

Atmosphere/service
Up until a few months ago, Bootleg’s atmosphere and lakeside setting was second to none. However, with the newly opened Duckstein, Bootleg now comes off as a little tired and basic. The staff are nice while remaining somewhat standoffish, and like the Duckstein, all orders are placed at the counter with patrons picking up their own cutlery and water.

In General
Bootleg has proven immense staying power as a “beer oasis” in the middle of the Margaret River wine region. Despite newcomers to the market, it has remained a firm favourite of visitors to the area and will likely continue this success into the future. Personally, I love the beers and it will only be a matter of time before I’m back enjoying another tasting tray or two. However, in regards to lunch, the area is littered with many restaurants, most of which I haven’t had the pleasure of visiting yet. I would definitely recommend trying somewhere else for lunch unless the lasagna or wrap sounds appealing to you.

Food 5/10
Value 5/10
Beer 7/10
Service 6/10
Atmosphere 7/10