Westside Ale Works began in 2016 when American expat Casey Wagner took over a small South Melbourne space and set up what was effectively a highly developed homebrew system, drawing on the hop-forward beer he'd grown up with on the U.S. West Coast. The taproom on Alfred Street opened in 2019 and quickly became a fixture for locals in a part of Melbourne with plenty of apartments and offices but few places to sit down with a beer. In 2024, ownership passed to Jonathan Treloar, who has continued the brewery's West Coast-inspired approach. The taproom pours 20 taps in total, 16 of them Westside's own beers and four rotating guest taps, spanning West Coast IPAs, American pale ales, hazies, sours and stouts, with small-batch and seasonal releases keeping the lineup moving. Tasting paddles of four 150ml pours are available for those keen to sample a few styles in one sitting. Food centres on hand-stretched pizzas made with pale ale-infused dough, alongside nachos and other American-style bar snacks, plus a small range of in-house spirits, wine and cider for non-beer drinkers. The warehouse-style space includes communal tables, shuffleboard and a big screen for sport and movies, with regular trivia nights and other events on the calendar. The Hop Loft function space seats 30 and the full taproom fits up to 70, making Westside a solid option for everything from a casual after-work pint to a milestone birthday or team event.