We've been to the Lord Nelson, the former James Squire Brewhouse at King Street Wharf and the Heritage Belgian Beer Café (twice) in previous years, there aren't that many beer palaces in Sydney left suitable for a largish group. The Local Taphouse has the best range of beers in Sydney, bar none, and it's handy to Central for those who have to train it home.
If it's TLT on Thursday, 19 December does that preclude anyone from attending?
Added: Or would the collected multitudes prefer Monday, 23 December?