Melbourne Metro
Pint of Origin (POO) – various venues 16-24 May
Nine venues, nine days of Good Beer Week – coincidence? Some of Melbourne’s best crafty pubs will host tap takeovers from their chosen state. This year, they’ve included Europe, New Zealand and the US. For me, the best free event of the festival.
More info and tickets here
Sour Ales vs Cheese – Atticus Finch (East Brunswick, 24 May)
For the past year, the craft beer world has been all about sours. Belgian sour kings Rodenbach Brewery and Boon Brewery are in town to get up and close with all the, as I call them, “Tart tarts”. Take along your wine-loving mate and watch their head implode when you tell them the beer has Brettanomyces in it. Yes, the same yeast that can make a wine taste crap also makes beer taste amazing!
More info and tickets here
Hops: Drink Awesome. Drink Fresh – Two Row (Fitzroy, 20 May)
While sours are “Hansel, he’s so hot right now”, hops will forever be “Zoolander’s Blue Steel”. Brewcult’s Hendo (apart from being the most fun) is widely recognised as the foremost expert in all things hops and freshness. At $40, this event is great value for money and expect to be educated and entertained at the same time.
More info and tickets here
Abbey Collaby 5 – Mountain Goat (Richmond, 20 May)
It’s pretty simple – a collaborative brew by Moondog, Matilda Bay and Mountain Goat to raise money for the Collingwood Children’s Farm. It’s free entry and most of the beer industry will be there, including me and rest of the Bendigo Beer crew. So much fun!
More info and tickets here
Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular – Royal Exhibition Building (Carlton, 22-24 May)
Three days, 300 beers, 120 of which have been brewed exclusively for this event. Recently voted as one of the top 20 beer events in the world by Beer Connoisseur Magazine. My advice – head there on the Sunday as all the hard-core beer peeps have been and gone so the lines are shorter creating a very cruisy vibe, making it the perfect way to end Good Beer Week. Don’t forget to bring a silly hat!
More info and tickets here
Regional Victoria
Southern Armageddon – Jester King vs Texas BBQ @ Dispensary (Bendigo, 17 May)
Hailing from Austin in Texas, Jester King beers are very hard to get in Australia. So that’s enough to get me there. Matched to amazing smoky, spicy Texan cuisine by one of regional Victoria’s finest restaurants, this event had me at “Jest….”
More info and tickets here
Macedon’s Finest – Royal George Hotel (Kyneton, 16 May)
Kyneton’s leading craft beer venue pits its beery
prowess against the region’s finest wines. Game on!
More info and tickets here
Calder Corridor Tap Takeover @ Holgate Brewhouse (Woodend, 16-24 May)
Holgate, 7 Cent, Brookes, Tooborac and Bandicoot on tap all week. It’s free entry, delicious and purely coincidental that it’s halfway between Bendigo and Melbourne should one feel the urge to step off the V-Line train for a sneaky paddle.
More info and tickets here
Bridge Road at The Mallow – The Mallow Hotel (Ballarat, 23 May)
Beechworth’s Ben Kraus comes to Ballarat to talk (and drink) through a select range of his beers. Trust me, this will be awesome.
More info and tickets here
MTB with Red Hill Brewers – (Red Hill Brewery, 24 May)
I like that you get to work off all the beer and food you’ve consumed over Good Beer Week. Life is all about good balance, especially on a mountain bike after a few beers.
More info and tickets here
Also see: GRAM Guide to Craft Beer