LOCK in the date. Beer Day Out returns to Canberra on Saturday, November 8 at its new location in “the former transport depot”, Wentworth Avenue, Kingston, e.g. the Bus Depot Markets to the rest of us! The day kicks off with a bang at 1pm and continues till 8pm, but its my guess that the shenanigans will continue well on into the night at the surrounding bars and pubs.
But never fear, the Beer Day Out is just the beginning of a week of hectic beer events scattered around some of Canberra’s most iconic craft beer venues. The Canberra Beer Week will conclude on Saturday, November 15, with the hope that Canberra beer lovers will be sufficiently satiated with the number of breweries converging on our usually sleepy little town.
In the lead up to the big week, my next few articles of This Week in Beer will look at the beers, breweries and venues involved in the week of festivities that is Canberra Beer Week, but till then, let me inform you all of exactly who is appearing at Canberra Beer Day Out.
Of course, local darlings of the Canberra craft beer scene Zierholz and Bentspoke Brewery will be present. With their spiritual homes in Fyshwick and Braddon, these two small but mighty breweries will also showcase their wares at Canberra’s biggest Beer festival, the Beer Day Out.
Former Canberran native Dan Hampton, co-owner of Young Henrys brewery will also be at the Beer Day Out. Their iconic, earthy tastes and aromas mixed with liberal amounts of local and imported hops have made a huge imprint on the Newtown market, where their brewery is located (and continues to expand). Make sure you check out their beers at the Beer Day Out and say hello to Dan, the man with one of the most spectacular beards in all of Sydney!
Stone & Wood, from the relaxing surrounds of Byron Bay, make their way down to Canberra for the Beer Day Out and Canberra Beer Week. Their pacific ale will go down “oh so well” at the Beer Day Out, with its passion-fruit aroma and subtle hop tastes. This is certainly a beer you should hit up later in the day as you begin to bloat and loosen the buckles on your belt.
Victoria can probably lay claim to being the home of craft beer in Australia, and currently four of their breweries have signed the dotted line to appear at Beer Day Out. Lines were immense for craft beer icons Hawthorn brewery, but make sure you make the effort to check out the guys from Moorabin (2 Brothers Brewery), craft beer giants Mountain Goat and country bumpkins Bridge Road Brewers. I must confess that if you wish to find me, chances are I’ll be hanging around the Bridge Road Brewers stall like a stalker outside an ex-girlfriend’s window.
Now, it must be said, we all love our Aussie craft beer, but heck, its Beer Day Out, and its time to spread your horizons and look beyond our shores. Try Portland USA’s own Bridgeport Kingpin and IPA, both at the event (and both spectacular) or why not indulge in beers by Germany’s Erdinger (who make one of the world’s best wheat beers) or Belgium’s own Slaapmutske and Troubadour?
Finally, breweries from across the ditch must not be forgotten about. Liberty brewing have won a host of awards in their time, including a GOLD at the BGNZ (Brewers Guild of New Zealand ) awards for their Darkest Days beer and best brewery in the New Zealand SOBA (Society of Beer Advocates) awards in 2013 and will be at the event in full flight. Also present at the event will be Blenheim’s 8 Wired brewery, to show that its not just great wine that comes out of Marlbrough. Make sure you check out what beers these crazy cats have on show because you might just find something unexpected!
Of course its hard to mention all the breweries at the event, but a final shout out must be made to Tim Thomas’s Nowra operation, Hop Dog Beer Works. With a new, larger capacity brewery on site, I am really looking forward to indulging in beers like his delicious Red Hopulous, Bingo Wings, An American Werewolf in Belgium or his incredible 90 IBU’s Super Beast.
Keep checking the Beer Day Out Facebook page to keep up to date with every coming and going for Beer Day Out and Canberra Beer Week and remember to check this article every Friday morning as I preview another beer, brewery or event appearing during Canberra Beer Week.
By Adrian Moran
[Photo by Quinn Dombrowski, attribution licence]
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