For the second year running, Molly Rose Brewing’s beer competition Beers Of The Burbs is back, with five venues from five Melbourne suburbs competing for the best brew.
Community members from the five participating Melbourne suburbs came together over a shared passion to brew a top-secret, hopefully competition-winning beer in collaboration with Molly Rose Brewing in Collingwood.
Participants registered their interest by purchasing a ticket for the team/suburb they wished to join, coming together for a ‘brewstorm’ in which they put ideas forward for the special brew and hatched a winning plan.
Nic Sandery, Founder and Brewer of Molly Rose, joined the groups to discuss their ideas and guide them in developing their own beer concept, before inviting them to the brewery the following week.
“[The teams] came to Molly Rose for the brew day, where they observed the brewing process, tasted the wort, and added the hops and any additional ingredients – all while enjoying dinner and beers,” Sandery explained.
In the debut year of the competition, Brunswick scooped the win in a grand final that came down to just five votes between the winning Zesty Za’atar Session IPA and a Banana Stout brewed by Richmond.
Brunswick returns this year with Miss Moses, going head-to-head with The Local Taphouse, representing St Kilda East; Hopheads for Yarraville; Carwyn Cellars for Thornbury and Beermash for Armadale.
After the success of the debut competition, Sandery shares his excitement about building on the concept year-on-year.
“Last year’s competition went incredibly well. The 2023 Grand Final was the busiest night in Molly Rose history, with every team bringing their friends and family along to try their beers, as well as local community members eager to sample the different brews,” he stated.
“It grew our community and brought new faces to our venue. This year, we’ve already seen an improvement, with some teams selling out their spots. We’re also better prepared for the Grand Final, with more glassware and a special drinks and food menu available.”
With each of the creations now brewed, the five teams await the grand final, set to take place on Thursday 29 August from 6pm at Molly Rose Brewing. The final is open to the public, with Beers of the Burbs booklets available on the night, including 150ml pours of each beer and a vote token.
The winning suburb will be announced on the evening, with the winning beer then canned, labelled and sold throughout Melbourne and online.
While the winning beer has the opportunity to reach a national audience, Sanderson also highlights the value of the competition in connecting local members of the community and forming new friendships.
“The venues get to know their locals, discover what kinds of beers their communities enjoy, and if they win, they receive a free keg of beer. The local communities get to meet new people in their area, connect with their local bar, learn about the brewing process, enjoy their beer, and if they win, they get a free four-pack of their beer.
“At Molly Rose, we believe in building, fostering, and growing a strong community—one that is inclusive and fun to be a part of. The Beers of the Burbs competition embodies all these values.
“Together, we brainstorm, brew, and enjoy the brewing process, bringing people together to make new friends. The best part is that they get to cheers with their very own beer at the end. Last year, many participants commented on how it was a wonderful way to meet people in their area, and they’ve remained friends even after the competition ended,” he concluded.