The Canberra Craft Beer and Cider Festival will return in 2025, showcasing local and interstate drink exhibitions with its outdoor street-style festivities at its largest event yet.
The event, which promises to showcase “more of everything” will be held on 15 March at The Mercure Canberra.
Dr Jerry Schwartz, Director of the Schwartz Family Company, owner of The Mercure Canberra and founder of the Canberra Craft Beer and Cider Festival shares the day’s significance to the brewing community.
“The event brings together a wide array of local and national craft brewers, strengthening the ties between different beer cultures. It is an opportunity for brewers to share their innovations, techniques, and flavours with an enthusiastic audience,” he said.
This will mark 18 years of the Canberra Craft Beer and Cider Festival, beginning back in 2007. To celebrate, there will be more than 40 local and interstate drink exhibitors with 250 craft beer, cider and spirits available for tasting. Throughout the day there will also be local food providers and live entertainment from a range of bands and DJs.
Attendees will also have a chance to see the launch of new brews and limited-edition releases, with an opportunity to network and chat with brewers.
This year’s lineup will feature a range of exhibitors including The Coastal Brewing Company, Good Folk Brewing, Ambrosia Distillery, Stone Dog Meadery, Jervis Bay Brewing Co, Loose Blue Mountains Liquor Co, Cypher Brewing Co, Broulee Brewhouse, Wooden Axe Brewing, Spreyton Cider and Sydney Brewery with more still yet to be announced in the new year.
Speaking to Beer & Brewer, Schwartz shared the humbling early days of the festival remarking on its first event.
“In the first year, there were 12 exhibitors and 750 guests, and it has grown at its peak to 55 exhibitors and over 4500 patrons, which saw us expand the event into a street festival, which creates a really vibrant, relaxed atmosphere.
“It didn’t have the most auspicious beginnings, because it started to rain, but we knew we were on to a winner because the Canberrans weren’t deterred, they just loved it. We threw out ponchos and they stayed and drank and really appreciated the opportunity to be able to talk directly to the brewers. We received very positive feedback, and the festival grew as strongly as the Canberra craft beer scene,” he said.
The festival is family-friendly with free entry for children under the age of 12 with face painting and other activities suitable for children available throughout the day.
The festival will also be running a raffle for those who book early, with a prize worth over $1,250 for anyone who buys a ticket before 15 February. The prize includes a two-night accommodation package for two for the weekend of the festival, a $100 festival drinks card, and a $150 voucher for dinner at BentSpoke Brewery the night before the festival. It will also include a cocktail class, two bottles of spirits from Ambrosia Distillery, two cases of beer from Sydney Brewery and a range of merchandise.
Festival packages will be on offer, which include overnight accommodation at the Mercure Canberra and entry to the festival. Tickets start from $25 for students and $35 for the general public, with early bookings available at www.canberrabeerfest.com.au.