Good Beer Week 2021 will be huge as the event celebrates its tenth anniversary, while making up for lost time.
Now presented by the Independent Brewers Association, the event was first launched back in 2011 by a group of industry volunteers but as Australian beer has matured, so has the festival and each year it finds new ways for us to celebrate.
Kicking off on May 14 the 2021 program includes the festival’s first ever non-alcoholic event from UpFlow Brewing and Henry Sugar, beer and yum cha matching at Melbourne’s iconic Flower Drum, a Daft Punk tribute party, and fresh off being named one of the world’s top 50 cinemas, the Sun Theatre celebrates by hosting a special “Story of Girl Power” screening that pairs Thelma and Louise with beer from Two Birds.
Plus, we see the return of some 2019 faves such as the Moon Dog Brewery Brawl (wrestling in a brewery), Beers for Queers party at the Fox Hotel, and a special beer event at Hop Nation that is for just dogs (but humans can go too, if they are well behaved).
IBA Head of Events Siobhan Kerin has been with Good Beer Week since day one but says she has never been more excited to launch a program.
“We have been keeping many of these events under wraps since way back in October 2019. It almost feels surreal to finally bring them out to the public,” Kerin said.
“Talking to bars, pubs, and all the other venues, there is a sense of excitement that comes with the prospect of doing events again. Despite the struggles faced by the hospitality industry in Victoria, there is so much love and passion around when it comes to developing these special experiences.”
There are also events that have been with Good Beer Week for the decade long ride: Beer vs Pig at Atticus Finch, Brewers and Chewers, Ale Stars (both at the Local Taphouse), Abbey Collaby (with Moon Dog, Matilda Bay and Mountain Goat), Hair of the Dog Breakfast at Beer DeLuxe, GABS Festival, Scavenger Hunt at the Fox Hotel, System Wars at Grain and Grape, a week of special parmas at Mrs Parma’s, and the Australian International Beer Awards.
“We are really proud to deliver Good Beer Week 2021,” said General Manager of the IBA Kylie Lethbridge.
“The fact that we had to run with a virtual event in 2020 hasn’t done anything to dampen our spirits. There has also never been a better time to celebrate being together. Reflecting on the last 12 months we’ve all realised how important it is to share special moments with family and friends, I think the program is going to deliver a fantastic range of options.
“We’re hoping that everyone gets out to support not only the venues who have done it tough but the breweries who rely on them.”
Good Beer Week will launch with a party at Beer DeLuxe on May 14, then events roll out across Melbourne and regional Victoria until May 23. For more information on all these events (and so many more) head over to goodbeerweek.com.au. Tickets go on sale Monday 29 March at 9am.
This is an edited version of a press release distributed by the Independent Brewers Association.