A few months ago, the owners of Paddy's Hotel in Albury unveiled a new look for part of their hotel in the heart of the city.
It was a look in keeping with their two venues in Melbourne, the Beer DeLuxes found in Fed Square.
For now, located as it is in a city with little in the way of a craft beer culture, the beer offering is nowhere near as broad or diverse as that found in the city bars; there's a little microbrewery colour on the taps, with more found in the fridges. But that's set to change over the coming weeks and months.
Initially, as part of their plan to develop the Albury venue into the city's craft beer hub, they're holding the first of what they hope will become an annual Beer Fest.
The day will be a showcase of local and interstate beers, with 11 of Australia's breweries descending on 491 Kiewa Street. They include:
- Bridge Road
- Bright Brewery
- Cheeky Peak
- Matilda Bay
- Little Creatures
- Stone & Wood
- 4 Pines
- Mornington Peninsula Brewery
- Australian Brewery Co
- Tooborac Brewery
- Grand Ridge
There will be tastings from all breweries, street food, live music and entertainment.
Entry is free and the festival is open to all ages, with families encouraged to bring the kids along to have their face painted and enjoy a bounce on the jumping castle.
Beer DeLuxe Marketing Manager and Craft Beer Fest spokesperson, Matt O'Kane, says locals have been asking for an event of this calibre for some time.
“We have noticed a huge increase in support for local and interstate craft beers of late and we feel an event like this is the perfect way to celebrate the unique beers that these breweries are creating," he says.
“The popularity of craft beer is really coming into its own and there is so much choice and diversity in the market these days. People are becoming increasingly savvy about what makes an excellent brew and we are keen to take a leading role in educating locals about the various beer styles that are available."
The event is preceded on Saturday night with an “In Our Backyard" beer degustation dinner featuring Cheeky Peak, Bright Brewery and Bridge Road showcasing two of their brews alongside perfectly paired dishes from Group ExecutIve Chef Jake Furst.
Tickets to the dinner are $75 per head and the intention is to follow up with a series of beer dinners throughout the year.
Then, on the morning of the festival, there will be a “Hair Of The Dog" breakfast, which will give beer lovers a chance to meet the brewers and enjoy a bacon and egg roll plus sausage sizzle from 10am.
