The spectacular, spectapular, bottomless banquet of beer that is the GABS Festival makes a welcome return across Australia in 2022, setting up camp in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne over four weeks throughout May. 

Just like in the before times, a trip to GABS will treat you to more beer-related fun than you could hope to cover in a weekend. 

Choose from close to 120 unique festival beers (see the Crafty team's selection from containers bars 5 & 6 below), stalls from 70+ of the finest local brewers, a world of food, circus entertainers, panel discussions with brewers, food pairing demonstrations, beer hall games, silent disco, the ever-popular roving band and all the other favourites that have made GABS an institution.

GABS Melbourne runs across five sessions:

May 27

• Session 1: 11.30am to 4.30pm
• Session 2: 6pm to 11pm

May 28

• Session 3: 11.30am to 4.30pm
• Session 4: 6.30pm to 11.30pm

May 29 (Silly Hat Sunday)

• Session 5: 11.30am to 4.30pm

CHECK OUT THE 2022 FESTIVAL BEER LINEUP

GABS Melbourne – May 27 to 29

There are several ticket options for the three day Melbourne leg of the festival, ranging from $33 per person for group discounts up to $199 for a perk-filled GABS Royalty VIP ticket. 

Here's a taste of what's included with every standard ticket:

• Souvenir GABS Festival Glass
• GABS Official Guide featuring all Festival Beer & Cider tasting notes 
• Free entry to the GABS Craft Academy sessions
• Entry to the Silent Disco 
• Roaming entertainment including circus and sideshow acts, the Ale Capones, games and competitions
• Exclusive access to over 110 festival beers and ciders, plus hundreds more beers and ciders from leading producers from Australia and New Zealand

The GABS Royalty VIP Tickets include everything mentioned above, plus:

• $50 GABS festival cash card
• Exclusive Access to Mr Yum VIP Village
• Exclusive GABS Royalty t-shirt
• Complimentary meal with table service
• Guaranteed seating
• Six-pack of Stomping Ground beer (posted pre event)

For all the finer details, including session times, group discounts, volunteer information and more, just hit the link below. 

Buy tickets

The Crafty Team Takes On Container Bars 5 & 6

In our article previewing this year's festivals, we attempted to navigate the festival beers from 1 to 117. Here's our collective pick from bars 5 & 6.

84. Garage Project – Meg's Mecha Hop Mosaic
One of the best breweries in the world back at GABS stuffing as much Mosaic into a big IPA... what's not to like?

89. Molly Rose – Tea of Coffee?
Along with the GP beer above, the only beer to get a vote from all of us. We're not sure why you'd mix tea and coffee together, or why you'd then put them in a lager... but we do like all of these things, so bring it on.

90. One Drop – Neka Neka
Much of the Botany Bay brewery's output is like a never-ending GABS, so it would be rude not to see what they put forward for the real deal.

94. Catchment Brewing – Ra Ra Raspoutine
A standout pun, for one, it also contains chips, whey and gravy granules so has the potential to be utterly rancid, while also putting Scott's theory that "any poutine is a good poutine" to the test.

98. Aunty Jacks – Juicy In The Sky With Diamonds
We are trying to put one relatively normal beer into each container selection, and Aunty Jacks' hazy fits the bill here. I've also spent much of the year gnawing the ears off anyone not quick enough to escape about Peter Jackson's Get Back. PSA: If you're not into The Beatles and spot me at Pint of Origin or GABS, hide.

100. Blackflag – Pixie Juice
"Will… will it pop in my mouth?" asks Mick. "Should I be scared? Because I am, a little."

104. Coastal Brewing – Rum Barrel-Aged Big Nellie Barley
The only barleywine in the lineup. With added rum. Done.

107. Five Barrel – Farmhouse Ale
A very first chance to taste a beer made with a yeast strain from new supplier Mogwai – a wild-harvested one to boot. Have a listen to (the other) Mogwai's new single while you're at it (longer version here if you can live without the cool visuals).

112. Reckless & Sausage Queen – Double Bloody Maria Gose
Start the recovery session early, why don't ya?

117. Willie the Boatman – Gummi Venus
From the team that brought you lamb souvlaki beer in 2021, and with gummy bears all the rage right now, the Tempe loons serve up a welcome Simpsons reference with which we'll sign off for 2022.