Sydney Beer Week returns in 2024 after a six-year break, brought back to life by two people keen to boost the presence of craft beer in the city's venues.
It runs from October 18 to 25, featuring dozens of events at venues across Sydney – many of them with free entry – and aligning with the Australian Heritage Hotel's annual festival and the Beer & Brewer Awards.
The event, which last ran in 2018, was acquired and rebooted by Peter Anstey, who many will know from Hotel Sweeney's in the Sydney CBD, and Josh Quantrill of 4 Pines. When they announced its return last year, they told The Crafty Pint their intention was to make it a venue- rather than brewery-led affair as they look to inject fresh life into the city's beer scene.
The 2024 Sydney Beer Week features a diverse lineup, from dinners, meet the brewer and sour beer events to pub pilates, beer and spirits matching, brewery battles and even a chance to design your own dessert beer with One Drop.
There's also a celebration of indie producers featuring Voyager Craft Malt, Ryefield Hops and Mogwai Labs on October 22, while the Beer & Brewer Awards will be held live for the first time on the opening Sunday, with the whole affair leading into the Australian Heritage Hotel's 2024 Beerfest from October 25 to 27.
Peter says, the aim is "to try and bring everything in Sydney back into line instead of it feeling like everyone’s trying to achieve the same great thing but in their own way: the Aussie festival, the homebrewers, the commercial brewers, and the venues."
At a time when most other beer weeks around the country are on hiatus or have ceased to operate, we wish them the best of luck on their mission!
CHECK OUT THE 2024 SYDNEY BEER WEEK PROGRAM
