It's not just about the beer at Good Beer Week. OK, it's mostly about the beer. In fact, it's very heavily beer orientated. One might say it's about as beery a week as one could ever conjure. To be honest, it's [OK, we get the message. Move on, please – Ed.]
For those who enjoy other tipples there's an array of alternatives on the lineup, often appearing in some form of combat with beer. There's whisky, tequila, wine, cider, rum and more wine – even an event at which the mixologists at The Everleigh have been tasked with recreating classic beers using no beer whatsoever.
A number of the not-beer-featuring events are among those to have sold out already, but if you fancy whetting your whistle with something other than beer (or accompanying your beer with something harder or fruitier), then here's a Crafty Six that should see you right.
Click on the event titles to view their full listing on the festival website.
Feral Beer Cocktail Degustation
Eau-de-Vie – May 20
$155pp
One of the country's very best breweries hooks up with one of Melbourne's most refined laneway hideaways for the most intimate of dinners. Just a handful of seats available for this five-course degustation based around Feral beer cocktails created especially for Good Beer Week.
Opposites Attract, Never Mix Your Drinks!
Left Bank – May 21
$49pp
Southbank's Left Bank joins forces with Melbourne brewing company Quiet Deeds for a laid-back evening of mixology demonstrations, live music and beer-inspired (but not beer battered) canapés.
The Mad Monk Boilermaker Extravaganza
Atticus Finch – May 19
$80pp
Whisky-loving brewer Craig Eulenstein, from Freo's The Monk, joins the knowledgeable booze hounds at Atticus Finch for a night based around his favourite things in life. Six whiskies and six beers will form six perfect boilermakers – each paired with six Atticus snacks.
Mates From Way Back: Tequila & Beer
The Kodiak Club – May 16
$70pp
Join the gurus at Fitzroy's Kodiak Club as they invite Tequila Tromba and North Coast beer into the house to show just how well different offerings from their respective collections can work together. NB The Kodiak Club is hosting an American Beer & Whisky event on May 23 too.
The WA Beer vs Cider Battle Lunch
Loop Roof – May 17
$105pp
Three big hitters from WA are taking over Loop Roof for an epic Sunday lunch battle. Multiple award-winning chef Matt Stone prepares the dishes as multiple award-winning brewery Feral supplies the beers that go to battle with ciders from fast-rising, wild fermenting cider producers Custard & Co.
Eel River Cocktail Takeover
Thomas Olive (at Saint Crispin) – All week
Free entry
As well as hosting a spectacular degustation featuring AIBA champs 3 Ravens and Mash Brewing at Saint Crispin, they've something special lined up for their "elusive" cocktail bar Thomas Olive. All week, special beer cocktails will be served featuring Eel River (USA) beers with chef Joe Grbac lining up some treats to taste with them.
You can check out our other themed previews here. In the meantime, you can check out the five event streams below and all regional events here:
You can see where The Crafty Pint will be appearing (as well as see what's sold out) in our Event Diary listing here. We'll also be doing everything we can to ensure you know about all the pop-ups and meet the brewers taking place at the Pint of Origin venues too.
