After flirting in past years with the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, craft beer made its first appearance on the official Masterclass lineup this year. In the wake of the event, we were told that the festival intended to have a greater beer presence in future years (which got Crafty thinking…). And, as the lineup for the Roast Collection – one of the Festival’s other high profile programs – is revealed, it seems they’re being true to their word.
Four of the roast-inspired events taking place throughout June feature Victorian craft breweries: Mountain Goat, Tooborac Hotel & Brewery, Bridge Road and Otway Estate are all on the lineup, which features more than 70 events across Victoria.
“Beer seems to come up quite naturally as a good pairing with roasts,” says Penny France from the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival. “We are seeing more craft breweries getting involved and we hope that will come through in the submissions for next year’s festival. We’ve been receiving more interest from the beer industry and it’s something that needs to be reflected in having more beer events.”
The four breweries' involvement in the Roast Collection is:
2goats, Bouzouki & Beer Dinner
With the cold winter months upon us, the Greek Deli Taverna in partnership with Mountain Goat invite you to a traditional Greek Roast Dinner. Be welcomed by the warm open fire and enjoy authentic roast goat, known as âKitsiki’, from West Gippsland, boutique beer from Mountain Goat and the sound of the Bouzouki, the Greek guitar. Meet the culinary firebrands Jim and Nick Pothito and Mountain Goaters Dave and Nat.
When: 21 & 22 June, 7:00PM – 10:00PM
Where: Greek Deli & Taverna, 583 Chapel Street, South Yarra
Cost: $75
Bookings: 03 9827 3734
Woodfire Oven Weekend
Join us at Otway Estate for a wood fire oven experience with local produce to match our estate wines and Prickly Moses hand-crafted beers. Over the weekend our chefs will put on a feast of roasted treats including braised and roasted pig’s head, free-range chicken and roasted goat with root vegetables. Sunday is a great day for the whole family with wood fire oven pizzas and the Billy Tea Bush band playing traditional Aussie bush music.
When: 11 – 13 June, 11:00AM – 4:00PM
Where: Otway Estate, 10-30 Hoveys Road, Barongarook
Cost: Free entry. Prices from $12
Bookings: 03 5233 8400
Dark & Stormy @ Cellar & Store
Join Cellar & Store and McIvor Farm Foods for the perfect winter’s evening with free-range roast pork, dark ale and porter. Tooborac Hotel and Brewery’s Chris Haren will be behind the bar pouring his beers plus a selection of dark ales and porters from our favourite Victorian specialist-breweries. Some fine examples of hearty Heathcote shiraz will also be available. McIvor Farm Foods of Tooborac will provide warm roast pork on crusty sourdough rolls.
When: 11 June, 6:00PM – 9:00PM
Where: Cellar & Store, 105 High Street, Heathcote
Cost: $5 cover charge, roast pork rolls, ales and porters charged on consumption
Bookings: 03 5433 2204
Winter Roast Pizza Series
Want to enjoy your favourite winter roast meats a little different this year? How about having your roast dinner presented to you on a pizza? Visit Bridge Road Brewers in Beechworth for your roast dinner pizza and a pint or two of their award-winning beer.
When: 1 June – 31 July, 11:00AM – 3:00PM
Where: Bridge Road Brewers, 50 Ford Street, Beechworth
Cost: Free entry, food and beverage charged upon consumption
Bookings: 03 5728 2703
