The lineup for this year’s Good Beer Week in Melbourne is taking shape, with the 2012 festival set to be considerably bigger and – we hope – even better than last year’s triumphant debut. Event submissions closed on Australia Day, with around 80 registered across Melbourne and Victoria by breweries, beer bars, bottleshops, fine dining restaurants, cocktail bars, tour operators and more. They encompass everything from sorbets and chocolate to artwork and spit roasts, with a host of interstate and international breweries in attendance, plus the odd celebrity chef and, according to the festival’s events manager Kate Paterson, “even something to keep Star Wars fans happy”.
The Good Beer Week team is now compiling these proposed events into a program to run from May 12 to 19. The full program will be launched in print and online mid-March, giving punters two months to pick their favourite events and get prepared.
“There are some really creative and inspired ideas among the events that have been registered for this year’s festival,” says Kate. “It’s really exciting to see how the beer community is embracing the spirit of what Good Beer Week is all about – spreading the word about quality beer to a wider audience. There are events across the whole spectrum, from those that will appeal to beer nerds or hardcore foodies to those designed for anyone who simply enjoys a good beer. It’s great to see so many events registered too – up 60 per cent from 2011 – and to see so many new venues jumping on board.”
Despite being thrown together in just a few weeks last year, the 2011 Good Beer Week, which took place either side of the Australian International Beer Awards, was a roaring success, one of many moments in recent times that has reaffirmed the strength of the craft beer community. With longer to prepare this time around – and the addition of the monumental Great Australasian Beer Spectapular that’s set to take over the Royal Exhibition Building on the first weekend – it is set to be quite possibly the biggest celebration of good beer that Australia has seen. Not only are we aware of interstate and international brewers coming to Melbourne for the week, there are beer lovers flying in from overseas to join the festivities too.
“Right now, the small Good Beer Week team is working through the submissions,” says Kate. “We hope to have the program finalised by next Friday, at which point we’ll be informing participants which events have made it onto the 2012 program. Now we have a solid framework regarding events in place we are also seeking sponsors to get on board with the good beer community and assist us in making this the event we know it can be. The team is currently putting in huge amounts of time and effort on a voluntary basis and is now looking for support in promoting this amazing program.
“In the meantime, look out in March for some short films showing a fun, behind the scenes insight into Good Beer Week. Less than 16 weeks to go!”
Good Beer Week is on the look out for a sponsorship manager to join the team on a part time basis between now and the festival. If you’re interested and want to find out more, email marketing@goodbeerweek.com. Alternatively, if you’re interested in sponsoring Good Beer Week or placing advertising in the program, please also email marketing@goodbeerweek.com.
NB: The founder of The Crafty Pint is part of the Good Beer Week team.
