In just over three weeks time, one of Sydney’s iconic hotels will host its annual beer festival. And, while beer festivals seem to be ten a penny these days, this is one that – like the hotel that’s hosting it – predates pretty much all of them.
The Australian Hotel has been running its annual bash since 2004, with the event growing in size, scope, audience and appeal ever since. When it returns for its ninth run out from October 16 to 18 next month, it will be bigger still, spilling into a Friday evening in addition to the Saturday and Sunday sessions and expecting crowds totalling well over 10,000 over the three days.
“There’s an additional five stalls compared to last year,” says the Australian’s general manager Luke Davies. “We are trying to support the little guy and get awareness out there about these more crafty producers.”
What that means is a lineup that mixes established craft names such as Mountain Goat, Stone & Wood, 4 Pines, Little Creatures, McLaren Vale and Moo Brew with up-and-comers like Two Birds, Illawarra Brewing Company and Riverside Brewery. There is also representation for a number of brewing companies, including Balmain, Longboard and Endeavour, as well as a smattering of bigger brewers, such as Cascade, Matilda Bay and Malt Shovel.
Attendees will also be able to meet the winners of the hotel’s recent Home Brew Championship. A dozen home brewers entered, many of them multiple times, with the winning beers a dark lager and an IPA.
Aside from the beer, there will be live entertainment on stage from local Sydney acts, plus Meet the Brewer sessions and Blind Tastings. The Crafty Pint is hosting the last of these, for which we’re lining up some Pint of Origin-style face-offs that will pit NSW against interstate brewers over a number of beer styles, and we may well get involved in the brewer Q&A’s too. Elsewhere, look out for “Ocker Aussie” style games in one of the closed off streets.
“The festival started quite small,” says Luke. “I’ve now done four and it’s been getting bigger and bigger. It’s not just craft beer people coming either, it’s become an iconic Sydney event.
“It’s a unique pub, whether you like beer or not, so we get people who might only come here a couple of times a year but come to the Beer Fest. People are willing to experiment and try new things.” Something he says is increasingly reflected in the venue’s beer list.
The food offering is changing at this year’s Fest too. Whereas in the past, attendees were served up BBQ, this year there will be stalls showcasing signature dishes from each of the hotel group’s other venues, including the Glenmore’s Rooftop Hotdog, freshly shucked oysters from the Seabreeze Beach Hotel and the Australian’s most popular pizzas.
For those who can’t wait three weeks, the Australian is dedicating five of its taps to showcasing all of its stallholders in the lead up to the festival, with “a leaderboard tracking which sells out the quickest”.
The weekend of the festival is also the opening weekend of Sydney Craft Beer Week and heralds the busiest beer festival season Australia has seen, with large events all over the country.
“The interest in craft beer [at the Australian] stems from these events so it’s great for the industry to see other events popping up,” says Luke.
“This is the original. So to see it in its strongest year ever, despite these other events popping up, is great. It’s great that we are still going strong and getting more breweries every year.”
You can purchase tickets in advance here.
