If you’re a lover of all things craft beer, then you’ll be spoilt for choice at The Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular (GABS). For over a decade, this festival has shared incredible craft beers from top breweries around Australia, as well as exciting brews from overseas. This year, discover 120 unique and new beers, which will be unveiled for the first time at the festival. There’s also plenty of games, food and entertainment to keep the good times going. Check it out at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton from Friday May 19 to Sunday May 21.
GABS – A Craft Beer Festival
Wander through the picturesque Royal Exhibition Building and taste your way through this frothy festival. You’ll have access to over 60 brewery bars, and the chance to meet and greet local and international brewers.
The USA’s first billion dollar independent brewery, Sierra Nevada, and Cloudwater from Manchester will make an appearance at the festival, pouring GABS exclusives and a range of their famous beers.
Sample some adventurous and intriguing new flavours, including:
- Molecular Bubble Tea IPA from The Zynthologist
- Peanut Butter Brownie Imperial Stout from Deeds Brewing
- Cherry Fruited Braggot from Coldstream Brewery
- A nitro cinnamon pastry stout by Local Brewing Co
- Bananarama Pina colada sour from Good Land Brewing Co
- Pizza beer with tomato, oregano, basil and salt from Flexi Brewing
As we’re in Melbourne, you can’t go wrong with King River Brewing’s Sticke Coffee Kölsch concoction. Try cold brewed coffee on a double strength Kölsch. For a dose of nostalgia, try a lager from Blackmans Brewing, which uses heaps of red frogs and fresh raspberries. And, if you love hot jam donuts, try the Drinkin’ Donuts Imperial Jam Donut Golden Ale by Bright Brewery.
If you’re not a beer drinker, you can still join in on the fun with wines, whiskeys, cocktails, seltzers, ciders, non-alcoholic beer and soft drink.
What else can you look forward to?
There will be all sorts of fun and entertainment to keep you busy between tastings. Party at a silent disco, test your luck at the Atomic Wheel of Pourtune, take part in the Mountain Goat Air Guitar Championships and listen to live music. Join the GABS Academy for masterclasses, food tastings and music bingo.
If you’d like to flex your tinnie hurling skills, take part in the qualifying round of Balter Tins of Glory World Champs. The highest scoring team will be flown to Balter Brewery on the Gold Coast to take part in the championships and compete for $50k in cash and prizes.
GABS will end the festival with a massive 80s party on Sunday. Come along to the festival in your best 80s gear, with prizes up for grabs for best fluro outfit, best rock outfit, best pop outfit and best of the day. There will also be live performances from an 80s tribute band, a karaoke stage, a silent disco, board games and hula hoops.
So, what are you waiting for? Gather the gang for a tremendous day out tasting some of the best beer around.
Please drink responsibly.