GABS Auckland 2019
From mini golf to silent disco and snail lager — this isn't your average beer festival.
Overview
Whether you're a craft beer fanatic or can't tell the difference between a lager and stout, the Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular (GABS) will have something for your palate this June. The annual beer and cider festival is a breeding ground for interesting new brews. The event was built around the idea of inviting the best breweries to create new beers, and since its inception in Melbourne in 2011, GABS has seen brewers experiment with everything from marshmallows to cold brew coffee, Skittles, snails and crickets in their creations.
This year is set to be no different with more than 90 unique beers and ciders being brewed especially for the event, and 300 concoctions from across New Zealand and Australia up for the tasting. After appearances in Melbourne and Sydney the event will touch down in Auckland at ASB Showgrounds on 29 June. Organisers are expecting over 35,000 beer lovers through the door.
Not only about beer; Fremantle brewery Little Creatures is teaming up with Funlab (the creators of Holey Moley) to present a house of fun complete with arcade games, mini golf and hay bale bowling. There will also be a themed silent disco and a massive piñata to burn off the hops. At the Ariston Food & Drink Experience, attendees will enjoy food, beer and cider pairings, while the GABS Craft College panel discussions and masterclasses will offer beer enthusiasts an opportunity to hear from top brewers.
Stay tuned for the full brewery lineup.