The Ten Best Beer-Fuelled Things to Do at Brewsvegas 2018
Doggo drinking sessions, craft brew markets, chilli cook-offs — Brisbane's citywide beer festival is back.
The Ten Best Beer-Fuelled Things to Do at Brewsvegas 2018
Doggo drinking sessions, craft brew markets, chilli cook-offs — Brisbane's citywide beer festival is back.
It has been five years since a few beer-loving Brisbane folks decided to turn their passion into a city-wide party, and we'll keep saying cheers to that. When Brewsvegas rolls out its kegs each March, this booze-loving town fills every bar, pub and watering hole with yeasty goodness — in 2018, from March 10 to 18.
Whatever type of beer you like, whatever you'd like to pair it with, and whatever you'd like to be doing while you drink it, it's highly likely you'll find it here. It's the fest that starts with a pool party, includes multiple pupper-friendly events, embraces everything from zombies to monsters, gets active with golf and handball, and can't resist a dinner, celebration or other reason to down a few cold ones, after all.
In total, more than 70 events will take place at 50 locations, which means Brisbanites are in for a massive festival. From the huge lineup, here's our ten picks — let's call it our Brewsvegas ten-pack.
Top image: Archer's Bunker.
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10
Whatever your pet pupper has planned for this Saturday, you’d best cancel it — your furry BFF is coming with you to the pub. Excuses to take the doggo out for a few drinks aren’t lacking across Brisbane (The Brightside even has their own weekly shindig), but Archer’s Brewsvegas event comes with a few inclusions that’ll get your four-legged buddy yapping: a 100 percent dog-friendly beer and dog ice cream, too.
Sounds like a Dog Day Afternoon, doesn’t it? That’s the plan from 1pm on March 10. And, because a pooch-and-pint party is even better when it’s in an ace location, you’ll have to wander through a bottle-o fridge to get there.
As well as the aforementioned Archer Brewing 100% Dog Friendly Woof Ale and Hugo’s Dog Ice Creamery’s frosty treats, there’ll also be a brand new dark beer — Archer’s first, complete with a secret ingredient — for humans, pimp-your-own hot dogs, live music and heaps of stalls selling goodies for pups. And, while entry is free, proceeds from the pooch-friendly tipple will go to the dog rescue charity Herd2Homes.
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9
Fancy a beer with Bill Murray? If Lost in Translation has taught us anything, it’s that you can do just that if you hang around the Park Hyatt Tokyo (which we recommend visiting anyway, if you ever get the chance). Or, later in the year when he comes to Brisbane, you can try to pull off the local equivalent.
A third option: Brewsvegas‘ Beers with Bill, which will just involve a short road trip to Limelight Cinemas in North Ipswich on March 14. Groundhog Day will play on the big screen, All Inn Brewing will provide three tasty craft brews, and you’ll also get a selection of food — all included in the ticket price.
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8
If a trip to the markets is part of your regular Sunday routine, then this Brewsvegas event is for you — and, yes, Brew Craft comes with beverages. From 1pm on March 11, Collective Kitchen & Bar is throwing open its courtyard to a host of craft brew stalls. Beer markets really are the best kind of markets, after all.
When you’re not browsing through a range of Australia’s finest brewers — including some top local talent — you can also grab a few bites, peruse the arts and crafts offerings, and listen to live tunes. Entry is free, but bring your wallet for whatever you want to eat, drink and take home with you.
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7
Don’t listen to the naysayers — beer goes with just about everything. Sometimes, however, you need a little expert help to get the right combo. Take the tricky pairing of yeasty beverages and caffeinated brews, for example. When it’s good, it’s very, very good. And when it isn’t, you know it.
Enter Brewsvegas‘ Hops & Dops, an event that’s all about getting the right blend of beer and coffee. Running from 11am until 7pm on March 13 at Bean on George Street, it’ll feature Aether Brewing and Bellissimo Coffee working their way through various duos — including a rather different version of a boilermaker. And, given the timing and location, it’s also the perfect thing to do in your lunch break (or if you need an afternoon pick-me-up).
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6
If you’ve never hallucinated a coyote, or simply really really like hot chilli, then get to Kettle and Tin for their annual Chilli Cook Off. If Kettle and Tin’s last five cook-offs proved anything, it’s that this festival isn’t one for the timid of stomachs.
Things will really heat up on March 18, when some of Brisbane’s best chefs compete to win the event’s coveted trophy. The competitors don’t mess around, the chilli proves off-the-scale delish and everything from the food to the drinks bites hard. Admission is $20, and includes live music, one free beer and all the chilli you can eat. Our tip: if you’re not a fan of spice, BYO milk.
The Chilli Cook Off begins at 10am and is expected to run long into the evening, with a zombie dress-up comp, plenty of craft brews and a Bloody Mary bar all part of the fun. If you think you can handle the heat, pack your chilli spoon and head along.
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5
Fancy building a cardboard city, then pretending you’re Godzilla and knocking it down? You mightn’t have realised it until you read this, but of course you do. Netherworld understands. The appropriately named Kaiju Beer understands. And so does Moon Dog Brewing, the third partner in making this dream come true.
They’re teaming up for Rampage!, the Brewsvegas shindig that involves filling the Valley bar with towering creations — whether you make them on the day or bring your own from home — then drinking some special Banana Pale Ale, and crossing your fingers that you win the chance to tear it all down. The game that gives the event its name, Rampage, will also be onsite for you to play. Sure, there’s a movie version starring The Rock coming out just next month, but doesn’t this sound like more fun?
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4
There ain’t no party like a backyard party — and, when the backyard in question is attached to an iconic Brisbane venue, things get a little more epic. Think of Stone & Wood at the Old Museum as the kind of home shindig you’ve always wanted to throw, but with the brewery doing the work for you. And, there’s two parts.
At the outdoor party, which costs a gold coin donation to enter, there’ll be beers and more beers on offer, including a special Brewsvegas tipple. S&W will be donating all the proceeds to OzHarvest, so consider having a brew a good deed. A heap of food trucks such as King of Wings and Moo-Free Burgers will also be on hand to fill your stomach, plus there’ll be markets to browse, live art and Your Mates DJs on the decks. Then, come 8.30pm, step inside for a gig by Bootleg Rascals, with the $15 ticket price once again going to OzHarvest.
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3
Enjoying a few brews shouldn’t cost the earth — not just in terms of price, but in environmental impact. So when Helios Brewing Company opened up on Yerongpilly, they ensured minimising waste, maximising efficiency and reducing their ecological footprint was part of their setup. And when it came to participating in a Brewsvegas dinner, they did the same.
Taking place from 6.30pm on March 13, Australia’s Most Sustainable Beer Dinner will pair four Helios brews with an environmentally sustainable menu, as whipped up by The Embassy’s hatted head chef Rob Campbell. On offer: Tasmanian salmon, Sunshine Coast duck, scotch ale, chocolate stout and more, plus zero feelings of environmental guilt.
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2
If you’re planning on spending a Saturday with a beer in your hand, then one Fortitude Valley establishment has you covered. Admittedly, serving up pints is what Bloodhound Bar does every day of the week; however in honour of Brewsvegas, they’re bringing back their beloved beer fest, adding it to the city-wide celebration, and making an extra special occasion of it.
At the fourth Hopfields, they’re also making an occasion out of showcasing hops, without which we wouldn’t have the brews we know and love. With that in mind, expect all the tasty ales from around the world that you could dream of — and plenty you’ve likely never heard of, too — including limited releases, launches of new beers and one-offs brewed especially for the event, plus a slew of classics.
Check out the drinks list and start salivating. With names like Sparkle Muffin, Alligator Tugboat, Unicorn Tears and ‘Morning Blend’ Coffee Milkshake IPA on the menu, you’re going to want to try them all. Save some room for the cocktails though, with the humble hop flower given its moment to shine in all its forms.
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1
They’re back. Killer Sprocket and Kaiju just keep teaming up — first to make the malty science experiment that was KaKS Cotmari, then to hold a monster movie night at the last two Brewsvegas fests, and now to do the latter all over again.
Kaiju Monster Movie Madness is the threequel this year’s Brewsvegas had to have, aka a movie night where you don’t just watch. Knocking back a beverage by both companies is a must here as you settle in for their film of choice. So too is listening in as Saccharomyces Beer Cafe pops on a classic flick and the Killer and Kaiju crews provide their own commentary. Added bonus: there’ll also be free popcorn.
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