The Eight Best Beer-Fuelled Things to Do at Brewsvegas 2017
Beer trails, backyard parties, BASEketball — Brisbane's citywide beer festival is back.
The Eight Best Beer-Fuelled Things to Do at Brewsvegas 2017
Beer trails, backyard parties, BASEketball — Brisbane's citywide beer festival is back.
Beer lovers of Brisbane, it's your time of year. Of course, there's never a bad time to sink brews in Brissie, but dedicating a ten-day stretch to more yeast and hops-focused events than you can dream of really does only happen once every 12 months.
Brewsvegas has rolled around again, taking over almost every decent bar, pub, watering hole and gathering spot in town between March 10 to 19. And, as they've done for the past three years, the festival's offering up plenty of unconventional temptations to lure you into a beer-paired escapade. Putt putt, golf, a scavenger hunt, BASEketball, NES, a cartoon drawing competition, bowls, Japanese game shows, trivia, RPGs, live painting, beerlympics and an art tour... the list goes on.
Want to get straight to the good stuff? Make our picks your picks.
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Called it. When more and more breweries started popping up in Milton, we were pretty sure that a brewery crawl was going to be in order. Trust Brewsvegas to make the idea a reality.
There’s no prizes for guessing what happens on The Milton Good Beer Trail, but there is plenty of beer. Yes indeed. Take a 1.4 kilometre stroll between The Scratch, Aether, Newstead Brewing and Brewski, snaffle a different one-off collaboration schooner at each venue, and just generally be merry. Who’s thirsty?
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Heading out to play board games while drinking beer is a fairly common prospect these days, but drinking and enjoying a round of BASEketball — well, that’s not quite so usual. If you watched Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s movie many moons ago and have always wanted to give it a try, now’s your chance.
The action all happens at Ploughman, with the Alderley joint serving up the game in question, hip hop and craft beverages for your afternoon pleasure on March 11. Bobbing for pickles is also part of the fun. No, this isn’t your same old, same old kind of event.
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Why should humans get to have all the beer-drinking, bar-attending fun? If you have a pet pooch, you’ve probably spied the look in its eyes when you head out for a beverage, or the curiosity when you’re sipping something at home. This March, booze hounds on all fronts unite for Brewsvegas.
From 2pm on March 11, Atticus Finch is throwing open their doors to drinkers of the two- and four-legged kind, with brews on offer for both. At Hair of the Dogs, you and I can enjoy a frosty Brewdog, Parrot Dog, Moon Dog and more (yes, there’s a theme), while puppers can lap up a BeerDog Bitter beef flavoured ‘beer’ (yes, it’s a non-alcoholic beer made for dogs). Cheers to that.
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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 Brewsvegas 2016, and now to step back into film territory.
Killer Sprocket & Kaiju Go to the Movies 2: A Buddy Comedy is the sequel 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 The End pops on a classic flick and lets Killer Sprocket’s brewer-slash-comedian Sean and Kaiju’s resident funny guy Nate provide their own commentary. The ticket price includes the film and two schooners, with food also available.
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How do you like waffles? Drizzled with syrup? Slathered in cream and ice cream? With fried chicken? All pretty standard answers, really, but here’s something that you probably haven’t paired with your breakfast batter. How about waffles with beer?
Everyone has their own threshold when it comes to unlikely food and drink pairings, however, if you’re a mildly adventurous eater, then A Crafty Waffle is the event for you. Cancel your dinner plans on March 16, because you’ll be matching lattice treats with different brews to create a sweet and savoury bonanza — you’ll even come up with your own combos, too.
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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 A Night at the Old Museum as the kind of home shindig you’ve always wanted to throw, but with Stone & Wood doing the work for you.
A free-entry, outdoor party, A Night at the Old Museum will have 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. Ze Pickle, King of Wings, Cone Queen and Luigi Italian will also be on hand to fill your stomach, Sonic Sherpa will help stock your record collection, and yard games, live art from DRAPL and Your Mates DJs on the decks will cap off the fun. Come 9pm, step inside for a gig by The Belligerents, with the $20 ticket price once again going to OzHarvest.
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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 four cook offs proved anything, it’s that this festival isn’t one for the timid of stomachs. That’s why they’ve ramped up the action and spread it over two days this year, first offering up a warm up of meat, a barbecue showcase and Bloody Mary masterclasses on March 18, before things heat up on March 19. That’s when competitors don’t mess around, the chilli proves off-the-scale delish and everything from the food to the drinks bites hard. Admission is $15, with eight Brissie venues battling for supremacy, plus live music and plenty of beverages. 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. If you think you can handle the heat, pack your chilli spoon and head along.
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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 third 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 YankeeBrewdle and the Aussie-as Continuous Daryl 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.
