The Six Best Beer-Fuelled Things to Do at Brewsvegas 2019
Doggo pool parties, vegan feasts, chilli cook-offs — Brisbane's citywide beer festival is back.
The Six Best Beer-Fuelled Things to Do at Brewsvegas 2019
Doggo pool parties, vegan feasts, chilli cook-offs — Brisbane's citywide beer festival is back.
Once, Brisbane was just the home of XXXX. Now, this beer-loving town has a brewery on every corner, or so it seems. It's no wonder, then, that Brewsvegas sprung up to celebrate the city's plethora of places for a yeasty pint — and it's back in 2019 for its sixth massive year.
From Friday, March 15 through until Sunday, March 24, you'd best prepare to quench your hard earnest thirst with an ice cold brew. Plenty of beverages will be sunk across the ten-day period; however there's more to Brewsvegas than just knocking back beer. Fancy pairing your boozing with doughnuts? A scavenger hunt? A riverside food truck party? A parkside meet-up for doggos and their drink-sipping owners? Several other pooch-friendly events? That's all on the agenda.
The list goes on, so prepare to say 'cheers' a whole heap. From the huge lineup, here's our six top picks — let's call it our Brewsvegas six-pack.
Top image: Catchment Brewing Co.
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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, and to keep it coming back year after year.
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, Brewski and Mongrel, snaffle a different Brewsvegas schooner at each venue, and just generally be merry. Who’s thirsty?
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Combine a stint of watery pupper-spotting with a few brews, and a mighty fine Sunday afternoon is in order at Slipstream Brewing Co. As part of Brewsvegas, the Yeerongpilly venue is hosting the Pale Tails Doggo Pool Party — so either bring your four-legged friend along for a splashing good time, or come along, sink a few beers and enjoy seeing a brewery go to the dogs.
As well as plenty of pools waiting for plenty of pooches, there’ll be dog portraits, dog treats and doggo-centric competitions as well. And the beer of the moment is The Good Beer Co’s Pale Tail pale ale, as brewed by Slipstream and created in collaboration with the RSPCA, the latter of whom will receive 10 percent of every sale.
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Brewsvegas is a time for drinking, eating and being merry. But if you don’t partake in animal products, you might be apprehensive about joining the fun. Boozy meals, especially those focused around beers, often feature plenty of meat — which is what makes Eat No Evil stand out.
The other big drawcard is that you won’t simply be sitting in one spot and tucking into vegan dishes with matched brews. Instead, each of your four courses (and their accompanying drinks) will take you to a different venue. Start with canapes at Bosc, then head to Catchment Brewing Co for your entree, before moseying on over your Brisbane Brewing Co for mains. As for dessert, it’ll take you to Archive Beer Boutique.
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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, it’s bringing back their beloved beer fest, adding it to the city-wide celebration, and making an extra special occasion of it.
At the fifth 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. Over 20 breweries will be invited to take part, so start salivating.
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If a trip to the markets is part of your regular Sunday routine, then this Brewsvegas event is for you — and, yes, the Sunday Brewer’s Market comes with beverages. From 12pm on March 24, Ploughman Bar in Alderley is opening its doors to local craft brewers. Beer markets really are the best kind of markets, after all.
When you’re not browsing through a range of both home brewers and commercial breweries — including some top homegrown 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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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 six cook-offs proved anything, it’s that this festival isn’t one for the timid of stomachs. Things will really heat up on Sunday, March 24, 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 $25, 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.
