Seven Hop-Filled Events to Head to at Sydney Beer Week 2018
Ten days of beer-laden degustations, boozy yoga and a roaming sour ale festival.
Seven Hop-Filled Events to Head to at Sydney Beer Week 2018
Ten days of beer-laden degustations, boozy yoga and a roaming sour ale festival.
Sydney Beer Week is back. If you're finding it hard to choose between the many beer-themed activities and events to attend, check out our top picks for this year's festival of froth, featuring tap takeovers, amazing food and even a little bit of exercise (don't worry there's always a beer at the end). From hop heads to sour freaks, there's something for everyone happening across Sydney's best breweries, bars and restaurants from October 26 through November 4.
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As beer and food geeks we can’t imagine a much more exciting pairing than Restaurant Hubert and Garage Project. And they’re teaming up for one beer-themed French-Mexican feast this Sydney Beer Week. With the boundary pushing brewers from across the ditch confirming two, of four, new brews already — the 2018 release of La Calavera Catrina, a watermelon, habanero and maize lager, as well Day of the Dead, a chipotle chilli black lager — things are already looking pretty promising. Add a French-Mexican feast by Hubert chefs Dan Pepperell and James McDonald and live music from mariachi/flamenco/rock/metal band Kallida all taking place in Hubert’s underground Theatre Royale, and it’s a celebration you won’t want to miss. The $130 ticket includes canapes, a buffet dinner and four matching beers for Garage Project.
Image: Daniel Boud.
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There’s no denying it, sour beers are super hot right now. And with the weather heating up, there are few things more refreshing than a crisp, tart sour or wild ale. So hop on the bandwagon and get wild with Batch Brewing Company for the first ever annual Sourfest. Famed for its 90s hip-hop inspired series of fruit-infused sour beers, Batch will be kicking things off with a full tap lineup of its sour range. Joining the boys from Batch are breweries such as Yulli’s, Bucket Boys, Sauce Brewing Co., and Wayward. If this line up seems a little further apart than the traditional inner west brewery crawl, fear not. There will be a hop on/hop off bus to drop you at each venue to make sure you don’t miss out on any of these delicious brews.
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It’s a nightmare on Hunter Street with Halloween at Frankie’s. First thing’s first (and surely this goes without saying): no costume, no entry. Everyone’s favourite late-night dive bar is teaming up with New Zealand-based brewery Garage Project as part of Sydney Beer Week to put on a scarily good time with their un-boo-lievable brews.
All taps at Frankie’s will be pouring Garage Project goodies the likes of Block Party 9 (single-origin hopped IPA), Hatsukoi (neo-Tokyo lager) and West Coast Ultra (an ultra dry IPA), as well as some new, never-tasted-before beers.
As expected, the rock ‘n’ roll haven will be showcasing some of Sydney’s best banger-heavy bands from 8:30pm, with all eyes on the headlining act, riot pop girl group RACKETT. Bow down, witches.
All drinks are $3 from 4-6pm and there are some fab prizes up for grabs for the “Worst Dressed” including credit on the Garage Project online store, VIP access to Sydney’s Cheers Beer Festival the following weekend and a $50 booze/$50 pizza voucher at Frankie’s itself. Yes, it might be mid-week, but go on. Trick or treat yo’ self.
Image: Katje Ford
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While craft beer is often thought of as a relatively informal beverage, best paired with a burger or pizza, Frenchies Bistro and Brewery is mixing things up this November. This Sydney Beer Week, you’ll be able to enjoy a multi-course dinner matched with tasty brews at the Rosebery brewery. With a lineup of four Frenchies brews, each paired with a dish created by the bistro team at its space in The Cannery, you won’t just a great meal, but will learn the history of the beer, the origins of its style and a bit of info about how it’s made. This experience aims to prove that beer and food matching can be every bit as complex as a wine degustation, and, arguably, more fun. While the menu has not been released just yet, it will be largely influenced by season and market availability. A ticket will set you back $85 for four courses with matching beers.
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There’s no denying it — craft beer and food trucks are a match made in heaven. And this festival, which should be at the top of your Sydney Beer Week to-do list, is bringing them them together for a day of great brews and tasty nosh. Located in Marrickville’s Precinct 75, the Inner West Brewery Association is made up of Batch, Young Henrys, Grifter and Willie The Boatman, alongside relative newcomers Philter, Sauce and Yulli’s Brews. They’ll all be slinging tasty beers at the event, alongside hearty food truck fare and live performances from The Pragmatics and DJ Gonzo. To snack on, you’ll find a whole range of eats from Fired Up BBQ, Inbocca, Yulli’s and Ciccone & Sons gelato, among many more. It’s free entry, too, and a great way to line your stomach while wetting your whistle with some of Sydney’s finest.
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There’s no denying that Sydney Beer Week will be a boozy, debaucherous ten days for many, so why not start things off right with a little inner peace and mindfulness? Four Points by Sheraton Sydney is offering a very on-trend relaxation experience with its yoga and bottomless beer brunch on the Chippendale Green to ease you into the week. Starting at 10am, the one-hour vinyasa class will take place on the greens of Central Park, and participants get a free mat, towel and drink bottle, too. This invigorating hour-long morning session will help you work up one hell of a thirst, which will be quenched by bottomless local brews from the recently opened Malt Bar. You’ll enjoy these up in the hotel’s terrace with brunch from Central Quarter restaurant. This will all set you back $70, but if you’d like to just eat and drink (and not downward dog) you can buy a ticket to the two-hour bottomless brunch for $59.
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One of Sydney’s longest standing players in the craft beer game, Harts Pub is set to hold the ultimate event of Sydney Beer Week — the Beer Olympics. While the full details remained shrouded in mystery, much like the vapours surrounding the Delphic shrine of Ancient Greece, we hear that there will be six events along the lines of foosball, darts, and Mario Kart. Accompanying refreshments — to help refuel the thirsty athletes — will be available from Little Alchemist, Holgate, 2 Birds, Kereru, Gage Roads and Rocks Brewing, with each supplying a new, seasonal or limited release beer. Tickets include three schooner vouchers and a chance to compete in all games. Merch giveaways, on-the-spot prizes and a glorious victory for the ultimate Beer Olympics Champion are on the cards. So get your game faces (and costumes) on for a great day of games, beers and good times all round.
Top image: Frenchies