By S Haslam
More than 20 breweries will be in Byron for a really big day for craft beer and cider ‘enthusiasts’ this Saturday 5 May, as the very first Byron Craft Beer and Cider Festival takes place on the rolling lawns out the back of the Sun Bistro.
More than 80 different craft beers and ciders will be available, along with the sort of food and entertainment that goes with beer, well more precisely (for any oldies expecting pies and Sky Racing) the sort of classy food trucks (gourmet popcorn, vegetarian and smokehouse barbecue) and upmarket family-friendly entertainment that complements the modern craft beer and cider demographic.
Not every craft beer enthusiast is a hipster, but if you to happen to have the right stuff (ie a beard) then Bronson barber of Brunswick Heads will be bringing his chair and trimming beards at the festival, and might help shape yours into a winner of the inaugural Beard of Byron competition. Yes, there will be a prize at the end of the day for the ‘craftiest beard’ of the festival, and that’s not a typo.
The whole festival is organised by a group of locals: Rob (who has a background in marketing) and his brother-in-law Paul (an ex-Macquarie exec and ‘wanna-be chief brewer who brews all his own beers’), both from Ocean Shores, other brother-in-law Johnnie, from Suffolk Park (‘an ex-creative from Saatchi’ who looks after the social media and logos), and another bloke from Dunoon, together with Julez, the manager of the craft-beer-friendly Sunrise Bistro bottleshop.
Most of the breweries are bringing special brews, because the festival is for people who want to try something special that may not be available in their local bottleshop. ‘This is the place to come if you want to try something special,’ says Rob. ‘There is a lot of beer that is, in fact, unique to the festival, to show people beer that has not been tried before. This is about the “craft” side of craft beer, not the commercial side of craft beer.’
Local brewer Stone & Wood said that they were really looking forward to the first craft beer and cider festival in the region. They will be offering all their usual beers, including Cloudcatcher that some may not have tasted, plus they will be serving special pilot batches such as the Prequel, which they call the ‘father of Pacific Ale, at 6.6 per cent and with heaps of Galaxy hops like a punched-up Pacific Ale’, as well as the Gatherer, a wheat beer with watermelon, mint and sour cherry flavours.
Byron Bay Brewery have a Dragontail Ale brewed in their brewery on Skinners Shoot Road, Byron. Alastair Gillespie, head brewer, teamed up with Jungle Juice from the Byron Bay Farmers Market to create a Berliner Weisse, a German wheat beer infused with dragonfruit, strawberry, passionfruit and lime. The result is a pinkish-coloured refreshing, sessionable beer, with mild tartness and tropical fruit undertones.
‘It’s our first festival, and we’re really excited,’ says Rob. ‘The food and entertainment are local, and the majority of the brewers are local, and we also have the pick of the regional craft beers, but the event has attracted brewers from almost all the other states, so there’s a lot on offer.
‘It’s been a lot more work than some of the team expected,’ laughs Rob, ‘but we’re in it for the long haul. We’re not running this event to make money, we’re here to host a great event and have fun.’
How cool is that?
The technical details: With your ticket ($38) you will get a reusable cup and four free sampling tokens (you can buy more for $2.50 each at the event); you will be able to meet the brewers of the majority of breweries; and for those who really want to get the inside information, see the live brewing demonstration and experience the vibe. You can buy tickets through their website, or at the gate until it’s sold out.
Those attending from Byron town itself can catch the solar train from the Lawson St station.
More info: Saturday 5 May 11am–5pm
61 Bayshore Dr, Byron Bay
byronbeerfestival.com.au
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