The Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular (GABS) kicks off its 2024 tour today in Sydney and the crazy beer flavours on offer do not disappoint.

GABS is the only place in the world where you can try 120 brand new and exclusive festival beers, brewed by 120 different craft breweries, most of whom are small independents, on the same day. 

Every year GABS puts a call out to breweries far and wide to submit expressions of interest to brew a GABS Festival beer. Traditionally, this is the chance for brewers’ imaginations to run wild. It’s a Petrie dish if you like, cultivating ideas for beers to surprise and delight the tastebuds of patrons.

Over 1400 brews have been made for GABS and some of these festival beers have gone on to become top sellers like Hop Nation’s Jedi Juice, Feral Brewing’s Karma Citra & Imperial Biggie, Deeds Brewing’s Juice Train NEIPA and Two Birds Brewing’s Taco amongst many others!

Of the huge number of submissions, only 120 can make the list – restricted by the number of taps available on the huge GABS Festival bar. And every one of these 120 are exciting and unique as brewers push the limits to what is possible with beer.

This year’s list is no different and is filled to the brim with weird and wonderful creations.

Trending in 2024 are infusions of native produce such as indigenous Ooray (Davidson) plums, local macadamias, Australian native blood limes, fresh cherries and grapes from regional wineries.

Childhood nostalgia is always a standout theme. Each sip telling a story and transporting you back to happy, carefree times. Anyone for S’mores, Warheads, Milky Bar Shake, Fanta Orange or Cereal for dinner?

Of course, decadent desserts make an appearance. Try caramelised fig, cherries and white chocolate, Dulce de leche, Vienna coffee & custard tart, Biscoff or chocolate orange. 

Plus, there are the experimental concoctions that might sound bizarre but turn out soooooo good! Crushed up corn tortilla shells, basil & peppercorn, Tajin salt, tequila and ghost chilli, sweet potato, smoky bacon and more.

Our picks of the top 10 wildest flavours

1. Spaghetti Saison from Six String Brewing
2. Cereal for Dinner from Modus Brewing
3. The Sanga (sandwich beer) from Soapbox Beer
4. Wakame Me Up Before You Gose (sushi-inspired beer) from Two Bays Brewing Co
5. Tradies Breakfast – Vienna Coffee Lager Meetins Custard Tart – from The Suburban Brew
6. Rocky Road Campfire Chocolate Smoked Stout from Blackmans Brewing
7. Bacon Me Crazy from Stoic Brewing
8. Sucker Punch Strawberries and Cream Lollipop Sour from Working Title Brewing Co
9. Creature of the Deep (chocolate malt and Tasmanian kelp) from Aether Brewing
10. Beer-Ria Taco Lager from The Zythologist

The world’s oldest brewery, Weihenstephan, is also joining GABS on tour to showcase why it has thrived for the past 1000 years.

Tickets are now on sale available from www.gabsfestival.com 

2024 GABS FESTIVAL DATES

SYDNEY

ICC, Darling Harbour 

Fri 31 May – Sat 1 June 2024

BRISBANE

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, South Bank

Fri 14 – Sat 15 June 2024

MELBOURNE

Melbourne Showgrounds, Flemington
Fri 21 – Sun 23 June 2024