BeerFest Australia is launching BeerFest Sydney at Darling Harbour’s Tumbalong Park on 6-7 December to support local craft brewers.

It will offer festival-goers the opportunity to get up close and personal with the innovators behind their favourite brews.

BeerFest Australia hopes the event will be a significant economic boost for brewers and the Sydney hospitality and retail sectors, with more than 8000 people expected to descend on Darling Harbour and surrounding areas to learn more about than 100 boutique vineyards, brewers, cideries, distillers, cheesemongers and food producers.

The line-up will includes the ‘Beer Olympics’, live music from Discovery Daft Punk and DJ John Course, masterclasses, beer-food pairings, cocktail mixology and on-site activations including comedy and tattoo artists.

BeerFest Australia co-director James Harding said: “With exclusive small-batch brews, one-off collaborations and themed cocktails, BeerFests are much more than just a paddock-to-plate experience. 

“Brewers get to learn from their customers, and they in turn get to learn the blood, sweat and tears that goes into making their brews.

“But amidst the festivities, a clear message resounds – supporting our local producers is more crucial than ever.”

According to KPMG data, the 600+ Australian craft brewers contribute an annual $1.93B to the economy. They employ more than 10,000 people – more than half (51%) of the entire beer industry, many in regional areas. 

At least 20 have closed in the past year, losing the battle to multimillion dollar overseas giants, with more on the brink of collapse due to being subjected to the third highest beer tax in the world and the heavy burden of payroll tax. 

Australia now has the world’s third-highest beer tax after Norway and Finland. Alcohol excise tax represents around 14% to 37% of the price paid for wine and beer, and 50% of the price of spirits, and goes up twice a year based on the movement of the consumer price index (CPI).

It will rise again once the CPI data is published at the end of July and the updated hikes will be implemented on August 5, hurting hard-working craft brewers and their customers.

BeerFest Sydney will include emerging talents and established names such as Philter Brewing, Mountain Culture Beer Co, Good Folk Brewing, Spreyton Cider, Sundowner Brewing, Brickworks, White Bay, Tara Distillery and Brix Distillers.

Sydney is the newest addition to its events held in Fremantle (15-17 November), Launceston (31 December), Canberra (15 February, 2025) and Melbourne (22 February, 2025).

Tickets start from $25. For more information visit BeerFestivals Australia. General ticket sales go live on 23 July.

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