Craft beer brewers from all over NSW, the ACT and Victoria will pour their top drops at the inaugural Belmont Beers, Blues & BBQ festival this weekend.
Port Stephens-based Murray’s Craft Brewing Co, Canberra’s BentSpoke Brewing Co and venerable Victorian award-winner Grand Ridge Brewery are among the line-up confirmed for this Saturday 25 May at Belmont South Foreshore.
“The craft beer scene is booming in Australia, with a new brewery opening every week, on average, for the past two years,” Lake Macquarie council’s manager arts, culture and tourism, Jacqui Hemsley, said.
“We’ve secured some of the best of the best to showcase why craft brewing has become such a phenomenon.”
The line-up also features craft cider brewers Twisted Sister Craft Ciders and Apple Truck Cider, The Farmer’s Wife Distillery – a small-scale gin distillery just north of Port Stephens.
Central West NSW whisky producer Black Gate Distillery is also confirmed to attend.
Low-and-slow barbecue aficionados will be in meat-eating heaven at the event, with some of the region’s top exponents plying their trade, including Ranga’s Barbecue, Smokin Hot ‘n Saucy, The Crafty Pit, Piggy Smalls Barbecue and Miss Mabel’s.
It won’t just be the barbecues creating sizzle; a stellar line-up of blues talent is also set to bring the heat.
The Greg Bryce Blues Band, Catfish Soup, Bondi Cigars and Kevin Borich will each play 60-minute sets, starting at 5.30pm and finishing at 11pm.
It’s all part of the council’s plan to activate eastern Lake Macquarie and enrich the city’s night-time economy.
“Bold and innovative events such as these help showcase Lake Macquarie, build pride in our city and bring our community together,” mayor Kay Fraser added.
Tickets to Belmont Beers, Blues & BBQ are $50 per person, plus booking fee, which entitles the holder to two food and two beer tastings along with a souvenir cup.
Visit lakemac.com.au/belmontbbb
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