October 1, 2018

Hop To It

Photos contributed

The Sunshine Coast Craft Beer and Cider Festival returns to the Kawana Sports Precinct on Saturday, 1 December for its second year running and we catch up with a few local brewers and event organisers ahead of the day-long celebration to find out more about this thriving industry.

After a popular inaugural event last year, that attracted a 4000-strong sell-out crowd, the Sunshine Coast Craft Beer and Cider Festival returns with over 50 of Australia and New Zealand’s best brewers and cideries alongside locally sourced produce and a mouth-watering line-up of street food vendors.

Tanya Taber, festival founder and operator isn’t just a beer-lover. She’s created this event to showcase the Coast’s best craft brewers and bring national and international brewers to the Coast.

“After the success of last year’s event, we look forward to returning bigger and better than ever for a massive day of great food, great music and more importantly a great day sampling some of the best craft beers and ciders available in the country,” says Tanya.

“We’re excited to put Sunshine Coast craft beer on the map and showcase the amazing produce, scenery and talent that we have locally.”

With the craft beer scene growing throughout Australia, Tanya knows there’s still so much more potential to be tapped into here on the Coast (no pun intended).

“Craft beer is beer crafted by those with immense passion for what they do, looking at flavours and aromas rather than the bottom line. As the craft scene is still relatively small here on the Coast, the Sunshine Coast Craft Beer and Cider Festival will be a great way for Coast dwellers to gain access to Australia’s best and unattainable craft beers which they might have otherwise not been able to try.”

Matt Wilson from Moffat Beach Brewing Co is excited to join the festival for the first time in 2018.

“It’s going to be a big day. Because we are so small and we don’t sell the beer anywhere else other than our venue, it’s a great opportunity for us to get our brand out there,” he says.

The recent winner of best small independant brewery in Australia says he hopes he’ll be able to sustain the appetites of punters at the festival, but we have a feeling his award-winning mid strength pale ale will be smashed on the day.

“Craft beer is beer crafted by those with immense passion for what they do, looking at flavours and aromas rather than the bottom line.”

Likewise Daryle Cook from Sunshine Brewery in Kuluin also has a few award-winning brews to offer to Sunshine Coast locals at the festival.

“We’ll be bringing Hop Therapy, which is a hoppy pale Indian ale and our award-winning Blue Sky IPA, which we just picked up a silver medal for in our first entry in the Independent Brewers Association awards in Sydney and the Harry blonde ale,” she says.

Daryle says festivals like this are important to young and independent breweries, as it offers prime exposure to their target audience and expands the profile and branding of all local brewers.

“It will build the whole profile for craft beer on the Coast because we’re growing and we all refer to each other, we meet every couple of months and network. Everyone helps everyone on the Coast here so it’s helping us all grow,” she says.

And while the festival might cater to the 18+ audience, there will be something on for the whole family, including a sideshow alley boasting amusement rides, photo booths and competitions. Children under 16 will get in for free while young and old are sure to enjoy live music throughout the day.