Bottoms Up! A Guide To Newcastle Craft Beer Week
Well Novocastrians, if you’ve been spending any time in our local pubs you might have noticed something - Newcastle is falling in love with craft beer! The phenomenon is such that this year Newcastle will have its very own Craft Beer Week, a whole week dedicated to the golden elixir that seems to warm us when we’re cold, cool us when we’re hot, and adds that extra something to pizzas, steaks and other culinary delights.
Newcastle Craft Beer Week will see brewers from all over Australia converge on select Newcastle venues to showcase their offerings. Locals will have the the chance to learn about the brewing process, speak to the brewers themselves, and of course sample sample sample!
Albion Hotel Publican Corey Crooks is heading up the event with friend Mark Mead of Warners At The Bay. Speaking with Crooks, it is clear that he’s passionate about supporting independent Australian brewers, many of which are family businesses. Over the past two years, he’s slowly introduced more & more craft beer to the Albion’s stores, and it is going down a treat. In fact, many of the big player beers have been knocked off their perches, and off their taps, in favour of more popular craft choices…
If you haven’t cottoned on to the Craft Beer phenomenon, or if you fancy yourself as a beer connoisseur, then check out the guide below and get along to some of the events taking place from 21 - 27 November. Be sure to book ahead as many events are limited capacity. For more info, check out their Facebook & contact the venues to book.
The Albion Hotel
The Albion Hotel is the HQ for the Newcastle Craft Beer Week with the first event being held on Thursday 24 November from 6.30pm. The Albion will be hosting The Official Craft Beer Week Dinner which consists of a 7 course degustation including beers and canapes on arrival. The Breweries that will be on show include Feral Brewing, McLaren Vale, Wig & Pen, Murrays Brewing, Hunter Beer Co, Burleigh Brewing, Holgate, and Stone & Wood. Tickets for the night are available for $99. On Friday the 25th November from 8pm 'Around the World in Beer' you can enjoy a selection of canapes and sample some of the best craft beer available from abroad. Tickets will be available for $35. On Saturday the 26th November starting from Midday, there will be 'Cooking with Beer' with a special guest host. The event includes a BBQ lunch and beers from the Wig & Pen, Holgate Brewing, Stone & Wood & Mountain Goat. Tickets are available for $50. Still at the Albion on Saturday evening from 6pm is Beer with the Brewers where you can have a beer and chat to the legends that brew the beer you're drinking! Price is $5 per seat which includes the screening of the documentary 'Beer Wars & Beer Forum.
-32.921115
151.759812
Burwood Inn
77 Berner Street
Merewether NSW
(02) 4963 5000
The Burwood Inn is hosting the official opening of the Newcastle Craft Beer Week on Monday the 21 November from 7pm. The night features the Wig & Pen showcase, 'Richard returns to Newcastle', with 8 beers that have been paired with a selection of canapes hosted by Richard Watkins and Lachlan McBean. Tickets will be $35.
-32.940133
151.752838
Bar Petite
Bar Petite will be hosting 'Woman & Beer' by Kirrilly Waldron on Monday the 21 November. Brewers include 2 Birds Brewing, True South & the Hunter Beer Co. This is a female only event where you can sample fine canapes paired perfectly with female brewed beers. Tickets are available for $40.
-32.928999
151.784279
The Junction Hotel
On Monday the 21st November the Junction Hotel will be holding a 'Meet the Brewers' evening from 8pm with matched canapes and beers from 4 Pines & The Rocks. Tickets will be $40.
-32.93763
151.760305
Honeysuckle Boardwalk
Honeysuckle Drive
Newcastle, NSW
There will be two great events on the Honeysuckle Boardwalk being held on Tuesday the 22 November. The Boardwalk Crawl Part 1 - Beer 101 will be held at The Silo Lounge from 6pm. This will include canapes and beers from the Hunter Beer Co. Part 2 of the Honeysuckle Boardwalk Crawl is 'Murray's Masterclass' that will be held at the Dockyard. Part 2 will include canapes and beers from Murray's Brewing. A ticket for both events will be available for $50.
-32.924717
151.771291
Prince of Wales Hotel
1 Morgan Street
Merewether, NSW
(02) 4963 1722
The Prince of Wales Hotel will be holding a Beers & Cheese evening on Tuesday the 22nd from 6.30pm, with Brewers from McLaren Vale and Lord Nelson. Tickets will be $40
-32.938602
151.754361
Hotel Delany
The Delany Hotel will be hosting two events, the first of which will be The Art of Brewing hosted by Simon Fahey and will be held on Wednesday the 23rd November from 7pm. This will include beers from the Coopers Brewery and tickets are available for $25. The second event at the Delany will be held on Friday the 26th November from 12 noon and will be the 'Tales & Ales' Long lunch presented by the James Squires Brewing Gurus. Tickets are available for $65.
-32.931003
151.77142
Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club
On Wednesday the 23rd from 7pm the Newcastle Cruising Yacht club will be holding 'Where it all started' Beer dinner featuring Matilda Bay Brewing. Tickets will be available for $70.
-32.919529
151.760198
The Clarendon Hotel
The Clarendon Hotel will be holding two events during the Newcastle Craft Beer Week. They were to hold 'Dinner with the Brewer' on the Wednesday the 23rd but this has now been cancelled - instead they will host free beer tasting with Burleigh Brewing and you can chat with brewer Brennan Fielding. The second event is 'Let's Get Crafty' held on Friday the 25th from 7pm. This will be presented by Little Creatures and White Rabbit and includes canapes and drinks. Tickets are available for $40.
-32.926662
151.77318
Warners @ The Bay
Warners @ the Bay will be capping off the Newcastle Craft Beer Week with its Annual Beers Festival. On Sunday the 27th November from 12 - 4pm you will be able to sample 30 beers from labels such as Beer Importers, Carlton & United, Ekirn Brewers, Fusion Brewery, German Beverage, Happy Goblin, Hop & Spirit, James, Squire, Little Creatures, Black Duck Brewing and Jamieson Brewing.
-32.964891
151.656461
The Clarendon are also doing a craft beer ‘passport’, a detailed guidebook on each craft beer available. Every time one of the craft beers is tasted, the staff will stamp next to the corresponding beer in your passport - fill up the passport with stamps and you get a free six-pack of your choice!