Highlights from GABS 2024
We did something a little different this year at GABS.
We’ve been going to the Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular since it was a Local Taphouse event and at the Australian Technology Park in Sydney. In a typical year, we’ll visit a single session, cramming in as many samples as we can in a five-hour period. We might do a second session interstate.
This year, we went for broke. We booked a season pass – allowing us access to all three sessions on the Friday and Saturday in Sydney. Our goal was still to try as many samples as we could, but generally give ourselves time to kick back and enjoy the ride.
So, as the city got pelted by rain, and some of the lights of VIVID went dim, we made our way into the ICC. But what did we learn?
The season pass is the way to go
For $138, we got entry to all three sessions. Yet included in that cost was a $100 voucher per ticket that we could use on beer or food. Effectively, we’d prepaid for all our shenanigans. In real terms, that equated to about five paddles, a couple of individual festival glass fills and four meals between us – and we still had $5 credit left. Plus, we got a dedicated entry that allows us to cut through some of the lines. (Not that they ever got too long). If GABS is back in 2025, we’d do this again.
Weird and wild
While we made a few predictions, the actual day offered some unlikely favourites – and not so favourites. Morrison Brewery’s Smoked Kelp Stout had some lovely smokiness, but there was an aftertaste (iodine?) that we didn’t care for. The basil infused Six String Brewing Company Spaghetti Saison, Escape Brewing’s Escape the Heat Belgian Ale with Jalapeño or Seven Mile’s Banana and Blueberry Imperial Maple Macadamia Pancake Smoothie Sour is the reason GABS exists – but we personally preferred the Pancakes on the Rocks we had the next morning. More reliable styles like King River Brewing’s Double Red IPA or Modus Brewing’s Cereal for Dinner NEIPA really floated our boats. Massive props to the experiments that really work, like the Black Mamba Imperial Black Saison from Impi Brewers and Co-Conspirators A Boy Named Tiramisu.
Everything is a bit more low-key
Walking into the ICC for a second time in as many years, we couldn’t help but feel that GABS was a bit smaller than usual. We’re not talking about the Glaswegian Willy Wonka experience here. This was still a professional and highly organised event – and all kudos to the staff and vendors for making it great. Yet everyone we spoke with had the same vibe: it just felt smaller this year. Even if there was a DJ who also happened to be a saxophonist.
Withdrawals
No, not just the ones we’re having after a weekend of boozy goodness. A surprising number of brewers had withdrawn offerings prior to the Friday night session, and several others had sold out by the second. By our estimation, there were about 10 of the 120 beers on offer that simply weren’t available at all. There’s no indication of this on the online checklist, so some of our careful planning went out the window on Friday night. (Speaking of careful planning, our nerdy hats are off to the folks sitting next to us on Saturday — they crafted A3 laminated guides to the beers, complete with descriptions rewritten by ChatGPT).
Life outside the kegtainers
Perhaps because of some of our wishlist had been scratched, we sought refuge at the surrounding booths. The ever-present (and well-deserved) line outside of Mountain Culture’s booth was easiest to get to on the Friday night, so we downed a festival glass of Smooth Landing rather than the sample size from the kegtainer. Indeed, one of our hands-down favourites was Garage Project’s very boozy (13.9% ABV) Black Octave imperial stout. (Shout-out to the folks from Kicks Brewing, who high-fived us upon learning we loved this beer).
Highlighting up and comers
Speaking of Kicks Brewing, we were very pleased to see the Marrickville brewers present at the up and comers bar alongside Ale Mary. Last year, we discovered Noodledoof’s wonderful Gimlet at this very bar so we’re pleased to add Fool’s Gold (from Kicks) and Bricktop ESB from Ale Mary.
Inner West is still the best
While the scale was toned down, we’re proud to say that Sydney’s Inner West brewers still brought the thunder on an already stormy weekend. We could be a little bit biased, but Marrickville brewers served some of the best booths. Batch and Wayward teamed up for a Tiki Bar that had theming worthy of a Disney park. Mixtape Brewing recreated the vibes of their Victoria Road bar, complete with neon orange shingle.
GABS 2024 ran in Sydney from 31 May to 1 June. Brisbane (14-15 June) and Melbourne (21-22-23 June) follow. Tickets, beers and locations are all found on the official site.