The wildest beer at GABS 2024

Every year GABS brings us over 100 of the finest, strangest, most experimental and delicious beers from Australia and around the world.

GABS, or more fully the Great Australasian Beer Spectapular, is bringing almost 120 beers from right across this beer-swilling nation of ours. Some are Insta Worthy bright blue or red concoctions. Some suck your cheeks in with their sourness. Others are simply smashable drops to down between Oom-pah band sing-a-longs.

As we prepare ourselves in mind and body for three full sessions of GABS this weekend, here’s some of the brews we’re keen to try out.

The booziest beer

There are no less than eight beers on the kegtainer list this year with an ABV (Alcohol by volume) in the double digits. There are two beers at 12% (from Deeds and Impi) but FRENCHIES BREWERY (NSW) promises the Aurora Australis Wonder Ale at a 12.5% ABV. The Dark Red Belgian Ale is also a secret Christmas Ale, so expect some of the Yuletide vibes – even if it’s only May.

That Belgian vibe

Speaking of boozy Belgian beer, there’s a few either based on Belgian styles or following in the tradition. TEMPLE BREWING CO (VIC) (#14) has a grape ale complimented by the use of a Belgian yeast. HOP HEN BREWING (VIC) Dubbel Dutch (#28) is a Belgian Dubbel based on the Dutch sweet biscuit treat known as' Specuulas. Plus, there’s that FRENCHIES whopper we mentioned above. DOLLAR BILL BREWING (VIC) Simz Spicy Vanilla Gorilla (#84) is a sour barrel aged sour Belgian quad with infused with vanilla and barrel aged chillies. Meanwhile, ESCAPE BREWING (VIC) ESCAPE THE HEAT (#99) has a Belgian Ale with Jalapeños. ‘Nuff said.

The experimental

The folks at EARTH BEER COMPANY have listed the intriguing Spiced Volcanic Sweet Potato Copper Ale. Just take a moment to read over that again. Inspired by the company’s location in the Tweed Volcano Caldera with soil great for sweet potato growth, they promise a copper ale with rich, malty and subtly spicy notes.

The curious

Queensland’s SOAPBOX BEER (QLD) has piqued our interest with The Sanga. Soapbox describes it as a "delicious Aussie interpretation of the classic American sanga, the PB & J. Every sanga needs a wheaty, whitebread base, a layer of peanut butter and lashings of purple jelly." Style wise it’s listed simply as an ‘experimental’ beer.

The nerdiest beer

As the name of this site might imply, we love a beer that we can get nerdy to. Let’s have a look at the description of the Sparkling Saison Noir from BEERERATNE BREWING (VIC). "We wanted to make a beer that celebrated where it was made - the Yarra Valley. This is a super crisp and dry saison, highly effervescent, with some spiciness from rye malt, floral notes from Victorian hops, and a slight pinkish hue from the additions of fresh cherries from a local farm in Wandin." It’s a sparkling saison, which is definitely at the beer nerd end of the scale. Plus, you get to use wine terms, like talking about the terroir. Win-win.

The local favourite

We love all things in the 2204 (or Marrickville if you prefer). So, we love seeing one of our OG loves BATCH BREWING (NSW) (#95) dropping their 8% Zombie Imperial Sour for the masses. Near neighbours SAUCE BREWING CO. (NSW) drop their Gruit inspired Hopless Botanical IPA (#33) for some more local flavour. Drink local, drink often.

The oldest beer

From our closest to the beer travelling the biggest distance: WEIHENSTEPHANER. Not on the kegtainer list, but the oldest continuing operating brewery in the world. The Bavarian brewery has been located at the monastery site since at least 1040 so they must be doing something right. Make sure you check out the GABS exclusive Braupakt from their stand and maybe find a giant pretzel to complete the vibe.

GABS 2024 is in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane between 31 May and 23 June. Tickets, beers and locations are all found on the official site.