New brews, gourmet dinners, international guests, masterclasses, showcases, beer breakfasts, beer swaps, beer sorbets… the program for what promises to be Australia’s biggest ever celebration of good beer is out.

Good Beer Week 2012 features more than 90 events at venues across Melbourne and Victoria from May 12 to 19. Hundreds of the finest beers from across the world will be pouring at bars, restaurants, breweries and bottleshops as well as wineries, chocolatiers, cocktail bars – even the Royal Exhibition Building – as scores of brewers from across Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the States join beer lovers old and new for eight days of festivities.

“This year’s Good Beer Week promises to be an incredible, unforgettable experience,” says Matt Houghton, from the festival committee. “The array of events is mind-blowing, and the fact we have guests such as Kjetil Jikiun from Norway’s Nøgne Ø and Brendan Moylan from American brewery Moylan’s – the 2010 and 2011 Australian International Beer Awards champions respectively – travelling halfway around the world to help us promote good beer is just fantastic.”

Good Beer Week was established in 2011 as a not-for-profit organisation by a tiny group of beer lovers. Put together in just a few weeks, it sold out almost all of its 40-plus events, a bold indication of just how fast Australians are embracing the craft beer revolution sweeping the country. That same tiny group of volunteers – working in their spare time – has taken the inspiration from 2011 to create a festival more than twice the size in 2012.

It’s a festival with far greater scope too, with fine dining establishments, wineries and other venues not traditionally associated with beer taking part.

“Even though it was put together on a shoestring budget, we have created a truly world class festival,” says Matt. “One that we hope will do Melbourne – and the Australian beer scene – proud.”

Good Beer Week runs from May 12 to 19 across Melbourne and Victoria. The full program is online at goodbeerweek.com with 60,000 print programs being distributed by the Good Beer Week team and GRAM magazine. For more information, contact info@goodbeerweek.com.