With the hoopla of The Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular behind us and Good Beer Week in full swing, it is time to nail my colours to the mast.

I come from Queensland, arguably the most backward state in terms of good beer in Australia. Things have been changing, just not quickly enough.

However, what we make up for in quantity is more than made up in quality and three of our finest have headed down to Melbourne and Good Beer Week to pit their best against the best of the rest in the Pint of Origin.

Burleigh Brewing, Bacchus Brewing and 4 Hearts Brewing have all taken over the taps at Collingwood’s Baden Powell Hotel and Victorians are in for a few surprises.

As our largest brewery, Burleigh Brewing would already be well know to many. Their 28 Pale Ale is highly regarded as a very drinkable, well balanced American Pale Ale. The brewery has won many awards for its beer, most recently taking the gold medal at the World Beer Cup for their HEF, which will also be on show.

Burleigh is joined by 4 Hearts Brewing’s first foray south, taking their 4 Degrees Pale Ale which and the Summer Wheat, both of which featured in the Local Taphouse’s Hottest 100 this year despite only having been available in Queensland. These beers will be joined by 4 hearts’ IPA, Wein Lager and Coal Miners Stout.

The third and final Queensland brewery is Bacchus Brewing. Unknown to many, this little brewery is making a big noise in Queensland creating some well crafted but incredibly flavoured craft beers. Two of the most highly regarded will be featuring on the takeover and, I think, could easily be the sleeper hits of Good Beer Week amongst those lucky enough to try them. Red Belly Black is a Black IPA that is full, balanced and complex while Bacchus’ Rum Barrel Baltic Porter is a rich Baltic porter that has been aged for a month on cocoa nibs in fresh rum barrels.

Between the selection on offer you have beers for the session and beers to get you talking.

The Baden Powell’s Pint of Origin takeover will last all week with Wednesday night seeing most of the brewers in attendance.

www.badenpowellhotel.com