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UPDATE: – Thanks for the overwhelming number of entries…this competition has been drawn. The Festival is on this weekend though…

This weekend sees the third Ballarat Beer Festival, kicking off with a beer dinner featuring Brews News’ very own Pete Mitcham. You can whet your appetite on Pete’s food matchings here.

We also have a couple of free double passes to give away to the event, so if you haven’t already nabbed yours, shoot an email through to editor@brewsnews.com.au with ‘Ballarat Me’ in the subject line with your name, daytime contact number and postal address in the body, and we’ll draw a couple at random. Competition closes 5pm, and we’ll express post the tickets to you.

Media Release

Two liquid gold events at the 2014 Ballarat Beer Festival

www.ballaratbeerfestival.com.au

Set the scene for a weekend of beer appreciation with an indulgent six-course degustation dinner on Friday January 17 followed by a day out at the Ballarat Beer Festival on Saturday January 18.

THE DINNER:

The Friday-night dinner boasts guest celebrity-chef, Stefano de Pieri of Mildura’s ‘A Gondola on the Murray’ fame – who in himself is an expert in matching food and beverages for a living.

New this year, the ‘Come to Life’ Beer and Food Degustation dinner, offers meticulously paired brews with tasty fare at the Lydiard Wine bar all for $125. The evening of fine food and beer will be hosted by beer writer Pete Mitcham, from the online magazine ‘Australian Brews News’, and include the top frothy drops from a range of showcasing brewers.

On offer is food and wine matchings such as: An entree of scallops, corn, faro, confit chicken and blood pudding served with South East Brewing Company’s ‘Monster Mash Hopped Out Red’ Amber Ale; a main of duck leg with heirloom carrots and jus with a Holgate Brewhouse ‘Mt Macedon Pale Ale’ and for dessert: a sample of textures with chocolate and beer alongside Kooinda Boutique Brewery’s ‘Kooinda Milk Porter’ dark malt.

The menu was designed by chef, Liam Downes of the Lydiard Wine Bar and then food was then complemented in tastes by beers chosen by Pete Mitcham who is hosting the evening.

THE BEER FESTIVAL:

With the weather set to shine on Saturday January 18, remaining tickets for the third annual Ballarat Beer Festival are now in hot demand.

Regional Victoria’s original, and family-friendly, beer festival will return to the open-air City Oval location in Ballarat from 11am-8pm, showcasing a stellar line-up of boutique beers and ciders, gourmet food and world-class music.

With tickets priced at $45 for an adult with beer tokens available for the food and drinks, attendees can enjoy a range of free informative beer education sessions undercover in the grand marquee, with gorgeous Oak trees also offering plenty of shade while you enjoy the refreshing drops on offer.

BEER OFFERING:
At the Beer Festival itself, the finest selection of Australia’s craft beers and ciders will be ready for the tasting – including past festival favourites Holgate Brewhouse, Bridge Rd Brewers and True South, along with passionate local brewers Rebellion, and well-known brands such as James Squire, Matilda Bay and Little Creatures.

The craftspeople behind the brews will be on site to chat with punters, happy to share their passion and inside knowledge for creating and enjoying each drop of liquid gold.

ENTERTAINMENT OFFERING:

The dedicated ‘Kids Zone’ has proved to be a popular attraction at this family friendly festival. Offering train rides, a jumping castle, face painting, craft activities and a mini farmyard, happy kids will be entertained at the Kids Zone throughout the day.

Headlining this year’s music offering are Melbourne’s Wagons, known for their dynamic live shows, bringing their ever-engaging 70′s inspired “boogie-outlaw-rock” to the Ballarat Beer Festival for the first time. With work underway on a new album with Mick Harvey (Bad Seeds fame) at the helm, the boys will be armed with a bunch of new tunes and ready to entertain.

Wagons will be supported by seven-piece mischievous Sydney outfit Little Bastards, a good time, old jangle band that will get the party started, along with the best local acts Ballarat has to offer.

FOOD OFFERING:

Gourmet food will be an attraction in itself in 2014, with an extensive range of options available to tempt the taste buds. From artisan wood fired pizza from The Forge Pizzeria, through to exotic gourmet bush tucker, Spanish paella and fresh seafood, there will be an abundance of delicious cuisine to sample.

Festival Co-Director Kate Burrows says the third consecutive year of the Ballarat Beer Festival will not disappoint high expectations now associated with this event.

“The Beer Festival is a highly anticipated summer day out,” she said.

“Thousands of punters travel from Melbourne, regional Victoria and even interstate to attend. We’ve firmly cemented ourselves as the original and the best beer festival in regional Victoria.”

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr John Burt OAM said the Ballarat Beer Festival was a headline attraction on Ballarat’s growing summer events calendar.

“The Ballarat Beer Festival has established itself as the premier event of its kind in regional Victoria and continues to grow in popularity.

“We look forward to welcoming thousands of people to our great city for this wonderful festival.”

Tickets for the Beer Festival and the degustation dinner are on sale now through Ticketek www.ticketek.com.au or 132 849.