Melbourne's giant beer, cider and fun festival GABS is back for 2024, so get ready to get sipping. Normally, the epic event would be held at the Royal Exhibition Building but after news that the heritage site is in need of an estimate $50 million in repairs, the beer nerds have moved their long-running project to Melbourne Showgrounds instead.
Despite the new digs, the GABS brief fortunately remains the same: go on a deep dive with some of the best and most experimental local and interstate brewers on the scene right now. Of course, a few international brewers will be getting in on the action too (we see you, Kiwi cousins in hops) – but that's not even the most exciting part.
We've just heard word that the world's oldest brewery, Weihenstephan, will be landing from Germany this year and they're currently brewing up special creations just for you. After nearly a thousand years, the Weihenstephan Monastery Brewery still stands atop Nährberg Hill, winning numerous prestigious awards over the years and ever conscious of its position as the oldest existing brewery in the world. Now you can try some for yourself! Pouring exclusively at GABS Festival will be Braupakt, Wheat beer, Pils and the Original Helles.
And of course, the serious drawcard of GABS each year involves the roster of never brewed before, never to be seen again beers and ciders made just for the fest. In 2024, the bonkers beer festival will showcase more than 500 taps from 150 different breweries. There'll also be more than 75 drinks and food stands, silent disco, live music and parties, a world record beer tasting attempt presented by Stomping Ground and in Melbourne only, plus a whole lot more.
Some awesome prizes will be up for grabs, including a seven-day trip for two to the Freising Volksfest in Germany in September 2024 and a five-day trip for two to Australia's craft beer capital, the Sunshine Coast. There's a GABS Beer Safari booklet for all ticket holders with over $250 worth of post GABS drinks and offers, too, so the fun times will keep a'flowing after you exit the fest.
Please note: Public Transport Victoria will be providing dedicated event trains to ensure you get to the showgrounds on time and return home safely after each session.
The event is super popular and sessions sell out so get in quick and book now.
