GABS Festival, in collaboration with Hop Products Australia (HPA), has revealed the four up-and-coming breweries that will be featured in the Up & Coming Brewers Bar at the upcoming GABS Festival in Melbourne. This annual initiative offers emerging breweries the opportunity to showcase their unique creations in front of a passionate audience.
The selected breweries for the 2025 Melbourne festival are:
- Bendigo Brewing (Bendigo, VIC)
- Jump Ship Brewing (Port Lincoln, SA)
- Maffco Brewing and Distillery (Maffra, VIC)
- Murray Towns Brewing Co (Gateway Island, VIC)
As part of their participation, these breweries will be provided with a shared stand, complete bar and beer tap equipment, and up to 20kg of premium hops, sourced both locally and internationally, courtesy of HPA. This support allows the brewers to create a special festival beer for the event.
Mike Bray, Managing Director of Spectapular Enterprises, the organization behind GABS Festival, expressed his excitement about the program. “It’s always fantastic to witness the new talent and creativity in Australian brewing,” Bray said. “Each year, we are thrilled to offer 12 emerging brands the chance to engage with beer enthusiasts. It’s exciting to see many of these breweries go on to great success in the years that follow.”
The selected brewers are eager to be part of the festival. Evan Hunter of Bendigo Brewing shared that the brewery, which opened in late 2024 on the site of one of Bendigo’s earliest gold rush-era breweries, is excited about their GABS debut. “This is our first-ever beer festival, and we’re thrilled to present our beers to a new audience,” Hunter said. Bendigo Brewing focuses on using locally sourced, organic ingredients with old-world brewing methods to create exceptional flavors.
Michelle Hankins from Jump Ship Brewing, based in Port Lincoln, South Australia, expressed her excitement about the opportunity to showcase their brand interstate. “We’re so appreciative of the chance to take our team from the west coast of SA to Melbourne,” Hankins said.
Maffco Brewing and Distillery, located in Gippsland, Victoria, is also excited about participating. The team, based in a century-old milk factory in Maffra, prides itself on crafting quality beers using both local and international ingredients. “We’re passionate about our craft and can’t wait for festival goers to taste our beers,” said a spokesperson from Maffco.
Barry Young of Murray Towns Brewing, located in Albury Wodonga, expressed pride in the brewery’s journey. “Our participation in the Up & Coming Brewers Bar gives us an incredible opportunity to expand our reach,” Young said. “It’s a chance to connect with craft beer enthusiasts and gain the confidence to grow and improve.”
The GABS Festival will take place at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre from April 4-5, 2025, followed by events in Brisbane on May 23-24, 2025, and Sydney on May 30-31, 2025.
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