Mercure Canberra will host the 14th Canberra Craft Beer & Cider Festival when it returns on Saturday 20 March with a new-look and over 40 exhibitors. After a cancelled 2020 event, this years festival will be bigger in space, spirit and stallholders.

Australia’s premier celebration of craft brewers has been reconfigured with an expanded area, including the grounds of the Mercure Canberra and the adjoining lawns of Batman and Gooreen Streets in Braddon.

The expansion of the event has been made possible as a result of a grant from the ACT Government to support events.

The Festival will now be split into two ticketed sessions from 11am to 2pm and 3pm to 6pm. All transactions will be cashless, with a simple tap-and-go system in place for purchases.

Some 40 local and interstate exhibitors will be presenting up to 250 craft beers and ciders for tasting. There will also be beer/cider food-matching sessions, guest speakers and ‘meet the brewers’ sessions. A range of dining options (including local gourmet food vendors), live entertainment and family activities will be available throughout the day.

Canberra’s rapidly emerging brewing scene will be reflected in the presence of BentSpoke Brewing Co, Capital Brewing Co, Jono’s Jerky and others, while interstate exhibitors include many of Australia’s most renowned breweries such as Sydney Brewery, Stone Dog Meadery, 4 Pines Brewing, Mountain Goat Beer, Lord Nelson Brewery and James Squire. Specialist cideries such as Franks Cider and Willie Smith’s Cider will exhibit their range of ciders.

Canberra Craft Beer & Cider Festival organiser, Jenny Farrell, said that after the disappointment of having to cancel the event in 2020, the new-look Festival will provide a tremendous showcase for Australia’s best brewers.

“To have such easy access to 40 craft brewers and three hours of entertainment for as little as $20 entry provides a perfect opportunity for both serious lovers of beer and cider and those who just want to enjoy a fun, family-friendly event in a really attractive venue,” she said.

“Canberra is the perfect place for a long weekend, so we will be expecting a large number of visitors who want to combine the Festival with visits to the many other nearby attractions.”

Advance purchase tickets will be available for $20pp and $30pp on the day through Moshtix (booking fees apply). Children have free access to the event when accompanying parents. Tastings (150ml) are available for $4 each.

Once again, the Festival will help raise funds for Rise Above Capital Region Cancer Relief, a locally based group that provides support for over 950 cancer patients.

 www.canberrabeerfest.com.au