Your liver's most dangerous weekend of 2025 is locked in.
Melbourne’s most mind-bending beer celebration is back to challenge everything you thought you knew about what belongs in a pint glass, with GABS Beer Festival returning to the city this April before hitting Brisbane and Sydney in May.
The legendary event will pour over 120 brand-new, festival-exclusive beers and 20 bespoke cocktails under one roof, each created specifically for the weekend by brewers determined to blow minds and destroy tastebuds in equal measure.
GABS Beer Festival
- Melbourne: Fri 4 – Sat 5 April 2025
- Brisbane: Fri 23 – Sat 24 May 2025
- Sydney: Fri 30 – Sat 31 May 2025
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
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Vic brewers are bringing their A-game this year with Good Land Brewing’s Rainbow Icecream Cone smoothie sour packed with strawberries, banana, cherries, blueberry, vanilla ice cream and bubblegum leading the charge into flavour insanity.
Not to be outdone, Molly Rose will debut their Vegan Custard Tart while The Zythologist serves up Peach Cobbler Ice Cream sour pastry.
For the truly adventurous, Six String’s Broken Bat Pearl might be the most metal brew of the fest – created with 1000 freshly shucked oysters – while Captain Blighs’ Vegemite Toast Beer from Tassie promises to divide drinkers faster than the actual spread.
The 2025 edition welcomes back Weihenstephan, the world’s oldest brewery at a casual 1000 years old, alongside German smoke masters Schlenkerla.
Founded in 1405, these brewing legends are one of only two breweries worldwide still using open fire in their own malt house, creating their distinctive Smoke Flavoured Beer through methods that predate the printing press.
The festival’s connections to the sporting world continue to grow, with AFL players well-represented through Brewmanity (co-founded by Melbourne FC legend David Neitz), while the All Pour Group brings comedian and Triple M loudmouth Mick Malloy into the mix. Even test cricket captain Pat Cummins is getting wet as an investor in Mountain Culture Beer Co, winners of this year’s GABS Hottest 100.
Running since 2011, GABS has evolved into more than just a beer session, featuring over 500 beer taps, plus cocktails, whiskies, wines and non-alcoholic options.
The winter’s day out includes brass bands, circus performers, merch stalls, beer games, live stage shows, eating competitions, food trucks, cocktail bars and silent discos – ensuring your hangover comes with some actual memories.
For tickets to GABS Beer Festival, head here.
