'Event ticks all those boxes': Local brews hop on Crafted Beer Festival

The Advertiser

2 days ago

When the Gold Coast-based Crafted Beer Festival made its first foray into Newcastle last November, not everyone was convinced.
Some beer festivals have fizzled quicker than the froth on a poorly poured Guinness.
The Hunter also already had the well-established Bitter & Twisted at Maitland Gaol and the Newcastle Beer Festival in King Edward Park, and the disposable income of beer connoisseurs has taken a hit due to cost-of-living pressures.
But after being impressed by what director Anna Cook delivered on debut at Foreshore Park, the likes of Newcastle brewery FogHorn have climbed aboard for the second Crafted Beer Festival on November 22.
"There's always room for good festivals," FogHorn owner and brewer Shawn Sherlock said.
"People are a little more discerning with their spending at the moment in general.
"So they want to know something is well run and it's a good event and they're going to get value for money by attending.
"This event ticks all those boxes and fills that brief."
Crafted Beer Festival was launched on the Gold Coast in 2017 by the sister and brother team of Anna and Sam Cook with a formula of craft beer, beach and music.
Last year, almost 2000 punters filled Foreshore Park, and festival director Anna Cook said they're expecting 3000 to 3500 attendees in year two, with interest rates coming down and consumer confidence growing.
"We're seeing a really positive increase with festival sales up on last year," Ms Cook said.
"It's really positive for festivals across the board.
"Everyone loves a beer and a good time in the sun, so beer festivals have been able to stay in the festival circuit."
Mr Sherlock agrees. After a difficult 2024 and early 2025 for trade, he believes there are signs that the hospitality sector is bouncing back.
"Touching wood, it's very early days yet, but I'm hopeful that we've seen the bottom of the difficulty with the cost-of-living stuff," he said.
The second Crafted Beer Festival will feature live music from indie-rock and pop acts Beddy Rays, Le Shiv, Felony, Thirst Trap, Jet City Sports Club, and Newcastle's own Loons.
The 30-strong brewery line-up will include Fellar, 4 Pines, Brookvale Union, King Tide, Sanctus, Six Strings, Sundowner and more.
Islington's Shout Brewing Co is returning to Crafted after they were impressed by last year's event.
"It gets our beer in front of the people who want to drink craft beer and want to come and try something new," Shout brewer Jake Gardiner said.
"As opposed to other options where people might feel it's forced on them or it's non-existent.
"Festivals are a fantastic way to show off interesting and new stuff and remind people that we even exist."
The Lovedale-based Sydney Brewery and Hamilton's Good Folk have also joined the local's lane section of the festival.
First release tickets are on sale.
When the Gold Coast-based Crafted Beer Festival made its first foray into Newcastle last November, not everyone was convinced.
Some beer festivals have fizzled quicker than the froth on a poorly poured Guinness.
The Hunter also already had the well-established Bitter & Twisted at Maitland Gaol and the Newcastle Beer Festival in King Edward Park, and the disposable income of beer connoisseurs has taken a hit due to cost-of-living pressures.
But after being impressed by what director Anna Cook delivered on debut at Foreshore Park, the likes of Newcastle brewery FogHorn have climbed aboard for the second Crafted Beer Festival on November 22.
"There's always room for good festivals," FogHorn owner and brewer Shawn Sherlock said.
"People are a little more discerning with their spending at the moment in general.
"So they want to know something is well run and it's a good event and they're going to get value for money by attending.
"This event ticks all those boxes and fills that brief."
Crafted Beer Festival was launched on the Gold Coast in 2017 by the sister and brother team of Anna and Sam Cook with a formula of craft beer, beach and music.
Last year, almost 2000 punters filled Foreshore Park, and festival director Anna Cook said they're expecting 3000 to 3500 attendees in year two, with interest rates coming down and consumer confidence growing.
"We're seeing a really positive increase with festival sales up on last year," Ms Cook said.
"It's really positive for festivals across the board.
"Everyone loves a beer and a good time in the sun, so beer festivals have been able to stay in the festival circuit."
Mr Sherlock agrees. After a difficult 2024 and early 2025 for trade, he believes there are signs that the hospitality sector is bouncing back.
"Touching wood, it's very early days yet, but I'm hopeful that we've seen the bottom of the difficulty with the cost-of-living stuff," he said.
The second Crafted Beer Festival will feature live music from indie-rock and pop acts Beddy Rays, Le Shiv, Felony, Thirst Trap, Jet City Sports Club, and Newcastle's own Loons.
The 30-strong brewery line-up will include Fellar, 4 Pines, Brookvale Union, King Tide, Sanctus, Six Strings, Sundowner and more.
Islington's Shout Brewing Co is returning to Crafted after they were impressed by last year's event.
"It gets our beer in front of the people who want to drink craft beer and want to come and try something new," Shout brewer Jake Gardiner said.
"As opposed to other options where people might feel it's forced on them or it's non-existent.
"Festivals are a fantastic way to show off interesting and new stuff and remind people that we even exist."
The Lovedale-based Sydney Brewery and Hamilton's Good Folk have also joined the local's lane section of the festival.
First release tickets are on sale.
When the Gold Coast-based Crafted Beer Festival made its first foray into Newcastle last November, not everyone was convinced.
Some beer festivals have fizzled quicker than the froth on a poorly poured Guinness.
The Hunter also already had the well-established Bitter & Twisted at Maitland Gaol and the Newcastle Beer Festival in King Edward Park, and the disposable income of beer connoisseurs has taken a hit due to cost-of-living pressures.
But after being impressed by what director Anna Cook delivered on debut at Foreshore Park, the likes of Newcastle brewery FogHorn have climbed aboard for the second Crafted Beer Festival on November 22.
"There's always room for good festivals," FogHorn owner and brewer Shawn Sherlock said.
"People are a little more discerning with their spending at the moment in general.
"So they want to know something is well run and it's a good event and they're going to get value for money by attending.
"This event ticks all those boxes and fills that brief."
Crafted Beer Festival was launched on the Gold Coast in 2017 by the sister and brother team of Anna and Sam Cook with a formula of craft beer, beach and music.
Last year, almost 2000 punters filled Foreshore Park, and festival director Anna Cook said they're expecting 3000 to 3500 attendees in year two, with interest rates coming down and consumer confidence growing.
"We're seeing a really positive increase with festival sales up on last year," Ms Cook said.
"It's really positive for festivals across the board.
"Everyone loves a beer and a good time in the sun, so beer festivals have been able to stay in the festival circuit."
Mr Sherlock agrees. After a difficult 2024 and early 2025 for trade, he believes there are signs that the hospitality sector is bouncing back.
"Touching wood, it's very early days yet, but I'm hopeful that we've seen the bottom of the difficulty with the cost-of-living stuff," he said.
The second Crafted Beer Festival will feature live music from indie-rock and pop acts Beddy Rays, Le Shiv, Felony, Thirst Trap, Jet City Sports Club, and Newcastle's own Loons.
The 30-strong brewery line-up will include Fellar, 4 Pines, Brookvale Union, King Tide, Sanctus, Six Strings, Sundowner and more.
Islington's Shout Brewing Co is returning to Crafted after they were impressed by last year's event.
"It gets our beer in front of the people who want to drink craft beer and want to come and try something new," Shout brewer Jake Gardiner said.
"As opposed to other options where people might feel it's forced on them or it's non-existent.
"Festivals are a fantastic way to show off interesting and new stuff and remind people that we even exist."
The Lovedale-based Sydney Brewery and Hamilton's Good Folk have also joined the local's lane section of the festival.
First release tickets are on sale.
When the Gold Coast-based Crafted Beer Festival made its first foray into Newcastle last November, not everyone was convinced.
Some beer festivals have fizzled quicker than the froth on a poorly poured Guinness.
The Hunter also already had the well-established Bitter & Twisted at Maitland Gaol and the Newcastle Beer Festival in King Edward Park, and the disposable income of beer connoisseurs has taken a hit due to cost-of-living pressures.
But after being impressed by what director Anna Cook delivered on debut at Foreshore Park, the likes of Newcastle brewery FogHorn have climbed aboard for the second Crafted Beer Festival on November 22.
"There's always room for good festivals," FogHorn owner and brewer Shawn Sherlock said.
"People are a little more discerning with their spending at the moment in general.
"So they want to know something is well run and it's a good event and they're going to get value for money by attending.
"This event ticks all those boxes and fills that brief."
Crafted Beer Festival was launched on the Gold Coast in 2017 by the sister and brother team of Anna and Sam Cook with a formula of craft beer, beach and music.
Last year, almost 2000 punters filled Foreshore Park, and festival director Anna Cook said they're expecting 3000 to 3500 attendees in year two, with interest rates coming down and consumer confidence growing.
"We're seeing a really positive increase with festival sales up on last year," Ms Cook said.
"It's really positive for festivals across the board.
"Everyone loves a beer and a good time in the sun, so beer festivals have been able to stay in the festival circuit."
Mr Sherlock agrees. After a difficult 2024 and early 2025 for trade, he believes there are signs that the hospitality sector is bouncing back.
"Touching wood, it's very early days yet, but I'm hopeful that we've seen the bottom of the difficulty with the cost-of-living stuff," he said.
The second Crafted Beer Festival will feature live music from indie-rock and pop acts Beddy Rays, Le Shiv, Felony, Thirst Trap, Jet City Sports Club, and Newcastle's own Loons.
The 30-strong brewery line-up will include Fellar, 4 Pines, Brookvale Union, King Tide, Sanctus, Six Strings, Sundowner and more.
Islington's Shout Brewing Co is returning to Crafted after they were impressed by last year's event.
"It gets our beer in front of the people who want to drink craft beer and want to come and try something new," Shout brewer Jake Gardiner said.
"As opposed to other options where people might feel it's forced on them or it's non-existent.
"Festivals are a fantastic way to show off interesting and new stuff and remind people that we even exist."
The Lovedale-based Sydney Brewery and Hamilton's Good Folk have also joined the local's lane section of the festival.
First release tickets are on sale.