Hot summer flavours collide at Geelong Beer Festival

THE Geelong Beer Festival returns to Johnstone Park on January 17, turning the park in the city’s CBD into a summer playground of flavour, music and discovery.

Tickets go on sale today (Tuesday, September 9) for the 2026 edition of the one-day showcase for Australia’s most exciting brewers, distillers and winemakers with fresh releases, pairings, masterclasses, and live music.

Organisers expect in excess of 5,000 attendees from across Victoria and interstate.

Throughout Johnstone Park, taps and tins read like a road trip through the best of craft with the likes of local favourites such as Blackmans Brewery, Flowstate Brewing, Great Ocean Road Brewing Co, Little Creatures and more.

Exciting new faces join in with MXTology shaking festival-ready cocktails, Rocky Ridge delivering with sustainable, hop-forward crowd-pleasers, JKB Brewing pouring small-batch modern classics, and SURE Brewing serving up crisp, ultra-fresh styles.

The food story is just as tempting with wood-fire, smoke, steam and sizzle drifting across the lawns. Pillowy bao, hand-smashed burgers, dumplings by the dozen, loaded pizzas and low-and-slow barbecue built for sharing.

Beyond the tasting paddle, festivalgoers can dive into masterclasses, guided tastings, blind pairings and industry forums, meet the makers, and catch roaming entertainment throughout the grounds.

On the Mainstage, The Grogans lead the music charge. The Melbourne surf-rock three-piece will bring sun-drenched riffs, fuzzed-out garage energy and choruses built for outdoor sing-alongs.

They’re backed by Yarra Valley heavy-groovers Smoke Stack Rhino, bringing the mojo back with thunderous blues-rock, and world-travelling one-man orchestra Rhys Crimmin.

The stage will be supported by the Sound Lounge featuring DJ and Sax sets, dance competitions and an energetic finale from Andy Pobjoy and friends.

“Geelong Beer Festival is where great beer and good times collide,” festival director Kieran Blood said.

“It’s relaxed and welcoming, but it’s also a serious platform for independent producers, new releases, collaborations and face-to-face with the people behind the products. It’s good for the region and good for the industry.”

Tickets go on sale today online at geelongbeerfestival.com.au

Last year’s first release sold out early, so organisers strongly suggest getting in quick.