The Bitter and Twisted Boutique Beer Festival is a must-do for anyone who loves a good time – not just for lovers of beer, food, and music.
The iconic festival held at Maitland’s historic gaol was elevated to new heights this year, with so many options to entertain and indulge the senses.
From the street theatre, ’90s disco, code-cracking Beer and Cipher sessions, cheese and beer matching, beer trivia, live music and munchies from around the globe to the ales, lagers, and ciders of all types and for all tastes. Bitter and Twisted offered a cornucopia of delights for the punters who basked in the sunshine over the two-day festival.
If you’ve never been to a Bitter and Twisted before, you need to open the calendar on your phone now, set aside all the weekends in November, and follow the festival on your favourite socials, just to make sure you don’t miss out on the 2023 event.
The Saturday session is an ‘adults only’ event whiles the Sunday session offers some real laid-back family-friendly vibes.
Whichever day you attend, you and your crew will have a great day.
THE MUSIC
This year we attended the Saturday fun fest and were treated to some great early sets by local artists Berlyn and Austin Mackay.
Later in the day, the rollicking swagger of The Dead Maggies filled the old gaol and the grooves of Good Lekker were the perfect accompaniment to the beautiful afternoon sun.
Headliners, Middle Kids had the crowd jumping, singing along, and throwing underwear from the moment they stepped on stage.
It was a real treat getting to see a band like Middle Kids at a boutique event like Bitter and Twisted and just one of the reasons people love this festival so much.
THE BEER
Beyond the tunes, the highlight of the day was the opportunity to quaff on all the different brews.
Given we only had one day, our plan of attack was to discover new beers and styles to expand the palate.
Sour beers are very du jour at the moment and with the opportunity to try so many this year, we now get why so many people like them – They’re perfect for drinking outside in warmer weather.
Bridge Road Brewers’ Passion Fruit Sour was a standout and we have to give a special shoutout to our mates, Cattleyard Brewery Co, for their delicious IRA (Indian Red Ale) which was an absolute delight.
THE FESTIVAL PROTIPS
We’ve been attending Bitter and Twisted for a few years now, so here are our top tips on how to make the most of the event.
BUY A WEEKEND PASS
You really need to attend both days to get a taste of everything.
DRESS UP
Pirates and convicts were as plentiful as the offering of beers. Dressing up is part of the Bitter and Twisted Experience, get on it.
GET THERE EARLY
Get there early to grab a spot under the shade near the band stage. A round of applause to the organisers for the set-up of the event, which had lots of covered areas for punters to seek shade.
ORGANISE A PLAN B
Make sure that you have a way to get home, there’s so much to enjoy that you wouldn’t want to miss out.
BITTER & TWISTED 2023
Hit the Bitter and Twisted website and Facebook page to keep up to date with announcements for the 2023 event, and we’ll see you there!
