The Hunter Valley Beer & BBQ Festival is back this weekend at Hope Estate for another celebration mouth-watering celebration of two of Australia’s favourite pastimes, Beer & BBQ.
A must-attend event for anyone who loves good food and a good time, the festival boasts more than 40 beers and ciders to taste alongside sanctioned rounds of both the Steak Cookoff and the Australasian BBQ Alliance Championship.
Now in its third year, the Hunter Valley Beer & BBQ Festival promises to deliver classic favourites and new twists to tantalise your taste buds.
Saturday is strictly for the grown-ups, so you can have some “me time” with your favourites.
Sunday the festival is open to families for a fun-filled day complete with a Kids Zone that will keep them entertained for hours.
Oh, and don’t forget to try your luck on the bucking bull, it will be there both days!
Download the festival program using the button bellow and check out our guide to everything you need to know about the event below.
BEER, CIDER + MORE
Hope Estate is showcasing over 40 types of beers and ciders categorized under easy-drinking, crafty, thirst-quenching, and pucker styles. Adult 18+ General Admission ticket holders get a souvenir tasting glass, 10 tasting tokens, and an event program.
Additional tasting tokens are available to purchase inside the venue. Enjoy cocktails, gin slushies, and spirit paddles, and indulge in The Paddle Bar.
The Strong Beer Masterclass will guide you through a flight of high-strength beer varieties with limited seats available on 22 and 23. The masterclass add-on can be purchased with the ticket or on the day at the token booth.
BARBEQUE
The event will feature rounds of both the Steak Cookoff Association and Australasian Barbeque Alliance Championships, with competitors cooking a range of BBQ dishes for prizes and championship points.
The Food Court will have vendors offering BBQ options including ribs, burgers, and brisket, as well as vegetarian and vegan options.
A Judges ticket is available for Sunday’s ABA competition, and an Ultimate Angus Lunch add-on is offered on the Hope Estate building’s elevated deck. Bookings for the lunch close on Wednesday, April 19.
DEMONSTRATIONS
The Beer & BBQ festival will feature Smokin’ Hot N Saucy’s brisket demonstration at 10:30 am and 3 pm each day.
Additionally, the festival will showcase NSW Axemen’s woodchopping demonstrations every 1.5-2 hours from 10:30 am both days.
The Hope Brewery team will be welcoming everyone into the Beer Hall Demonstration Area located in the brewery to chat through “No Bullsh*t Brewing” at 12:30 pm each day. Learn about the basics of brewing and the ingredients that make beer.
MUSIC
Of course, it wouldn’t be an event at Hope Estate without music and the festival stage has a line-up of artists playing throughout the weekend.
On Sunda, patrons will be treated to a performance and demonstration from Bluedog Bootscootin’ at 12 pm in front of the main stage. One for everyone to enjoy and get involved in!
AND MORE
There’s a Bucking Bull challenge and aerial tours of the Hunter Valley with Hunter Valley Helicopters.
Hunter Valley Country Carriages will also be offering horse and carriage rides and on Sunday, the Kids Zone will have complimentary face painting and other rides.
There will also be a variety of vendors selling spices, meat rubs, sauces, jerky, eyewear and more.
GETTING THERE
Rover Coaches are running transfers from Newcastle, Maitland and local locations on Saturday 22 check out rovercoaches.com.au for more information. If you prefer to drive, there’s plenty of free parking on-site available. Please note there may be delays in entering and exiting the venue as the local road network can struggle with high volumes of traffic.
EVERYTHING ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW
The festival is scheduled to run from 10 am to 5 pm on both days and welcomes chairs and picnic rugs, but no inflatables. As most of the festival’s stalls and activations will be outdoors, attendees are advised to come prepared for weather conditions.
The majority of the festival will be cashless, and no ATM will be available on site. Food and drink are not allowed to be brought in, except for clear, empty, plastic water bottles, but beer, wine, and spirits can be purchased and collected at the end of the day.
Cellar Door tastings are unavailable for the weekend but will resume at 10 am on Monday.
SAT 22ND & SUN 23RD APRIL
WHERE DO I GET TICKETS?
Tickets and add-ons are available from hopeestate.com.au/hvbeerbbqfestival
Tickets will also be available at the gate on the day, however if you’re someone who likes to save a few dollars, we recommend pre-purchasing your tickets online before the day to avoid gate pricing.
