Brew your own beer in Victoria

Peter Parry at the new Athletic Club Brewery

For serious hop lovers from whom one yearly Oktoberfest is not enough – hands-on year round beer brewing experiences are becoming a thing, including at Victoria’s newest regional brewery.

Athletic Club BreweryOpening fully next month, this inner-city brewery founded by local Peter Parry was inspired by the original Ballarat Brewing Company which was the heart of the community during the gold rush years. Peter’s love of craft beer and the brewing process has brought him out of retirement and into this exciting new bar and venue in the heart of Ballarat. The Brewery’s fully guided brewing classes are a chance for the public to experience first hand what it is like brew their own beer from start to finish using a downscaled version of the commercial sized vats. Light, dark, amber, pale, Athletic Club Brewery will assist budding brewers to come up with their own bottles, cans, or kegs to enjoy at home. Cost $250 for the group which will make one style of beer in one kettle. In turn, this will make 50 litres of beer, which is equivalent to 6 slabs. 47 Mair Street East, Ballarat, 3350, ph +61 (03) 5332 7031

The Public BreweryWith a mantra of ‘water, sun and beer’ the team who set up the Public Brewery in Croydon just outside Melbourne certainly achieved their vision. An awesome family-friendly beer garden, a rustic big indoor space, music, food, it’s all covered. Budding brewers can make everything from a Pale Ale to IPA or Stout. The brewing takes up to three hours, the process takes four and half weeks between brewing and bottling. Cost $250 – $300 and it makes five slabs. 13 Lacey Street, Croydon, 3136, info@thepublicbrewery.com.au

Bright BreweryOverlooking the Oven’s river in the gorgeous town of Bright is Bright Brewery. The original Bright Brewery was founded during the gold rush of 1876 – almost 90 years later it has been reborn thanks to local couple Scott Brandon and Fiona Reddaway. With lager, amber ale, pale ale, whitbeer on offer – the micro-brewery has something for all tastes. The Brewer For A Day program happens one day a month, brewing a full commercial scale batch of beer from scratch. The day starts with milling grain and ends with transferring a full 1200L of cool wort to a fermenter, and inoculating it with the yeast, which will then turn into beer over the next few days. Brewers get some tastings on the day and a 6 pack to take home with them. Cost $360. Next event, October 7th. 121 Great Alpine Road, Bright, +61 (03) 5755 1346

The Social Bandit A hot air balloon over the stunning Victorian Alps, followed by a gourmet breakfast, learning about the art of coffee making followed by a lesson in beer brewing! Could it get any better. Beans Above the Hops is the newest all day experience launched by some clever local operators who have banded together to create this most memorable day out for groups up to 6. The Social Bandit which launched by locals late last year offers the beer component – interesting beers such as the Sooky La La, a German sour beer, and a funky labels is putting the newest High Country Brewery on the map. Cost $599 for the group or $699 including accommodation at the nearby farm stay Traquair Estate. Traquair Estate, 253 McLeod Ln, Mansfield VIC 3722, ph +61 (0) 412 848 801

Other Oktoberfest events in Melbourne and Victoria.

• Various dates throughout OctoberMunich Brauhaus Oktoberfest – 45 South Wharf, South Wharf, Vic, 3006, ph +61 1300 686 424
• Saturday 15 OctoberOtways Oktoberfest 2016 – Otway Estate, home of Prickly Moses Brewery, 10 Hoveys Road Barongarook (10 mins south of Colac)
• Saturday 22 OctoberMornington Peninsula Brewery Oktoberfest – 72 Watt Road,  Mornington VIC 3931,  ph +61  (03) 5976 3663
• Saturday 22 – Sunday 23 OctoberOktoberfest in the gardens – Birrarung Marr, Batman Avenue, Melbourne, 3000
• Friday 28 – Saturday 29 OctoberBrewers Feast – Abbotsford Convent, 1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford VIC 3067, ph + 61 (0) 3 9415 3600