A good trip to a great beer week

WA’S economy is no longer as rock solid as the past mining boom. Wallets are tighter. Spends are double checked.

But some expenditure is necessary. Attending Good Beer Week is like a business convention for beer aficionados. Most of the Australian brewing and related industries heavies are in the one town at the same time.

So being represented is important. The Sip has come to a compromise and decided it can fund one ticket for the 2017 festival of the brew. We’ve decided to send our Reg Parsley this year. On a series of conditions.

Giving Red a credit card is like handing a kid the keys to Disneyland. It is highly unlikely to be used appropriately. Thus, we have planned Reg’s itinerary for the visit to Melbourne. There is another benefit to this as he now has a schedule that requires him to be somewhere at a certain time. Otherwise he’d be at the footy.

We publish Reg’s plans in the hope that should you bump into him you can make sure he is behaving himself.

There are still plenty of Good Beer Week events with room for more punters who like to have a different view to their brews.

And if Reg is at one of them, make him buy you a beer. It would be a first.

TUESDAY MAY 16

ALE STARS – SPECIAL OSKAR BLUES EDITION

Local Taphouse, 7pm

Our team fell in love with Oskar Blues during a visit to Denver last October. The chance to sit down with the company’s Head of Brewing Operations Tim Mathews and discuss a bit of can action with bold brews was too good to miss. $45

WEDNESDAY MAY 17

BREWS NEWS Q AND A

Beer Deluxe, 11am

Reg doesn’t like to drink beer before 12pm. It is a superstition that stems from ensuring he was still available for the A-Grade cricket team should they be one short. They never were. At least he’ll be sharp of mind during this in-depth look into all things beer with the people who make it, sell it and talk about it. Was a lively, robust discussion last year. $10

OLD SCHOOL: MEET THE FOUNDER OF SIERRA NEVADA, KEN GROSSMAN

Beer Deluxe, 3.30am

One of the great joys of Good Beer Week is the international talent it lures to Melbourne. Ken Grossman is a pioneer of US craft beer and an entertaining raconteur on his favourite subject, Sierra Nevada. Free

NZ BREWER SPEED DATING

Foresters Pub and Dining, 7pm

We have fully explained how this system works so Reg doesn’t get confused. Everyone gets 15 minutes with a brewer from the Shaky Isles. Then the bell rings and another brewer is under the interrogation spotlight. $39

THURSDAY MAY 18

PINT OF ORIGIN – US Carwyn Cellars, Noon

A staple of Good Beer Week is the that regions/States have a base to showcase their beers. Carwyn Cellars has the US contract this year. Always tough to get good quality US brews on the west coast so when they’re delivered with care to one place it is worth plenty of taste testing. FREE

BREWIN’ TRANSFER

Cherry Tree Hotel, 7pm

Always enjoyable to look back at some great commercials for Australian beer. Reg loves the Swan Gold one with the guy running and his partner is alongside riding a bike. Don’t make them like that anymore. And that is what the expert marketing panel will discuss at this event. FREE

FRIDAY MAY 19

GABS

Royal Melbourne Exhibition Building, Noon

We didn’t want Reg going to the Hair of the Dog breakfast so he was there when the doors opened for GABS. Now there are 180 unique beers and ciders up for tasting. $40

MEGA DEGA TBC, 7pm

Making sure Reg ate properly while away from home was a priority. Mega Dega is a wonderful display of how food can work so well with beer. This year it has been a bit of a mystery as a venue wasn’t set when tickets went on sale. $140

SATURDAY MAY 20

THE GREAT CURRY AND BEER MATCH

The Plough Hotel, 12pm

One of the reasons Reg is going on his own is because of his love of curries. He has to room alone. Matching curries and beer has been an interesting phenomenon. Reg is keen to learn more. We're making sure he doesn't return home for at least 36 hours. $45

FIXATION FEST AT THE OLD BAR

Old Bar, 7pm

Tom Delmont’s work with IPAs was a highlight of 2016. Again, not much of it makes it across the Nullabor. So to get the hands on some freshly made Fixation will be a treat. $12

SUNDAY MAY 21

BEER & CHARCUTERIE & CHEESE Valley Cellar Door, 2pm

We want Reg to ease out of the busy Melbourne schedule will an easy afternoon with Bridge Road Brewers and some nice lazy pickings. $45

Good luck Reg!