The season is finally here! It’s a festivus for the rest of us. That’s right—Brewsvegas is rolling its kegs back into town.

For nine glorious days from March 21, bars, beer gardens and breweries across Brisbane will be uniting in celebration of a cold one, liquid gold, ales, pints, bevvies, brewksies. You know…beer.

Last year, we were caught unawares. We were young and naïve. It was our first time. But this year, we’ve got Brewsvegas’ number.

There’s more than 100 events on the bill over the space of little more than a week. From lessons learned last year at the grassroots festival, we now know the importance of scheduling, sampling and the quick maths needed for beer tokens.

Here’s everything you need to know to get the maximum Brewsvegas experience.

Free For All

Cheapskates rejoice! There are tonnes of ways to partake in Brewsvegas without blowing the budget.

The Bearded Lady | Beer Bogan

Bogans and beer are one of those relationships that continue to reaffirm our faith in true love. The Bearded Lady knows it and is throwing the tinnie party to top all others, with brewsters Young Henry’s, Green Beacon, Six Strings and Mountain Goat coming along for the ride. Groom your mullet and grab your sheila for a cracker of a shindig on March 22.

Black Bear Lodge | Beer Trivia

Do you know your IPAs from your Pilsners, or harbor useless knowledge like where hops are primarily grown in New Zealand? (Hint: it’s Nelson). Register your deets and your pun-tastic team name with Man vs Bear Trivia and bring a shiny doubloon to Black Bear Lodge for a charitable donation on the night (March 24).

Eat Street Markets | One Handed Combat

The only down side (literally just the one) to all these beer-related activities is you usually have to put your pint down to take part in the fun. “Not cool,” said Eat Street Markets. As such, they’ve come up with a bunch of hilarious games you can play with your free hand. Building a coaster castle single-handedly with a Burleigh Brewing tipple in the other? Challenge accepted.

Brisbane Brewing Co | Home Brew Comp

Fancy yourself a bit of a renaissance man/woman? Dan Angus did and put his beer where his mouth is (which is what we all aspire to do, really). Dan took out Brisbane Brewing Co’s recent ‘Wicked Witch of the West End’ brewing comp, and now you can reap the rewards. Pop down and try a pint of Dan’s Black Rye IPA on Sunday March 22 from 11am.

Exclusive Events

Hey all you well-heeled, discerning beer guzzlers. Get in quick and secure your spot at these ticketed Brewsvegas events!

Hops, Scotch & Beans | Garden Party

Your run-of-the-mill swishy dress garden party this ain’t. Lock in a Sunday sesh at Hops, Scotch & Beans on March 22 for an afternoon of food and beer-matching fun. The magic ticket entitles you to three beers paired with beer-infused starters, which can be chased by local tap beers or a selection of five beer-based cocktails.

Newstead Brewing Co. | Hop Aromatherapy

Musty smells of carpet soaked with decades of draught and pretzel crumbs? Not around these parts. Hop down to Newstead Brewing Co. and flop your tired muscles on a massage bed for a rubdown using legit hops massage oils. Tickets available at the door on Sunday the 22nd.

Canvas | Open Air Cinema

Canvas Bar at Woolloongabba is hosting the ultimate date night for beerophiles. Snuggle up with your favourite beer buddy in the courtyard and be treated to four local craft beers, a bucket of truffle or chilli popcorn and epic lashings of pizza. Movie sessions run at 630pm and 830pm; tickets are sixty bucks per couple.

Green Beacon | The Green Mile

Collect your passport to walk the green mile from Green Beacon Brewing Co. to Tippler’s Tap and on to The Mill on Constance. Each venue will host a slightly macabre but crazy delicious ‘last meal’ with a special Beacon brew to wash it down. Tom Hanks and mysterious healing powers not included.

Eat & Drink

You don’t win friends with salad, and you don’t have beer without bar snacks, hearty feeds and some weird, wonderful beer-infused creations. Enter Brewsvegas.

Cowch | The Belgique Do it Best

An udderly delicious experience awaits at dessert mecca Cowch on March 25. Marrying cake and beer in some kind of scandalous matrimony, Cowch will be pairing their selection of French gateaux with imported brews from legendary Timmerman’s Brewery in Brussels (Belgique means Belgium for the uncivilized).

The Mill On Constance | Cooking With Beer, Oh Yeah!

Now you’re cooking with… beer? You can really get your goat up on the 27th of March when the crew behind the Goat Pie Guy market stall join forces with Mountain Goat Brewing at The Mill. Learn to make marinades, relishes and heaps more during this hands-on cooking class, including a take home goodie bag.

Hoo Ha Bar | Beerkary Pop Up

The beercarons are back, baby! Our lives were made richer last year when the Beerkary crew introduced us to beer-flavoured macarons. This year they’re bringing a swag of boozy baked goods, to be served at Hoo Ha Bar alongside brews from Fortitude Brewing, Black Hops, Croft Brewing and Beard & Brau.

Brewski | How To Be a Real Man Masterclass

FINALLY, some extracurricular study we can get on board with. Hand over $125 and snag an 8am spot at Brewski on March 22 to learn the sacred art of marinating, beard grooming, stout making, and hot-saucing. The class is limited to 15 lucky gents and includes a barber cut from Jimmy Rod’s, brekky beers, bacon, and heaps o’ testosterone.

Image credit: Esteban Rivera