After a rough few months (including one particularly wet weekend), we all deserve a drink. Usually around this time Brisbane’s bars unite for Brewsvegas, a month-long celebration of craft beer and the art brewing, but, alas, it’s not to be. Running in its stead, however, is a mini festival spearheaded by the suds-savvy team behind Caxton Street boozer Brewski – one of Brisbane’s most beloved beer-oriented watering holes – and its bottle-shop sibling My Beer Dealer. In Lieu of a Beer Festival Festival will be kicking off its own month-long program this week, with an assortment of events featuring Brewsvegas favourites and some all-new ideas taking place between now and the end of March. The festival’s first official event is taking place on Thursday March 3 with the team from gypsy brewer 27 South tapping kegs of its finest – its Day Trip XPA, Aces Hazy IPA and Passion Project passionfruit pale ale – at Brewski from midday.On Friday March 5 locals will be able to mosey in for the fifth edition of Hoppy AF, this time showcasing double or a triple IPAs from the likes of Blasta Brewing, Working Title Brew Co., Range Brewing, The Veil, Mountain Culture, Garage Project, Deeds Brewing and Banks Brewing.

The rest of March will be filled with similarly stellar events, including a pastry-centric collaboration with Flour & Chocolate, a cheese and Cantillon night, a night of coeliac-friendly drinks from TwøBays (including gluten-free treats from the kitchen), a paint and slurp evening with the crew from Working Title Brew Co., a stout showcase, and Belgium-themed beer brunch sponsored by the team at Madocke Beer Brewing Company. Unfortunately the recent floods have put the weekly Milton Good Beer Crawl on hold for now, but be sure to check Brewski’s Instagram page soon for news on the event’s hopeful relaunch. Click here for a look at the whole itinerary.