‘BrookieFest’ 2024: New event to showcase brewery and distillery venues on northern beaches
‘BrookieFest’, a groundbreaking celebration of the burgeoning independent brewery and distillery industry on the northern beaches, is about to kick off. Here’s what’s on offer.
Manly
Don't miss out on the headlines from Manly. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Ever wanted to cheer the favourite on in a “sausage” dog race, or try your luck at a wood chopping competition?
What about dancing it up at a “silent disco” or taking it easy in your budgie smugglers in a pop-up spa while downing a few quiet ones?
Now you’ve got the chance – at the first annual “BrookieFest’ – a series of events at seven venues, designed to showcase the growing independent craft beer and distillery industry on the northern beaches.
And organisers hope the free events will put Brookvale’s once glum industrial precinct, known more for its car repair businesses and warehouses, on the map as an entertainment destination.
Five Brookvale breweries – Freshwater Brewing Co, 4 Pines, Bucketty’s, Dad & Dave’s and 7th Day Brewery – along with Manly Spirits Co and Goodradigbee Distillers, are coming together for the three-day festival, starting on Friday.
They say they want to celebrate the northern beaches’ “vibrant social, arts and drinking precinct”.
Each venue will be present an array of entertainment and activities for all ages from noon midday until late each day. They are also suitable for non-drinkers.
Organisers say Brookie’s craft beer and distilling scene was now providing an alternative to pubs and clubs as well as providing a chance for emerging local artists, bands, and boutique brands to become known.
BrookieFest also comes as Northern Beaches Council’s draft Brookvale Structure Plan – to be used to guide development in the suburb for the next 15 years – pushes for more “creative” enterprises, artisanal food and drink producers in the suburb, which is already attracting coffee roasters and a growing arts community.
One of those behind BrookieFest, Freshwater Brewing Co founder Jonny Bucknall, said the brewers and distillers had realised that a “collective voice is louder than us all individually chipping away trying to attract new people to the area”.
“We’ve invested substantial time and effort into putting on a fun weekend, full of entertainment, great beverages and delicious food in the hope it will encourage people to explore the area and hopefully come back again and again,” Mr Bucknall said.
To find out what’s going on at each venue during BrookieFest, there will be a digital passport to help visitors people to explore the participating breweries and distilleries over the weekend.
For information on times and events click here: @brookiefest
WHAT’S ON:
7th Day Brewery: Skate demonstrations, meat raffles and Esky races.
Manly Spirits Distillery: Beach day budgie smugglers and Paw-some dog show.
Freshwater Brewing: Silent Disco, Reggae Sound System and BYO vinyl afternoon.
Bucketty’s: Dachshund racing, live bands and Harley Davidson show and shine day.
4 Pines Brewery: 19th hole Mini Golf, Drag Karaoke, Pots and Pints Painting.
Dad & Dave’s Brewing: Mini Markets & Pop-up Barber Shop.
Goodradigbee Distillers: Fishing Lessons & Wood Chopping Competition.
Admission to BrookieFest 2024 is free across all venues.
John Hopoate could face jail over latest driving charge
A notorious former NRL player, who police describe as a ‘recidivist traffic offender’, faces the prospect of 12 months’ jail for his latest serious driving charge.
Former Waterhouse family member drove to cop shop while drunk
A former member of a famous Sydney racing dynasty and cancer nurse drove to a police station while drunk after being chucked out of a late-night northern beaches nightspot.