GABS as it is colloquially known, is an acronym for the Great Australian Beer Spectacular and it certainly lives up to its name. The Spectacular event is put on by Dan Murphy’s and has toured around Australia. We went to the Sydney Version, held at Sydney Olympic Park Showgrounds. If you love beer, you will absolutely love GABS! If you are not so fond of beer, GABS may change your mind. With more than 300 craft beers on tap to sample, get a tasting paddle and get into it. Many of the craft breweries were producing limited release beer for the event or went wild concocting experimental recipes just for this gig.
With so many different beers on offer, you’re sure to find one or many to quench your thirst. There were all sorts of beer we had never heard of. If you like coffee and doughnuts, Wayward did a collab with Toby’s estate and Grumpy doughnuts to brew a coffee and doughnut IPA, there were some awesome milkshake IPA’s, Yak did a cola ale that had us wondering if it was a beer at all. We also enjoyed the Scotch Ale from Yenda.
It wasn’t all beer, there was also cider and plenty of great food to choose from. However we couldn’t pass on BL Burgers and the Blame Canada Burger after a few Bevvies.
What made it even more fun was that there was plenty to keep one entertained, including an indoor ferris wheel, bowling and BasketBall put on by Archie Brothers Electric Circus, putt putt put on by the Holey Moley crew, Grifter featured their pool table and most vendors had games for prizes or comps to enter. I even won a prize by chucking a shrimp on the barbie.
We had a great time at GABS and will definitely return next year. Surprisingly there was little queuing involved, which was freaking awesome. Be sure to keep an eye out for the next GABS showing, well worth attending.