They do this a few times a year, I've been a couple of times and its actually pretty good value... they will (or did last time) give you a little showbag to take away with a nice Stella or Hoegarden glass and if you have a decent sized pocket... the tasting glass they give you is usually quite nice as well (if a little small)
Between the free glass and the draught beer thats about 15 bucks, so you get the tastings and some finger food for a tenner.
The waiters will even know a little bit (ok not all that much) about the beers they are pouring you. Head straight past the Leffe's and more commercial examples straight down to the Trappist and Belgian Strong section... finish off with a Rodenbach and a Timmermans gueze. mmmmmmm
As you arrive and go up the stairs... smile at the nice girls who are leaving, if you get lucky, one of them will hand you a tasting ticket that she hasn't finished. The first time I went my $25 got me three glasses of draught beer and 17 tastes...
I wasn't planning on going this time, but a lot of my other food and wine festival choices have been stymied by selling out at light speed, so I might head down to this as well. If I do head down, I'll chuck up a post and maybe we can get together for a drink.
You might also like to check out the Victorian Micro Breweries Showcase on the 27th and the 28th (Feb) 4:30pm at Fed square. 13 Victorian breweries- $25 - 20 tastes & a $5 food voucher. Also a good day, but go early so you get a chance to talk to the brewers before it gets busy and everyone gets drunk.
Thirsty
