Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last month I joined with thousands of Novocastrians to celebrate local manufacturing and independent brewing in Newcastle Beer Fest. The was the first time that the beer fest was able to return following COVID. It was fabulous day of sunshine, music, food and, of course, beer—independent, Australian owned and made beer. I congratulate organisers Taiyo Namba and Luke Tilse who welcomed an amazing collection of independent breweries from across Australia to Newcastle's iconic King Edward Park.

Anyone who visits Newcastle knows we have a burgeoning independent brewer scene. In 2023 the Newcastle Beer Fest welcomed a number of these local breweries, including Apple Truck Cider run by Luke Tilse; Grainfed Brewing, nurtured by owner and head brewer Lachlan MacBean; Foghorn Brewery, headed up by chief brewer Shawn Sherlock; Cattleyard Brewing Company in Mayfield; Good Folk Brewing Company in Hamilton; Method Brewing in Islington; Modus Operandi Brewing in Merewether; The Rogue Scholar in Newcastle West; Shout Brewing in Islington; and Styx Brewery in Carrington. We are rich for choice in Newcastle when it comes to great beer and local live music like Big Booti, SF Wrens, Sneaky Freakers and Turpentine Babycino who performed on the day. A massive thank you to Luke Tilse and Taiyo Namba for showcasing such extraordinary local talent. This is Australian manufacturing at its best.