New vibes, new venue for South West Craft Beer Festival

Aravina Estate will be a-buzz with beer lovers this weekend as the 13th South West Craft Beer Festival returns to the region with a new venue and a new approach to the event.

“We wanted to take the festival in a new direction in 2025 and leading into the weekend we couldn’t be more excited for not only our new venue at Aravina Estate which is simply picturesque, but also for the incredible lineup of beer and food, which we are confident will make this our best event ever,” Festival Director Jason Dover said.

This year’s event promises the widest range of beers ever served at the festival.

“The new date has opened up more seasonal beers with the cooler weather seeing an extended range of Red Ales, Stouts and even a Steam Ale, to go with the normal Lagers, Pale Ales, IPAs, Sours and Hazy NEIPAs.”

Collaborations between breweries will see the likes of Froth and Rocky Ridge team up to deliver Easy Rollin’ (NEIPA) and Rollin’ Home (Steam Ale), at a huge u-shaped bar on the upper deck at Aravina.

In keeping with Aravina’s surf roots and the WA surf museum onsite the festival takes on a new ‘surf theme’ to honour the upcoming Margaret River Pro, with the theme extended into the beer lineup. Cheeky Monkey will deliver a brand new collaboration with Bungalow Social called Mainbreak, along with two other Surf Series releases – Mousetraps IIPA and Rivermouth Haze Pale. The Margaret River Beer Co are also teaming up with Sessions Surf Shop to launch their Onshore Ale at the festival.

The festival’s first ever range of gluten free beer will also be available, as well as two alcohol free varieties.

Also on the menu are delicious eats from Aravina and partners, including pizzas and beef brisket rolls, Shelter serving bratwurst hotdogs, Margaret River Beer Co delivering a duck red curry, beef rendang, gado gado and pork belly bao buns. To top it off CBCo are partnering with Margaret River Pie House to serve up lamb and Thai curry pies.

Two new breweries will join the lineup, continuing the celebration of South West brewing magic – Bailey Brewing, who have recently set up in Dunsborough and Denmark’s Ocean Beach Brewery.

CBCo’s bringing their golfing fun to the festival with their special brew Hoppy Gilmore and putting and chipping competitions at their stall.

As well as beer there are other beverages to slake your thirst, including Aravina Estate’s choice of premium wines, three different cocktails, ginger beer and ciders, plus the return of Bush Shack Brewery’s famous Screamin’ & Creamin’ and Mango Madness slushies.

Festival gates open at 10.30am on Saturday May 17. Families are welcome and free parking is available, as well as buses running from major towns. General admission tickets are available online from $25 at – swbeerfest.com.au Door sales will be available on the day if tickets are not sold out prior.