There's a strong argument to be made for Good Beer Week being all about good times. Sure, there's education and adventure to be had along the way, but we'd like to think that attendees have a good time even at the most intense of masterclasses.
But within the youngest and fastest-growing of the festival's streams, Good Times, are a host of events where fun and games take centre stage with good beer there as a welcome accompaniment. One of beer's great advantages over most other mood-altering substances is its suitability for so many situations. And we think these six events plucked from the packed 2015 program demonstrate just that.
Click on the event titles to view their full listing on the festival website.
Killer Sprocket Comedy
Dejavu Bar & Lounge – May 18
$15pp
After selling out their craft beer and comedy debut night at Good Beer 2014, Killer Sprocket are back with more. Brewer Sean Ryan is also a standup so is combining his two loves here, with a lineup of top comedy talent, including Andy Matthews, Alasdair Tremblay-Birchall, Dilruk Jayasinha, Geraldine Hickey and "special comic guest", plus Killer beers and the launch of a collaboration with KAIJU!
Brewers Brains
The Fox on Montague – May 22
$20pp
The team from The Fox in Collingwood now has a second haunt south of the river. It takes its GBW bow by inviting NSW brewery Nomad and Brits Beavertown to line up their beers and their brains for a night of beer trivia. Entry gets you a six beer tasting paddle too.
Women of Beer High Tea
Junction Beer Hall – May 24
$50pp
Australia's brewing ladies are well represented at GBW 5 with a tap takeover at The Fox and the sold out Craft + Craft event. You can also join them for an afternoon of refinery and lovely beer as they host a High Tea on the closing Sunday.
Cavalier Brewing Presents Hand Crafted
The Palace Hotel – May 23
Free entry
Live tattooing, graffiti, artists, bands, DJs, MCs, performance artists, barbers, market stalls, interactive art and hand crafted beer – Cavalier takes its roving roadshow south of the river for its second Good Beer Week appearance.
All Red Pool Shootout – Take on the Brewers
Red Triangle Pool Hall – May 22
$12 to $29pp
It's all fun and games for Red Hill at Good Beer Week 2015. They're hosting a close to selling out mountain bike tour of their Mornington Peninsula home and also inviting all-comers to take them on at pool. Their second Pool Shootout challenge is in Fitzroy on the festival's Friday.
KAIJU! Beer & Board Games
Izakaya Chuji – May 24
$55pp
See the week out with an evening of board games as KAIJU! bring their popular 2014 event back for another run. Your ticket gets you a glass of each of KAIJU!'s beers plus food from Izakaya Chuji and, of course, as much gaming as you can handle.
You can check out our other themed previews here, see the latest list of what's sold out in our Event Diary listing here and get the lowdown on this year's Pint of Origin here too.