The Kangaroo Valley Craft Beer & BBQ Festival was held over the weekend of 17-18 October at the family-owned Friendly Inn Hotel. The long-awaited weekend of good times, great food and perfect ales was just the party Kangaroo Valley needed to welcome back visitors now that the main roads are open again.
Crowds of over 4,000 people enjoyed the festivities over the weekend. The beer garden and the back paddock of The Friendly Inn was packed with beer and BBQ devotees who sampled the very best BBQ and craft beer the region has to offer. Over 500kg of meat was cooked, smoked and devoured over the weekend. Claystone Meats were big supporters over the weekend, supplying the very best cuts for the competing teams and the infamous sausage eating competition.
“This is the best BBQ festival in Australia” said Andrew of Black Iron Smokers who brought his 1150 gallon smoker to the festival to feed the crowds.
Photos by Drummer Boy Pictures & Nat Harker
Meatheads from around the country came to the Valley to compete in the Steak Cook-Offs and the Australian BBQ Alliance competitions. 45 competitive BBQ teams battled it out over the weekend for the title Grand Champion and over $7,000 worth of cash prizes. A lucky few had the very hard task of being the official BBQ judges over the weekend – tasting, sampling, and grading each of the competitive categories of pork ribs, lamb, beef brisket and anything on a stick. The undisputed Grand Champion was Butterbeard Bbq and BBQ team Dusty Cue, who travelled from South Australia, were the winners of the Golden Ticket to fly to USA to compete in the international Steak Cook-Offs.
It wasn’t all serious BBQ business at the festival. Families enjoyed a great day out with free face painting, pig races, lawn mowing racing, helicopter rides, live music and markets for all to enjoy. The village retailers of Kangaroo Valley enjoyed a long-awaited busy weekend.
“We had a huge day weekend. So super to see and hear the buzz. Great to rebuild spirits!” said Melissa Powley, Sweet As Kangaroo Valley
The Kangaroo Valley Craft Beer & BBQ festival marks the beginning of a busy festive season for Kangaroo Valley, with the Visual Arts in the Valley festival taking place over the October long weekend, and the return of the Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival later in the month. At this rate Kangaroo Valley might just become the festival capital of the south coast.
Natalie Harker