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Craft Beer, Live Music & Firelight – Darker Days Is Coming

Darker Days Festival is set to re-ignite Bright on Saturday, June 21, 2025. This midwinter celebration brings together the best of dark beer, live music, local food, and fiery fun in the heart of Bright. Whether you’re a craft beer connoisseur, a music lover, or just chasing good vibes, Darker Days is the ultimate winter escape.

Festivalgoers can expect a stellar lineup of exclusive beers, including special festival collaborations, alongside guest taps from Boatrocker, Stomping Ground, Seeker Brewing, and New Zealand’s Urbanaut Brewing Co.

The music lineup features 10+ hours of live performances, headlined by British India, with support from Hassall and a range of local and Victorian artists.

From their explosive beginnings in the Melbourne indie scene to countless iconic hits like ‘Tie Up My Hands’ and ‘I Can Make You Love Me’, British India has been a powerhouse of Australian rock for over a decade. With six incredible albums, countless sold-out tours, and a reputation for absolutely killer live shows, you know they’re going to bring the house down at Darker Days!

Local favourites like Reed & Co, Backwoods Distilling, Nightingale Bros, and Sixpence Coffee will be on hand, along with a food truck village serving up warm eats and sweet treats.

Family-friendly fun includes a silent disco, face painting, tarot readings, tattoos, and a roaring bonfire to cap off the night.

Tickets are $65 adults, $15 children (6-17 years) and are available now at darkerdays.com.au. The event is cashless, and an After Dark Shuttle Bus will run to nearby towns — and must be pre-booked here.

From Cellar to Glass: Limited Stubborn Flights Now On Tap

Winter has officially arrived, and Bright Brewery is kicking off the King’s Birthday long weekend—and the start of the ski season—with something truly special: a limited-edition Stubborn Imperial Stout tasting flight, available exclusively at the Bright Brewery Brewpub.

Starting Thursday, June 5, we’re cracking open the cellar and tapping four years of Stubborn, from 2022 to 2025. This is a rare opportunity to experience the evolution of one of Bright Brewery’s most iconic winter brews, side by side.

You can choose a tasting flight to compare all four vintages, or opt for a full pour of their favourite (or mix and match—no judgement here). For those looking to elevate the experience, there’s also a Stubborn whisky taster, brewed in collaboration with Backwoods Distilling Co.

This exclusive tasting experience is only available at the Bright Brewery Brewpub for a limited time. Can’t make it to Bright? Grab these beers here.

Bright Brewery WINS DOUBLE GOLD at the 2025 Australian International Beer Awards

Bright Brewery is thrilled to announce its outstanding performance at the 2025 Australian International Beer Awards (AIBAs), taking home 7 medals, including GOLD for the Alpine Lager and Fresh Hop Monster Double IPA beers.

Recognised as the largest annual beer competition in the world assessing both draught and packaged beer, the AIBAs celebrate brewing excellence from across the globe. This year’s competition attracted over 2,600 entries from more than 400 breweries spanning 30+ countries.

Head Brewer Lewis Kerr attended the evening and was ecstatic with the results. ‘It’s a clear reward for the hard work we are putting in, particularly Alpine Lager. Massive credit goes out towards the production team, these are your golds.”

This win marks a monumental moment for Bright Brewery, as Australia’s favourite lager —Alpine Lager—continues its golden run, having also recently claimed #1 Independent Lager at GABS Hottest 100 Craft Beer Poll 2024. It’s a testament to the beer’s exceptional quality and the brewery’s mission to lead with flavour, independence, and authenticity.

Fresh Hop Monster Double IPA is a bold expression of Bright Brewery’s commitment to championing the local hop harvest season. Brewed as a showcase of our fresh hop credentials, it celebrates our unique position just down the road from the HPA hop fields—where proximity means unmatched freshness in every brew.

“With Fresh Hop Monster, we wanted to create a beer that truly champions the incredible local hops and shows just how important freshness is,” said Kerr. “Being the closest brewery to HPA, we’re getting fresh hops into tank faster than anyone else in the country—and you can taste the difference.”

Award Highlights:

· 🥇 GOLD: Modern Lager – Alpine Lager

· 🥇 GOLD: Fresh Hop Beer – Fresh Hop Monster DIPA

· 🥈 SILVER: Modern Lager – Alpine Lager

· 🥈 SILVER: Australian Style Pale Ale – Bright Pale Ale

· 🥈 SILVER: Red India Pale Ale – Leaf Peeper Red Rye IPA

· 🥉 BRONZE: West Coast Style IPA – M.I.A IPA

· 🥉 BRONZE: American Style Red – Hellfire Amber Ale

The recognition at the AIBAs solidifies Bright Brewery’s growing reputation as one of Australia’s most exciting and innovative breweries, committed to quality, flavour, and craftsmanship.

Darker Days to set the night alight on June 21

Winter IS officially coming! The popular Darker Days festival is back at Bright Brewery this June with a full weekend of beery fun in store.

From June 20 to 21, Darker Days will transform Bright Brewery into a celebration of everything dark and decadent. Your festival ticket doesn’t just get you in the door – it unlocks a full weekend experience, including FREE welcome and recovery events, so you can make the most of your time in Bright. Indulge in dark beers from some of Australia’s most innovative, exciting, and highly skilled brewers (plus a very special international guest brewer!), groove to live music all weekend long, and soak up the electric mid-winter festival atmosphere.

What to Expect

Friday, June 20: The festivities kick off with guided brewery tours and tastings (tickets required) followed by a free welcome party featuring live music.
Saturday, June 21: Festival Day! Immerse yourself in a full day festival with over 10 hours of live music headlined by BRITISH INDIA.
Sunday, June 22: Wind down after a weekend of revelry at the Recovery Session with live music starting at 12pm (free entry).

Plan Your Dark Adventure

Tickets are on sale now at  www.darkerdays.com.au .
Tickets: $65 adults, $15 children (6-17 years).
Family and Group discount packages available.

Now’s the time to gather your friends, book your accommodation, and get ready to embrace the darkness at Darker Days!

Hop Into Easter Fun at Bright Brewery!

Get ready to add some hoppy happiness to your Easter Holidays!

From charming twilight markets and lively live music to fun family activities and behind-the-scenes brewery tours, there’s no better place to soak up the beauty of the season with a delicious Bright Brewery beer in hand!

Here’s a sneak peek at what’s on offer at Bright Brewery this Easter:

Thursday, April 17th:
Paddock Container Bar (daily 12pm-7pm): Warm up by the fire pit with hot toddies, mulled wine, and hot spiced cider.
Easter Twilight Markets: 3pm – 7pm , featuring local delights and artisan crafts. Acoustic set by Samara Bright: 4pm – 7pm
Hops & High IQs Trivia Night: 6pm, test your knowledge with a brewery twist!

Good Friday: Open from 12pm until late.
Easter Saturday:  Easter Egg Scramble: 11:30am sharp – a fun-filled event for the little ones!
Easter Sunday: Sunday Session Live Music with The Stents: 2pm – 5pm.
Easter Monday: Open from 11:30am until late.
ANZAC Day: Open from 12pm until late.

Table Bookings Update:
Please note that our online table bookings are currently full for Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday, and the Saturday of the ANZAC Day weekend. However, we will have tables available for walk-in customers, so feel free to pop on down, and our friendly team will do their very best to find you a spot to enjoy the Easter festivities. Click here to check availability>>

Taste the Mountains in Carlton: Bright Brewery Acquires Melbourne’s Iconic P.A.’s

Bright Brewery is thrilled to announce the expansion of our family with the acquisition of one of Melbourne’s most beloved pubs, The Prince Alfred Hotel in Carlton—affectionately known to locals as P.A’s.

This historic venue has been a cornerstone of the Carlton community for nearly 100 years, and we are honoured to continue its rich legacy while introducing our #Mountaincrafted beers to a whole new audience.

“Our team couldn’t be more excited to share the Bright Brewery experience with Melbourne,” said Brett Jordan, General Manager of Bright Brewery. “We’ve always believed in bringing people together over great beer, and now we get to do that in one of the city’s most iconic pub spaces.”

Located at 191 Grattan Street, P.A’s will continue to be a hub for locals, university students, and beer lovers alike. Visitors can look forward to fresh, handcrafted beers brewed in Bright, a welcoming pub atmosphere, and exciting updates to come.

Join us in raising a glass to this exciting new chapter, and follow Prince Alfred Carlton / The Bright Rooftop for the latest news and events.

We’re hiring: Chefs

Are you looking for a new challenge and are keen to join one of Australia’s longest running and most respected Independent Brewers?

Bright Brewery are on the hunt for experienced Chefs to join the team in our vibrant Brewpub venue in the heart of Bright.
Positions available include:
Head Chef
Sous Chef
Chef De Partie

Who is Bright Brewery?

Bright Brewery has been established for almost 19 years in the heart of Victoria’s beautiful High Country. We are a 100% family owned independent brewery which values a “Authentic, Active, Sustainable and Inclusive” lifestyle and brand.

Our mission is to make the best of beer whilst living the best life possible. Our culture is our strength as we highlight the importance of healthy work life balance to ensure the best for our people.

Our Values

Authentic: We pride authenticity in our actions and people. All our decisions are made with an authentic approach, and we pride our business on being positive custodians to our beautiful home and community. We incentivise our team to be them true selves and relish in supporting all aspects of living their best lives.

Active: Bright Brewery is active not only in our wider community but also industry as a whole. Our team are encouraged to work with local support programs in the North East and afar as well as industry led groups as the IBA and Pink Boots Society. We also acknowledge the positive power of being active through both social engagement but physical movement for the health and wellbeing of our people.

Sustainable: Since our inception in 2006, Bright Brewery has always had an eye on our planet and not just the big but also the small things we can do every day to help maintain our beautiful environment for generations to come. We are highly engaged in sustainability measures within our brewing process but also seek to deliver benefits to our staff and wider community through sustainable business decision making.

Inclusive: Bright Brewery prides itself on being an inclusive business for our staff and place for our community. We strive to foster a sense of belonging for all people, an inclusive workplace for our staff and suppliers. We value and respect the diverse talents and perspectives of our team and communities.

We are looking for..

Team players who love working with the freshest local produce and who can bring a real creative flair to our cuisine.  

Positions available include full time, part-time and casual, primarily covering our lunch and dinner services over a seven (7) day roster salary. Salary is negotiable depending on the role and experience. 

Minimum skills required (includes but not limited to):

Passion and imagination for food 

Interest in local produce and beer matching 

Qualified Chef  

Food Safety Certificate  

Demonstrate excellent communication skills  

Ability to work well within a team 

Must have prior experience in a high-volume environment 

Ability to manage food service costs 

Knowledge of relevant laws and regulations relating to the hospitality industry  

Proven leadership skills and lead by example  

Be able to identify problems and attend to them without supervision  

Mature attitude, honesty, loyalty and exceptional work ethic  

Comply with all company policies and procedures. 

Full working rights in Australia 

The perks of the gig!

Beyond the expected bells and whistles; Bright Brewery also offers:

· Subsided memberships that encourage active lifestyles (gym/sport/yoga, etc)

· A Green Transport initiative

· Bright Brewery staff account

· Access to mental health services and support

· Encouragement and paid support to join local and industry related associations and groups

· A generous ‘Time Off In Lieu’ system for overtime and event work

· Continuous training and professional development

· Numerous team and business social events

· Of course, access to some of the best beers a person could drink!

To Apply

Please email a current CV and cover letter addressing the skills and experience required to the Venue Manager: jarrod@brightbrewery.com.au

For more information or a confidential chat, please call Jarrod on 03 5755 1346

Beer, BBQ & Behind-the-Scenes: Bright Brewery Open Day This Saturday!

Ever wondered how we make our beer? Now’s your chance to experience the magic firsthand! Bright Brewery is throwing open the doors to Fred’s Shed– our exclusive production site – for one day only, inviting beer lovers, families, and the local community to a Community Open Day on Saturday, March 15, from 10:30am to 3pm.

This is a rare behind-the-scenes opportunity to witness the passion and craft that goes into every drop of our award-winning beers, including Alpine Lager – recently crowned Australia’s #1 Indie Lager!

What’s in store?

Free brewery tours – Get a guided insider look at our brewing process (11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm)

Beer tastings – Sample our freshest brews, including fan favourites and new releases (11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm)

Meet the brewers – Chat with the experts and uncover the secrets behind your favourite beers

Complimentary BBQ – Because great beer deserves great food

Outdoor games for kids – A fun-filled day for the whole family

Bright Brewery pop-up bar – Sip and enjoy our craft beers and soft drinks on-site

Whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovering craft beer, this is the perfect chance to immerse yourself in the world of brewing, connect with our vibrant community, and enjoy a day of fun, food, and fantastic beer.

For more information and to sign up for one of the free tours and tastings click here.

Important Info: For safety reasons, all visitors to Fred’s Production Facility must sign in upon arrival and wear the provided high-vis clothing.

Alpine Lager Crowned Australia’s #1 Indie Lager in 2024 GABS Hottest 100 Craft Beer Poll

Bright Brewery is thrilled to announce that its flagship beer, Alpine Lager, has secured an impressive #18 ranking in the 2024 GABS Festival Hottest 100 Craft Beer Poll. This remarkable achievement not only marks Alpine Lager’s debut in the Top 20 but also crowns it as Australia’s #1 Independent Lager.  

This year’s result represents a massive leap of 20 places from its #38 ranking in 2023, smashing its previous best result of #32. The GABS Hottest 100 is one of Australia’s most prestigious and competitive craft beer polls, featuring nearly 400 breweries and attracting over 55,000 voters who cast their ballots for their favourite beers of the year. With nearly 1,500 different beers nominated and 70 breweries making the list, Bright Brewery’s Alpine Lager has risen to the top as a standout performer.  

Evin Craney, National Sales and Brand Manager at Bright Brewery, shared his excitement: 

“This last weekend was a dream manifest for the Bright Brewery team. Our flagship beer, Alpine Lager has for the first time cracked the Top 20 of the GABS Hottest 100. As well as taking out the title of Australia’s #1 Independent Lager. Not bad for a beer made in a town of less than 3000 people, 4 hours north of the city!

“This year’s result is even more special as it’s sweetened by having two independent brewers from North East Victoria place in the Top 20, highlighting the strength of our region’s beer scene. This result is a tribute to the incredible effort and dedication of our team, and we’re so proud to share this success with our community.”

Alpine Lager is one of five year-round core-range beers brewed at Bright Brewery’s state-of-the-art production facility in Bright, Victoria. Crafted by brewers Lewis Kerr, David Stokie, Madi Bruce, and Claire Lock, this crisp and refreshing lager has become a favourite among beer enthusiasts across Australia.  

The 2024 GABS Hottest 100 Craft Beer Poll showcased the incredible diversity and quality of Australia’s craft beer scene, with several new lagers making their debut. For Bright Brewery, an independently owned brewery, to compete and excel against internationally owned conglomerates is a testament to the passion, dedication, and craftsmanship of the entire team.  

Alpine Lager is available year-round online, at the Bright Brewery Brewpub, and through its network of 500+ stockists across Australia.  

Celebration Offer!
To toast Alpine Lager being voted Australia’s #1 Independent Lager, enjoy 10% off cases of Alpine Lager until 7 February, 2025!

 

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