Dark Beer

Crisp Air, Cold Brews, and Fiery Vibes: A Perfect Darker Days

Another year, another sell-out—and what a party it was! Darker Days 2025 turned up the heat in Bright with the perfect combo of crisp alpine air, golden winter sunshine, roaring bonfires, and brews flowing faster than you could say “Bubblegum Hazy IPA.”

Locals and visitors rugged up and rolled in, ready to raise a glass to the solstice with top-notch drinks, killer tunes, and good vibes all around.

The taps were working overtime with dark beer bars, spirits, cider and wine. Craft beer fans were in heaven with pours from Urbanaut (NZ), Seeker Brewing (whose Honeycomb Pastry Stout flew out faster than we could pour it), Boatrocker, and Stomping Ground, dishing out everything from crisp pilsners to tangy sours and barrel-aged beauties.

Blanc Space Tattoos were inking non-stop, and the Hot Dawg Toss brought the laughs and some surprisingly competitive energy. DJ Zabi kept the beats flowing between epic live sets from Wild Gloriosa, Patrick Wilson, Liv Cartledge, Hassall, and headliners British India, who totally rocked with three encores and a crowd that didn’t want the night to end.

 And of course, the bonfire—always a Darker Days highlight —blazed bright as the ultimate symbol of the solstice, marking the moment darkness descended in spectacular style.

A big thanks to our amazing sponsors: Liquex Logistics, Bintani, Alpine Shire, and East Coast Canning—you helped make the magic happen.

This year’s official festival beer? A cheeky collab with Urbanaut Brewing called “Tax Deductable Work Trip”—a smooth, sessionable NZ Low Carb IPA that’s as fun as it sounds. Keep an eye out—it’s available online and at the venue now.

Already counting down? Mark your calendars for the third weekend of June 2026—we’ll be back, bigger, bolder, and darker than ever.

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.

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!

The Delta Riggs: Headlining Darker Days at Bright Brewery

Fresh off collaborations with Dope Lemon, Gold Fang, and Dante Knows, and electrifying live performances with Hayley Mary and Dan Sultan, The Delta Riggs are set to headline Darker Days at Bright Brewery.

Over their stellar career, The Delta Riggs have solidified themselves as Australian indie-rock royalty. Their infectious energy and captivating sound have earned them a loyal following. Multiple singles have received heavy airplay on Triple J, and their album “Dipz Zebazios” received the coveted feature album treatment.

The band is no stranger to packed houses, having sold out their own headline tours. They’ve also shared the stage with legendary acts like Foo Fighters, Kasabian and the Eagles of Death Metal.

So get ready for an epic day of 10+ hours of live music as The Delta Riggs bring their high-octane live show to headline Darker Days on Saturday June 15.

What to Expect

  • Friday, June 14: The festivities kick off with guided brewery tours and tastings (tickets required) followed by a free welcome party featuring live music by Since We Kissed (6pm).
  • Saturday, June 15: Festival Day! Immerse yourself in a full day festival with over 10 hours of live music, headlined by The Delta Riggs and supported by Steph Strings, Nicky Bomba, Benny & The Big Wheels and Matt Sier.  Hot Dawg Eating Competition at 4.15pm (pre-registration required).
  • Sunday, June 16: Wind down after a weekend of revelry at the Recovery Session with live music starting at 12pm (free entry).

Early Bird tickets are on sale now at  www.darkerdays.com.au . Now’s the time to gather your friends, book your accommodation, and get ready to embrace the darkness at Darker Days!

Darker Days to set the night alight on June 15, 2024

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 14 to 16, Darker Days will transform Bright Brewery into a celebration of everything dark and decadent. Indulge in dark beers from some of Australia’s most innovative, exciting and highly skilled brewers (and a very special international guest brewer for 2024!), groove to live music across the weekend, and soak up the mid-winter festival atmosphere.

What to Expect

  • Friday, June 14: The festivities kick off with guided brewery tours and tastings (tickets required) followed by a free welcome party featuring live music.
  • Saturday, June 15: Festival Day! Immerse yourself in a full day festival with over 10 hours of live music (artist lineup to be announced April 18).
  • Sunday, June 16: Wind down after a weekend of revelry at the Recovery Session with live music starting at 12pm (free entry).

Plan Your Dark Adventure

Tickets go on sale on Friday, April 19 at  www.darkerdays.com.au . Now’s the time to gather your friends, book your accommodation, and get ready to embrace the darkness at Darker Days!

Stubborn imperial stout 2023 lands at a mighty 16%

Bright Brewery is proud to announce the release of its most highly sought-after annual release – Stubborn Imperial Stout 2023.

Stubborn Imperial Stout, which has been brewed continuously for the past 13 years, is one of Bright’s most iconic and beloved beers. It has become a firm favourite amongst dark beer lovers around Australia and, with a hefty 16% ABV, this year’s vintage is guaranteed to make its mark.

Named for its stubbornness during fermentation, Stubborn is, historically, a challenge for Bright’s brewers – a situation that has become known as the ‘Stubborn Curse’.

“Whenever we brew this beer, something unusual, unexpected and unpredictable happens,” Bright Brewery’s marketing manager, Laura Gray, said. “Over the years, our brewers have learnt to expect the unexpected with this brew.”

But this unpredictable set of circumstances is what sets every vintage of Stubborn Imperial Stout apart from the rest, and imparts its own distinct flavour and character.

“No two years are the same. Each year, we hold our breath, wondering what the brew will bring,” Gray said.

The 2023 vintage of Stubborn Imperial Stout is the first for Bright’s Head Brewer, Lewis Kerr, who joined the team in late 2022. And while his first Stubborn was not without its challenges, Kerr is proud to continue the Stubborn legacy, which started with Jon Seltin back in around 2010.

“This year, we used a yeast we had never worked with before, and the beer fermented at a higher temperature than usual,” Kerr said. “In previous years, there has been equipment failures, illness, brewing failures, Russian war, and missing ingredients – but every year, the beer turns out amazing, albeit different, from all the others.

“The ABV of this year’s Stubborn is well hidden for something that sits at 16. It is more reminiscent of something around the 12% range. It has a silky mouthfeel with moderate carbonation, strong hints of banana and fruit bowl that open up into cherry and caramel, and heavy notes of molasses.”

With a nose that is a combination of vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon, with deep, rich port-wine notes, Stubborn 2023 will pair well with hearty comfort foods like succulent slow-cooked meats or can be enjoyed as a dessert beer alongside a rich, decadent dessert.

“We are thrilled to be able to share this unique and exciting beer with beer lovers,” said Gray. “We know that the Stubborn Curse only adds to the allure of this beer, and we can’t wait for beer enthusiasts to experience it for themselves.”

Stubborn Imperial Stout 2023 will be launched at a special Vertical Tasting in Bright on May 15. It will be available for purchase from May 15 at Bright Brewery’s online shop, direct from the Brewery, and from selected retail outlets across Australia.

Dark beer lovers attending Bright’s Darker Days midwinter festival will also be able to enjoy a vertical tasting of three past vintages of this infamous brew.

So, get ready to embrace the darkness of winter with a glass of Stubborn Imperial Stout in your hand!

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