Maitland’s annual Bitter and Twisted Boutique Beer Festival scored a big thumbs up at last week’s Maitland City Council meeting with councillors told the event was a significant milestone for the city.
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The tenth annual event attracted 4300 people on November 5 and 6 and has been hailed by organisers and Maitland councillors as a great success.
In a report, council’s events co-ordinator Adam Franks said last year’s event paid homage to the characters, personalities and participants that have contributed to the success of the festival over the past ten years through a retrospectively themed marketing and activities program.
“In 2007 when the festival was first established the then tongue in cheek aim was to become the best damn beer festival in Australia,” Mr Franks said.
“With its loyal following it is safe to say that over this time Bitter and Twisted has certainly cemented its place as one of the best known and most loved craft beer festivals in the country,” he said.
Cr Bob Geoghegan said it was pleasing to see the festival was becoming more popular each year.
“I believe all the tickets for the Saturday were sold out the earliest they have ever been sold out and it’s great to see the event continues to pay its way,” he said.
Cr Philip Penfold said there were no figures showing profit or loss in the report. “Bitter and Twisted is a great annual event. I would hope that future reports, including events, also paint a clearer picture as to the income and expenditure,” Cr Penfold said.
Council’s Marketing and Communications Manager Rachel MacLucas said the festival returned a small profit which was put back into the operational budget.
Fairfax Media promoted the event in the weeks leading up to the festival with Instagram photography, Snapchat live from the event, online stories and a boutique beer taste test video by two Maitland characters Budd and Big Ray.
The online coverage garnered almost 80,000 clicks on The Maitland Mercury website and more than 4000 people tuned in to watch the videos.
In his report Mr Franks extended a special thanks to the 35 volunteers plus event sponsors and partners who helped make the festival possible.
THE TASTE TEST
In the lead up to the festival we took two craft beer neophytes, Big Ray and Buddha, to Morpeth Brewery and Beer Co to taste test some craft beers.
WATCH the video here.
