Here’s cheers: Beer and BBQ Festival set to sizzle at new venue
After calling last drinks on its decade-long run at the Adelaide Showgrounds, the Adelaide Beer and BBQ Festival is back – and promising its biggest and boldest chapter yet.
Setting up smokers at The Drive, right in the heart of the city, the festival is set to sizzle on July 10 and 11.
Over two days, more than 50 vendors – from long-running festival favourites to first timers making their debut – will transform the historic space and spill out across War Memorial Drive.
Making full use of the new venue, which has hosted legendary performers such as Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones and Elton John, Beer and BBQ Festival boasts a weird and wonderful genre-spanning lineup. Seven-piece satirical alt-rock band TISM – an acronym for This Is Serious Mum – lead the charge, joined by American singer-songwriter Ben Kweller, Melbourne genre-bending supergroup Tropical Fuck Storm, and the new sound of Australia hardcore, SEPPED.
Fire cooking and low and slow will be on show with Texas-inspired ACT-based Big Box BBQ finally making the trip from Canberra. While Braz Oz will bring their international flavour of Brazilian BBQ direct from Sao Paulo by way of Melbourne for the first time.
NSW-based Carolina Smoke will bring their award-winning pork belly lollipops to the festival, which are thick-cut pork belly skewers smoked with Carolina rub and coated in a peach bourbon glaze. And they’re back to break their own pork belly lollipop record of 3000, set in 2024.
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Melbourne’s Leone Catalano, the creator of Leon’s Smash Burgers, has spent a decade travelling around the US – the country that has defined the burger – so you don’t have to. Taking inspiration from hidden gems to action-wide franchises, Leon’s slings the simplest, the most classic and the tastiest American smash burger.
Meanwhile, local legends Smokey Uppercuts and Smoking’ Grillers will be representing SA.
Don’t get a thrill from the grill? Taco Cartel vs NuggLyff have you covered. The genius chefs are joining forces in a monster partnership, set to deliver fried chicken and taco Frankenstein creations.
And if you find yourself totally smoked by all the meat options, take a break on the level 2 deck with Franklin Oyster Co. Delicious and sustainable, they’ll be slinging molluscs in many guises, including a N’Orleans style Oyster Po Boy (you’ll find them nestled in amongst Tin Shed Wines and Long Way Round Distilling).
Vegetarians and vegans will be catered for too, with From Blammo’s eggplant fries, Eggelaide’s waffle creations, Jamaican Mi Eat’s vegan wraps and vege curry, Taco Cartel’s famous cauliflower tacos and lots more to discover.
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Living up to its name the festival features a strong contingent of brewers from SA and interstate, who are bringing special releases just for Beer and BBQ.
After months of research and development, Pirate Life are thrilled to officially launch their Nitro Draught Stout. There’s a reason it picked up gold at this year’s Australian International Beer Awards. It’s brewed for those who love their dark beers smooth and roasty, expect cascading bubbles, coffee-like aromas, and a head that settles thick against the char. The perfect entry level for the stout curious.
Gold Coast’s Balter Brewing, the cult-craft brewery co-founded by surfing legends Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Josh Kerr and Bede Durbidge are catching a wave right down to SA for the weekend.
Little Bang are set for a cosmic explosion as their 2026 Sludgebeast – fresh off the line – oozes through The Drive. As always, they’ll have a small batch of surprises, and promise something fun, weird, wonderful and interactive for punters.
It’s Bridge Road Brewers 21st birthday and they’ve brought B2 Bomber Mach 16 to celebrate. It’s a milestone release for one of Victoria’s most established indie breweries. Previous festival attendees would remember the adventurous standout ube banana and blood plum sour from No Eye Deer, this year they’re planning another creative concoction. If you’re looking for something else to test your tastebuds, Noodledoof arrives with Sticky Date Whisky Barrel Aged Porter and Raspberry Belgian Witbier.
Other highlights include Watsacowie who are launching a barrel aged beer at the festival while Tiny Fish will have around eight beers plus a festival-exclusive collab beer brewed specifically for 2026. For something to warm the soul, Heaps Good Spirits will debut their first whisky – made with mallee root to explore Australian smoke flavours – served neat and in cocktails designed to pair with BBQ food.
Mismatch Brewing are teasing a big new product development including rebrews of classics such as Evil Archie’s Red IPA, Stupid Pastry Stout (13%) and Imperial Barrel Aged Stout. If you’re looking to get a little bit silly, LOBO Cider and Spirits are running a howl with the wolf – loudest howl – competition.
Discover the full list of bands, beers and BBQ coming to this year’s festival at www.beerbbqfest.com.au
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