Mary Richmond and Michael Cichocki took over Tumut River Brewing Co when the business went into liquidation. Photo: Jimmy Barwick.
It’s been one year since employees Mary Richmond and Michael Cichocki rescued Tumut River Brewing Co from closing permanently.
To celebrate, they’re holding a three-day festival at the brewery with music, food, family entertainment and guest beers on tap.
Michael Cichocki told Region that making it to their first anniversary as owners felt great.
“The last 12 months have been a blur, it’s just flown! We haven’t had much of a chance to pause and take stock,” he said.
“I think we’ve done pretty well given how quickly we had to get things up and running … so we wanted to do something to bring everyone together and celebrate with them.”
South Coast rockers Corey Legge and The Legacy will be performing along with five other acts. Photo: Supplied.
Tumut River Brewing Co has been running Tap Day festivals since the days of COVID when customers were required to distance and stay seated. It began as a day of live music in the brewery and has developed into a weekend-long celebration in the park.
In some ways, this year’s celebration, starting on 21 November, will return to the origins of the festival – although attendees will of course be allowed, and encouraged, to leave their chairs – with all three days taking place at the taphouse.
Friday night’s free event will kick things off with live music from Central Coast singer songwriter Hannah Harlen. Saturday’s event is ticketed, with six bands performing throughout the day.
Guest beers on tap include a collaborative brew with Longstocking Brewery from Pambula: a strawberry lime sour. Beers from Jindabyne Brewing, Penrith brewers Squinters Brewing Co and Dalgetty Brewing Co will also be on tap.
“ARCHIE from Canberra, Corey Legge and The Legacy from down the coast and Skabhangers ska band from Melbourne will be playing along with three local music acts. It’s a real mix,” Michael said.
“It’s not just the music: there will be a bit of fun and games over the day. I’ve stolen a few ideas from our Oktoberfest celebrations so we’ll have some opportunities to get people involved in between the bands setting up.”
The Smoking Butcher food truck will be serving smoked meats on Saturday, in addition to gourmet pizza and Mexican dishes out of the brewery kitchen.
The next 12 months will involve more collaborations, more live music, more beers and more good times. There’s a New Years Eve Latin American fiesta planned, a collaborative sour cherry beer with Batlow cidery The Apple Thief and a mango lime version of the award-winning Ginja Ninja for the summer.
“We feel like we’re in a good position to have more live music, events and really promote Tumut and the region as a tourist destination in the next 12 months,” Michael said.
Tap Days will run from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 November. Friday and Sunday have free entry, Saturday is ticketed. All ages are welcome throughout the weekend, but families are encouraged to attend on Sunday.
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