Beer diva to co-host Ballarat Beer Festival

BEER diva Kirrily Waldhorn spent time learning her craft at a week-long malting and brewing course at the University of Ballarat.Some eight years on, she’s back for the inaugural Ballarat Beer Festival.Ms Waldhorn epitomises the excitement surrounding the inaugural event, which promises to bring together a collection of boutique beers, fine food and world-class entertainment.The renowned beer presenter, educator, consultant, writer and judge said the festival was destined for success.“You’ve got a great area to draw from in that Melbourne is not that far away. Victoria has got a fantastic craft beer culture, and there is an amazing range of breweries located in Victoria. Any regional festival in this state is going to work well,” she said.Ms Waldhorn will have official duties at Saturday’s festival, joining masters of ceremonies, comedians Charlie Pickering and Danny McGinlay, in hosting the event. She will offer her beer expertise and help with pouring and blind tasting competitions.Musical acts this weekend include indie sweetheart Clare Bowditch, singer-songwriter Jordie Lane and Victorian rock band Stonefield. The team from Network Ten’s The Circle will also appear.The Ballarat Beer Festival will be held at City Oval from 11am, with tickets available through Ticketek. They start from $35 for adults and $15 for children.