But for Ballarat’s Rebellion Brewery director Andrew Lavery, it was all in a day’s work.  This is the third year the microbrewery came to the Ballarat Beer Festival – and this year, it was the only local representative. 

“Following Red Duck pulling out of the event, we’re the only ones,” Andrew said. 

A long line of beer lovers queued outside the Rebellion tent, but the staff kept the fast-moving line under control. 

“The Rat Gold Lager, Premium Lager and Pale Ales have gone really well today,” Andrew said yesterday. 

Even traditional non-beer drinkers were giving the brew a go. 

“Usually, you have wine drinkers progressing to cider drinkers and then people progressing to beer,” he said.

 “I’d recommend a pale ale for those progressing from cider to beer. It’s a bit fruitier.” 

Andrew said this year the festival had found its rhythm.

“The first year we ran out of beer about halfway through the day. Last year we had a bit too many brewers here,” Andrew said. “But now they’ve found a balance.” 

While many soaked up the atmosphere in the sun or on hay bales, Andrew said for him the perfect place to have a beer wasn’t at the festival but “outside on the deck at home”.