Ballarat Beer Hop looks set to become a permanent fixture on the city's Easter calendar after a successful inaugural event.
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About 500 people took part in the Beer Hop, visiting six different venues throughout the city and tasting beers from 12 different breweries and six local wineries.
Event organiser Jordan McPhan said the trouble-free first event, and positive feedback about having an Easter event for adults, meant the event would probably be extended next year.
"It will definitely be going ahead, with tickets to go on sale before Christmas, and it will most likely be a three day festival," Ms McPhan said.
"The Beer Hop will still be one day, but there will be events on either side of it. Everyone was loving the idea of positioning Ballarat as a home of Easter for big kids so the events on either side will continue with that branding.
"Everywhere else does Easter egg hunts and family events, but this will be about Easter for big kids with food, craft beer and wine."
Ms McPhan said many Beer Hop participants were from Melbourne and had made a long weekend of it, staying in the city, dining at restaurants and exploring other attractions.
The average age of participants was 40, which Ms McPhan said was the demographic the event was aimed at.
"You always worry if you're going to pick up the younger demographic but the demographic we had was who we wanted and it was great."
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She said there was a "really cool vibe around town" as people wandered between Campanas Fine Wine & Deli, Freight Bar and Restaurant, The Mallow Hotel, Housey Housey, and The Pub With Two Names.
"The vibe was great and we were surprised with the amount of out-of-town visitors who came in over the weekend from Melbourne," she said. "They had either seen the actual event, or googled what's on for Easter."
An added spin-off was the boost for other businesses with local restaurants serving bigger-than-expected numbers of diners on their Beer Hop adventure, and many locals discovering new venues they had not previously been in to.
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