Here's Cheers to the First Queensland Beer Week

If the flashing red neon XXXX sign atop Castlemaine Brewery isn’t proof enough that Queenslanders love their beer, the state is now bracing for its own beer bash with the inaugural Queensland Beer Week from July 16- 22.

The collective ‘clink’ of beer bottles will be heard across Queensland as breweries, bottle shops and iconic pubs team up to showcase the very best of beer culture, while beer-lovers also attempt a world record for the most people brewing at one time.

And the timing couldn’t be more perfect with Queensland’s favourite brew, XXXX Gold recently taking the crown for the nation's most popular beer and flattening the bubbles out of long-time title holder, Victoria Bitter.

Raise your glass and celebrate with the 10 best beer experiences in Queensland.

1. Take a tour with a tipple

Get inside the head, the heart and the history of Queensland’s amber elixir with a tour through the XXXX Ale House in Brisbane’s inner-west. Tours of the 130-year-old icon run daily and visitors can see how the beer is made and taste the final product. www.xxxxbrewerytour.com.au

2. Bavarian beer in the bush

If the clink of a beer stein and the image of an honest Aussie farmer in a good pair of lederhosen appeals, then head west for the world’s most remoteOutback Oktoberfest in Jundah. You won’t go hungry or thirsty with Beer Wenches catering to your every whim, whether it be a big juicy bratwurst or stein of authentic Erdinger beer specially imported from Germany. www.outbackoktoberfest.com.au

3. Get crafty on the coast

You can’t rush a good thing, according to the Gold Coast’s only craft brewery, Burleigh Brewing Company. It takes around a month to perfect a Burleigh brew; the onsite team does absolutely everything by hand, from carefully selecting the malted barley, yeast and hops to bottling the finished product, boxing it up and lovingly placing it in the cold room. Clearly they’re doing something right - their HEF beer was recently judged the Best German Wheat Beer at the World Beer Cup 2012. Wunderbar! www.burleighbrewing.com.au

4. A match made in heaven

It’s an unlikely pairing, but beer and cheese go together like Queen Elizabeth and her corgies. Explore the hinterland town of Mount Tamborine and match the cheese at Witches Chase Cheese with award-winning beer samples from Mount Tamborine Brewery next door. www.mtbeer.com

5. Beers and bull riding

Crack a coldie at the iconic Great Western Hotel in Rockhampton, the home of great steak, beer and rodeos. This 116-year-old pub plays host to major national rodeos and features a huge undercover rodeo arena for 1,000 people that attracts champion riders from near and far.www.greatwesternhotel.com.au

6. BYO (Brew Your Own) beer

Be your own brew master for a day at Brew 4 U in Brisbane - Queensland’s first brew-on-premises microbrewery. Visit the brewery and choose a beer from their list of over 200 different styles. Measure out the ingredients, mix them together and transfer it to the fermenter where your brew will bubble for 2-4 weeks. At the end of the process, take home 50 litres of your very own freshly brewed and bottled beer. www.bru4u.com

7. Archive of ales

Beer-aficionados won’t go thirsty at Archive Beer Boutique in Brisbane’s West End, with more than 400 different bottled beers and 14 draught beers to choose from. Currently on tap is Burleigh HEF, White Rabbit White Ale and Two Birds Sunset Red Ale. But if the reserve selection is more to your taste, for $175 you can try a bottle of Brewdog’s Tactical Nuclear Penguin. With 32 per cent alcohol it’s the world’s strongest beer and should be enjoyed like a fine whisky. www.archivebeerboutique.com.au

8. Sky’s the limit

The tropical climate of North Queensland has always been associated with cold, thirst-quenching beer. Enter Blue Sky Brewery. Situated in the heart of Cairns, the brewery produces 10 preservative-free, full-flavoured beers including lagers, ales and ciders. Enjoy guided tours from Monday to Thursday where you can sample their stable of beers including FNQ Lager, FNQ Gold, Cairns Gold and Blue Sky Pilsner. Blue Sky is also serious about being green with 95 per cent of its spent grain and yeast used for cattle feed. www.blueskybrewery.com.au

9. Something’s a-brewing

One of Australia’s premier boutique breweries, the Townsville Brewing Company has been brewing six regular beers plus various seasonal releases since opening in 2001. Steeped in history, the brewery is housed within the town’s original post office building, flanked by an impressive clock tower. Brewery tours aren’t available but they do offer tutored tastings. www.townsvillebrewery.com.au

10. No bitter aftertaste

Cleverly named beer bistro Bitter Suite is one of New Farm’s trendy new kids on the block and becoming a fast favourite for weekend afternoon drinks. The friendly owners living out their dream offer patrons hearty fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But it’s their grazing menu begging to be washed down with a choice of seven local craft beers on tap, plus 55 (mostly) Australian bottles that’s winning over locals. www.bittersuite.com.au

Here's Cheers to the First Queensland Beer Week

China Our Tourism Salvation

THE Sunshine Coast's increasing focus on the Chinese tourism market has been given the seal of approval by an international expert.

Dr Scott Richardson, an advisor to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, said new figures showed Chinese international tourism receipts rose 38 per cent last year.

Overall international tourist numbers jumped from 939 million in 2010 to 980 million in 2011 and were expected to reach the one billion mark this year.

This number will continue to grow and is expected to reach 1.8 billion international tourist arrivals by 2030.

With those sorts of figures in mind, the Sunshine Coast tourism industry has been heavily involved with Tourism Queensland pushes into the Chinese market and worked closely with council to host a string of delegations.

The Hyatt Regency Coolum resort last year introduced Chinese language brochures, menus and maps as well as employing a Chinese-speaking guest liaison officer as part of a broad-ranging bid to break into the lucrative market.

Noosa Chamber of Commerce has called for all school students to be taught Mandarin while direct flights to China will be one of the first priorities once Sunshine Coast Airport is upgraded to international standard.

A visit last November by officials from the Shaanxi Province of Tongchuan to discuss tourism and business opportunities prompted Sunshine Cost Destinations CEO Steve Cooper to proclaim the region was on the brink of "boom times".

Dr Richardson agreed, saying the Coast was poised to take advantage of a massive market.

"The potential to capitalise on an influx of Chinese tourists is huge and being part of the Asia-Pacific means Australia is in a perfect position to take advantage of their close proximity," he said.

"It also creates amazing opportunities for tourism graduates over the coming years, whether they are in the Australian tourism industry or pursuing the array of opportunities in China itself."

While the tourism industry had gone through a tough few years, Dr Richardson said his last quarterly Sunshine Coast tourism report to the UNWTO indicated an increase in revenue and activity.

"Last quarter was very positive for the industry, with things starting to settle down and people feeling freer to travel and spend their money," he said.

"The people I've talked to across the Sunshine Coast are noticing this."

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Queensland Hotels Bounce Back

A year ago Queensland was hit a double blow from devastating floods and cyclone Yasi.

Twelve months on and tourism in the sunshine state is bouncing back according to local operators.

Australian Bureau of Statistics results show a consistent growth in tourist numbers indicating a positive future for accommodation providers with an increased occupancy rate and average length of stay.

Much of this success comes from Tourism Queensland’s $12 million Nothing Beats Queensland campaign that was released immediately after the summer’s disasters.

Metro Hotels who have three properties in Queensland, have reported a rise in occupancy rates of up to 10 per cent in Gladstone, 12 per cent Brisbane and Ipswich.

The Metro Hotel on Wickham Terrace Brisbane and the Metro Hotel Ipswich International both suffered as a result of last January’s floods. “Luckily, both of these properties are on high ground so they were not directly damaged by the flood waters,” explains Metro Hotels Chief Operating Officer, George Bedwani.

The Metro Hotel and Apartments Gladstone also suffered because of the floods and cyclone Yasi. “Access to Gladstone from the southern and northern parts of the Queensland was completely cut off for a number of days,” said Mr Bedwani. “Gladstone is a mining hub and these natural disasters put a very large dent in their business and ours.”

According to Mr Bedwani, the future is looking positive for Queensland hotels. ”Queensland and Queenslanders are very resilient and the way everyone has pulled together to things up and running again is simply remarkable,” he said.

Accommodation at Metro Hotel Tower Mill Brisbane and Croc Express tour

Stay 2 nights in an executive room at Metro Hotel Tower Mill with buffet breakfast plus Croc Express tour to Australia Zoo includes coach and entry From $338 per person twin share.

Booking can be made direct with traveltrain holidays on 1800 627 655 It is not necessary to book rail to or from Brisbane

See Metro Hotel Tower Mill Website