Little Bang Brewing Co.’s booziest, beastliest day of the year is just around the corner, and if monstrous brews, dirty blues, smoky flavours and stout-fuelled fun sound like your type of thing, then this is one you’re not going to want to miss.
SludgeFest is stomping its way back into Little Bang Brewing Co. this July, on Saturday the 5th, and trust us, this isn’t your average winter warmer.
“SludgeFest is one of our most highly anticipated events for the calendar year,” shared Little Bang Brewing Co.’s Director of Operations and Brewing, Oscar Matthews.
“It marks the release of ‘Sludgebeast’, a bold 12 per cent Imperial Stout, along with barrel-aged release and our rotating ‘pastry stout’ release. SludgeBeast quickly became one of our most renowned beers for its ‘palate-wrecking’ complexity, sludge-like viscosity and heartwarming ABV. So, from there, we thought, why not hold an event solely based around such a special and loved beer to celebrate its release?”
Oscar says Sludgefest is one hell of a day. This year’s event is a dark beer lover’s dream, with four exciting new releases, including their members’ exclusive release on tap and in cans.
“We keep SludgeBeast aside each year to release on the day, and we’ll be pouring our back vintages from 2023 and 2024. As the beer pairs so well with our food, we run two masterclass sessions, taking you back through the years and looking at how this develops over time and challenges your palate.”
Joining the 2025 SludgeBeast, which is a rich and roasty Imperial Stout sitting at a no-joke 12 per cent, are the KentuckySludge, the Rumbeast, and the members-only FudgeBeast. The RumBeast is 13.2 per cent spicy and stormy with big island vibes, and the FudgeBeast is a mocha-loaded stout. The KentuckySludge is an indulgent Bourbon barrel-aged version, clocking in at 13.2 per cent.
“KentuckySludge has been a favourite for a few years now, and we’ve really wanted to play around with more varieties of barrel. Last year, we picked up Jamaican Spiced Rum barrels, and we’ve held the beer in these for 12 months. So, 2025 will be the first release of Rumbeast and we’re super excited as this beer is looking awesome!”
You’ll be able to grab these poured fresh from the taps, and also in a tasting paddle format. These will give you a chance to try the vintage and current versions of SludgeBeast so you can taste the evolution of the beer.
But this isn’t just about stout, there’s heaps more bringing a proper festival vibe to the event. There’ll be SludgeBeast merch, food platters, live music from bluesy outlaw Cal Williams Jr., Vinyl DJs spinning swampy southern tunes, and outdoor heaters to keep everyone warm.
Music is a pretty big part of the Sludgefest vibe, and the soundtrack has been perfectly curated by the Little Bang team. “To us, we think that Blues, BBQ and Stout pair incredibly well! You can expect live tunes from Cal Williams Jr and a vinyl DJ throughout the day, bringing you rockin’ good times,” said Oscar.
And if that wasn’t enough, the Brewside Masterclass is back for two exclusive sessions. These intimate two-hour sit-downs include three epic courses paired with Little Bang’s beastliest beers. This is all hosted by Oscar, who’ll take you behind the scenes of how they’ve brewed, aged, and barely contained these monsters.
“Jump in on the master classes! But if you miss out, we’ll have Sludge-focused food specials on the day, so you’ll be able to join in on the food pairing action,” says Oscar.
SludgeFest is the perfect big, bold winter event. Entry is totally free, but consider booking a table to confirm your place.
SludgeFest ’25
When: July 5th, from 11am
Where: 25 Henry St, Stepney SA 5069
For more information, click here.
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