Good Beer Week is back for another year in 2016, with a week dedicated to froth-filled fun. Registrations are now open for anyone wishing to host an event during the festival, running next year from May 14 to 22.

Described by international brewers as ‘the best beer week in the world’, the sixth annual Good Beer Week is on the look out for the best, most creative, innovative, eye-catching and entertaining beer events ever seen.

After growing by more than 400% since the first festival in May 2011, the intention is to cap the program at a similar size to 2015, which featured 250 events across 180 venues.

However, with the craft beer scene growing so rapidly, the festival committee is expecting to receive a record number of applications and will be approving those that don’t simply match the event guidelines, but dazzle, inspire and exceed expectations.

According to recent news mainstream beer brands have become stagnant in sales, while craft varieties are growing steadily each year. Good Beer Week is an amazing opportunity for Victorian venues to showcase their love of international and local craft beer in this growing market.

As in 2015, the festival program will be split into five streams; Beer 101, Beer Lover, Beer Geek, Foodie and Good Times. This helps to ensure that Good Beer Week offers broad appeal, and helps attendees find their perfect event.

The festival committee wants a good spread across all five streams, with a healthy proportion of free-to-enter events as well as those that showcase good beer at new venues or in unique or unusual places.

Good Beer Week 2016 will run for nine days across Melbourne and Victoria with the program launching at the Gala Showcase at the Fitzroy Town Hall on March 18, 2016.

Good Beer Week 2015 was the biggest yet, welcoming thousands of beer lovers and brewers to Melbourne and Victoria from all over the globe. There were more events, more sellouts, more tickets sold and more record takings at venues.

Full explanations of the streams are in the event guidelines and within the registration process. Those wishing to apply must also meet the guidelines set out in the festival’s charter, which is available online.

Event registrations close on October 31