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A new online craft beer trail and map has launched featuring 18 local breweries from across the Sunshine Coast, Hinterland and Noosa regions.

The ‘Sunshine Coast Craft Beer Trail’ – which will go live on Friday 1 May – is a collaboration between Sunshine Coast Craft Beer Tours owner Josh Donohoe and Visit Sunshine Coast.

Following the success of similar trails in craft beer regions around the world, this online resource will allow visitors to see the locations of Sunshine Coast breweries on a map, as well as provide details such as opening hours, restaurant offerings and contact information.

“The online beer trail is a great resource for visitors and locals to follow and explore the breweries at their leisure,” Mr Donohoe said.

“It will also have a great reach domestically and internationally and help promote that craft beer is another great reason to visit our region.”

The Sunshine Coast has earned a reputation as being a leading craft beer destination.

Accolades for the region’s brewers include Moffat beach Brewing Co who won Champion Small Independent Brewery of Australia, and Your Mates Brewing who achieved Top 5 Beers in a national poll. Local breweries have also won gold medals at recent state and national judging competitions over the past few years and continue to punch above their weight.

The launch of the online Craft Beer Trail coincides with a local promotion called ‘Mid-Strength May’ which encourages people to support their local Sunshine Coast breweries and pick up some mid strength beers to enjoy at home. Breweries will also be offering an exclusive deal on take-away options over the month of May.

Glass House Brewery Owner Simon Michelangeli said “As we plan for reopening our venues when social distancing restrictions lift, we are looking for new ways to engage with customers. This is a great initiative that further raises awareness of our thriving local craft beer industry and the love of beer that we all share.”

Visit Sunshine Coast CEO Simon Latchford said that food and beverage are a major focus of the region’s tourism marketing, with the Sunshine Coast one of Australia’s richest agricultural producers.

“Food and wine tourism are already well-established as prime drivers of tourism around the world, and craft beer is now emerging as an equally dynamic growth sector,” Mr Latchford said.

“What makes ‘beer tourism’ so attractive for visitors is that it provides a really rich and interesting insight into the character of the destination. Brewers are invariably passionate about their trade and love sharing stories about the trials and tribulations of setting up a brewery and the sweat and tears that go into every brew, as well as sharing experimental and seasonal beers with visitors.

“This Sunshine Coast Craft Beer Trail can add a distinct ‘taste’ to a region’s tourism offer, and complement the destination’s other food and natural attractions.”

The ‘Sunshine Coast Craft Beer Trail’ comes after Mr Donohoe recently launched the ‘Meet the Makers at Home’ series which invites Sunshine Coast locals to discover the region’s produce from home. The series includes virtual tours with local producers and food and drink delivered direct to your door.