Matt Kirkegaard
Matt KirkegaardThe Good Beer Lunches are hosted by Matt Kirkegaard.
Matt Kirkegaard is a freelance beer writer and has developed a reputation as one of the few independent beers educators in the country.
He is a past editor of Beer & Brewer magazine, and developed and edits the influential national beer website Australian Brews News.
Matt has also written widely about beer and beer culture for books, newspapers and magazines. He was recently chosen to edit one of the most comprehensive guides to Australian beer, the Beer Lover's Guide to Australia and contribute to the book The Critics’ Choice: Australia’s Best Beers as well as working with Cascade Brewery to help develop their new iPhone application, The Brewer's Nose.
Matt is a regular contributor to Tiger Airways’ magazine Tiger Tales, Virgin Blue’s Voyeur magazine and Lexus Magazine, as well as a number of other international beer titles. He also hosts a fortnightly beer show on 4BC radio and is a regular beer columnist on The Punch.
Sought out as a speaker, educator and media commentator about beer, Matt was selected to be a judge at the inaugural RNA Royal Queensland Beer Show awards and presented the post-awards beer Masterclass. He was also part of the select panel chosen to work with Fosters and Riedel to judge the perfect glass to accompany Foster's flagship beer, Crown Ambassador Reserve and most recently conducted Beer and Cheese matching masterclasses as part of the Brisbane Cheese Awards.
Matt is passionate about beer and his enthusiasm is infectious. His tastings are light hearted but with a focus on educating about and elevating beer. Matt reckons that despite its status as Australia’s national drink, beer really needs to sack its current agent and publicist if it’s going to achieve the respect that it deserves as the equal of wine...though without the stuffiness. Wine can also keep the cravats.
Although first and foremost a writer, Matt started the Good Beer Lunches because, no matter how good the prose, one sip of great beer is worth a thousand words...and is infinitely more fun.
He has been running the Good Beer Lunches since 2005 and sharing his enthusiasm for great beer and food...since midday.