Porttoberfest now celebrating it's 7th anniversary and the third time being hosted at Lure Restaurant on the boardwalk at Reef Marina enjoyed a huge turnout of enthusiastic volunteers to sample all and any of the beers of the world on the menu. 

Their global tasting trek was responsibly supervised by new Lure Restaurant owner Kellie Caughey in her first Porttoberfest.

Her staff got into the spirit of things being dressed in their traditional German serving costumes.  The German style dancing troupe were, as usual, the show stoppers as they performed their German style routines on the boardwalk and encouraged the audience to join in with the traditional slap dance.

The weather was a picture perfect far north Queensland day with a cloudless azure blue sky and temperatures in the thirties even in the shade.  So thirsty revellers were not in short supply but this didn't faze the Lure Restaurant service which was efficient and friendly.

In fact the atmosphere of the day mirrored that of any German beer festival bierkeller with friendly, congenial camaraderie. 

There was a strong contingent of Douglas Shire locals enjoying their annual beer festival but as the reef boats returned from their days out on the Great Barrier Reef, the tourists found the festival fascinating, almost irresistible and Quicksilver and Calypso found themselves struggling to shepherd their visitors back onto their Cairns coaches.  Many wanted to stay and enjoy some unique Port Douglas hospitality and who could blame them?

Porttoberfest's founder Sam Cullen said "there was definitely a lot more participation this year from the revellers with German and international costumes and hats in abundance creating a brilliant atmosphere of fun and festival"

"New Lure Restaurant owner Kellie and her team pulled off what many have already claimed as the best event ever!"

"We are extremely excited about the future of Far North Queensland's international celebration of beer. Now we are working with Rob Cruz, GM of the The Reef Marina, I think Porttoberfest lovers will be very impressed with the plans for 2015 and beyond!"

Well done to Kellie and her team for making Porttoberfest number 7, one to remember.