Saturday, September 4, Ithaca Beer Company's Dan Mitchell is hosting Ithaca’s fourth annual Brew Fest, which features microbreweries from throughout the state and across the country.
THE FINGER LAKES REGION IS KNOWN AS WINE COUNTRY producing world-class Rieslings and Gewürztraminers as well as a handful of stunning Cabernet Francs, but a little-known fact is that the area is home to some fine breweries as well. Thanks to the efforts of Dan Mitchell, the founder and president of the well-regarded Ithaca Beer Company, Tompkins County and New York State may be soon be known as beer country.
Saturday, September 4, Mitchell is hosting Ithaca’s fourth annual Brew Fest, which features microbreweries from throughout the state and across the country. The event, which will run from 3-7 p.m. for general admission, with a sold-out “VIP” tasting an hour before the event, will feature a total of 40 makers of craft beer as well as three bands and food pairings provided by Wegmans. In addition to the breweries, three local bands will perform the Brew Fest: the Sim Redmond Band, Kevin Kinsella, and the Mutron Warriors. For more information please visit www.ithacabrewfest.com.
Local attendees include Ithaca’s The Bandwagon Brewpub, Trumansburg’s Bellwether Cider, Watkins Glen’s Roosterfish, and Cooperstown’s Ommegang. Though breweries from as far as California and Europe are attending, the event focuses on microbreweries and other craft beer makers from the region. Craft-made beer is made in smaller batches and have more flavor options than most mainstream beer, and microbreweries are those that produce 15,000 barrels or less per year.
The Ithaca Beer Company, which currently produces approximately 7,000 barrels a year will be joined by the regional breweries like Magic Hat and Brooklyn Brewery, which produce hundreds of thousands of barrels, but maintain a devotion to the craft of beer making.
Krissy Leonard, the “curator of curiosities” for Vermont’s popular Magic Hat Brewing Company explained, “local brewer’s festivals like the Ithaca Brew Fest give brewers the opportunity to come together and share what we are working on and proud of in our own respective worlds.”
“This sort of festival acts as gallery of sorts where we come together to experience what each of us has to offer and share perspectives on the craft that we all respect and admire,” Leonard continued.
Craft beer is one of the only segments of the larger beer market to have experienced growth in recent years, Mitchell said. While wine and alcohol sales are on the rise compared to sagging growth for beer’s market share, a growing market segment are recognizing notable local and regional producers as connoisseurs are beginning to take to craft beer like oenophiles think of fine wine.
Mitchell, a Cornell University graduate, said he “hopes to open consumers’ eyes to what American beer is all about.” He hopes most of all that folks will come out to have a good time, enjoy the food and music, and sample the best of what beer offers. “People should come down and be safe. It’s a sampling event, not an all you can drink event,” Mitchell underscored.
The festival will wrap-up at 7:00 p.m. and festival goers will have a variety of transportation options. From the traditional designated driver or downtown shuttle van to TCAT public transportation, local taxi service, overnight parking, and, of course, the summer stroll. Ithaca Ale House has sponsored an official Brew Fest T-Cat bus service. Brew Fest attendees should show their ticket to the driver on the way to the festival and their wristband on the way back.
Admission to the Brew Fest is $35 in advance and $45 the day of the event. VIP tickets are $75 and can only be purchased in advance at the Ithaca Beer Company, State Theatre box office, all Wegmans stores and online through the event website, ithacabrewfest.com. No one under 21 will be admitted.