Lots of beer variety, excited volunteers make for fun fest
Director Erica Simpson says 600 online tickets were sold for this year’s event, 200 more than the average from previous years.
Volunteers and patrons alike enjoyed the ninth annual Rome Beer Fest in Heritage Park Saturday, with everyone finding something they liked.
Georg Hubenthal and friends Raymond McLemore and Lara Whelan said they have been coming to Beer Fest since it started in 2008.
“Craft beer is where it’s at. Flavor (and) everything, you can find something you like,” Hubenthal said.
“Beer’s the great uniter,” McLemore added, laughing.
The event is a fundraiser that benefits the Rome Area Council for the Arts, according to Director Erica Simpson. She said they wouldn’t know until
late Saturday how much money was raised.
However, she did say they sold 600 tickets online, around 200 more online tickets than they sell on average.
“Volunteers are always my favorite part of the day,” Simpson said. “We love the people buying tickets, but it wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers. They’re enthusiastic, they’re excited and they love doing this.”
Volunteer Sarah Lane said she was really excited to be volunteering for the first time. She spent her day pouring Monday
Night Brewing beers from the brewery out of Atlanta.
“Coincidentally my brother just got married there at that brewery so it’s kind of a cool family moment for me,” Lane said. “It’s just been a blast, and I’ve had a great time and Beer Fest is a lot of fun.”
Andrew Corbitt of Temple said he came down to try some of the beers he hadn’t tried before. He was particularly interested in the craft brews and microbrews.
His friend, Macy Brown of Bremen, said she doesn’t really like beers,
but came to the festival to hang out with her friends and try out the other drinks.
“I like malt beverages and ciders,” Brown added.
Another festgoer said she liked the white ciders, and the atmosphere and music were so great she had to come.
“I came last year and had such a good time that I had to come back,” said Kathy Mall of Cordele.
Two new Romans, Jamie and Kiki Rowsey, said they had to check out the Rome Beer Fest after they heard about how great it was.
“Everything has been delicious,” said Jamie Rowsey. “We just moved here recently (from Atlanta), and we heard this was a big community event.”
Kiki Rowsey added that her husband’s sister was in Rome and they wanted to show her a good time.