SeaWorld Craft Beer Festival returns with new four-course dinner experience
Into crafts? Beginning this weekend, you’ll want to head to SeaWorld. But not for scrapbooking, for suds!
SeaWorld’s Craft Beer Festival, featuring more than 100 craft brews, wines, seltzers and cocktails, begins today (Aug. 13) and is brewing up fun Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays — plus Labor Day — through Sept. 12.
Brand-new this year: the Craft Beer Festival Dinner Series. Offered on select evenings, the programming features 17 breweries, both national and Florida-local. Orlando’s own Ivanhoe Park Brewing Company, a SeaWorld Craft Beer Festival veteran, is among those featured.
“We’re looking forward to it,” says brewery founder Glenn Closson, who spent time with SeaWorld’s culinary team in preparation for their dinner event (Aug. 28).
Closson, along with a SeaWorld chef, will walk guests at the sit-down, four-course dinner through the pairings — a two-hour event that will include their Joyland IPA, Guavacation, Park Hopper Pilsner, Urayasu Rice Lager and Tupac SHAPorter — and he’s bringing plenty of special swag.
“We’re going to pull out all the stops,” says Closson, who will be on-hand to interact with guests and answer questions throughout. “People will be leaving feeling like VIPs with the bags we’re giving out!”
Other Orlando-area breweries on tap for the dinner series, which takes
place in a private room at Shark’s Underwater Grill, include Big Storm Brewing, Orange Blossom Brewing, JDub’s Brewing, Persimmon Hollow Brewing and Crooked Can Brewing. The latter will be sharing booth space with Ivanhoe Park for the general festival this year.
“We’re just excited for it,” says Closson. “[A combined booth] should drive a little more traffic, plus it’s a fun way to present all of our beers and represent local.”
Grab tickets for the private, 21+ event (prices
start at $109.99) at seaworld.com/orlando/ events/craft-beer-festival/ dinner-series/.
Hungry for more? There’s theme park pub grub on tap alongside all the adult beverages featuring new dishes (crispy Buffalo cauliflower bites, stout-glazed tuna lollipops, smoked brisket-white cheddar macaroni and cheese and more) among the 20-plus offerings to pair with your pilsner.
Check out the full menu here: seaworld. com/orlando/events/
craft-beer-festival/ menus/.
“The [Craft Beer Festival Tasting] Lanyard is definitely the best option,” opines Closson. “For that price point, you get food and beer samples, though any guest can grab a beer at the booths, which will be set up around the park during the daytime event.”
Prices start at $50 for a 12-item Sampler Lanyard; Pass Members get 15 samples for the same price.
There’s more than just beer, though. Brew enthusiasts with less enthusiastic
park pals should note that other options — bourbon tastings, seltzers, frozen cocktails and mocktails — will be available around SeaWorld, as well.
“SeaWorld’s been supporting Orlando-local and Florida-based breweries at their festivals for years,” says Closson. “We’re really excited to be a part of the new dinner series.”
More information: Festival free for SeaWorld guests. Tasting lanyards are available for purchase for those wishing to enjoy
multiple samples. Craft Beer Festival Dinner series is a separate, ticketed event. Reservations are encouraged. seaworld. com/orlando/events/ craft-beer-festival
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