Fresh Fest to meet people where they are this weekend
beer
The Fresh Fest black beer festival is happening Aug. 10 at Nova Place on the North Side, but before that, on Saturday, it’s taking the show to the Hill District.
In a collaboration with Very Local Pittsburgh called “Very Local, Very Fresh: Meeting The People Where They’re At,” organizers are holding a panel discussion and beer tasting event at the Jeron X. Grayson Community Center at 1852 Enoch St.
The focus is to talk about access, education and opportunities in the beer community for more African American, female and LGBTQ people. As organizers note, “Craft beer is for everyone, and representation matters.”
Briana L. White, of Breelicious Bites and the New Pittsburgh Courier, will moderate a panel including Fresh Fest’s Mike Potter, who runs Black Brew Culture, as well as:
• Tim White of the forthcoming Harris Family Brewery in Harrisburg that is to be the state’s first black- owned brewery
• Tom Poet of Hop Farm Brewing Co. in Lawrenceville
• Ali Wyrostek of Rhinegeist Brewery in Cincinnati
• Brandalynn Armstrong of Zero day Brewing in Harrisburg
• Christine Hallenbeck of Union Craft Brewing in Baltimore
There will, of course, be beer — from some of these breweries as well as East End Brewing Co. in Larimer and also some drinks from Apis Mead & Winery in Carnegie. DJ HollyHood will supply the soundtrack and samplers get to keep their souvenir glasses.
Admission is $ 5, which is a lot less than most beer festivals these days. But that’s one of the points, the organizers say. “We’re hoping to eliminate some financial ( and even geographic) barriers associated with conventional beer festivals with this mini- beer event.”
Tickets are available via Eventbrite. com. Organizers also are inviting community groups to ask them about a discount code ( see the event’s Facebook page).
The recently released Fresh Fest Beer Fest schedule actually starts on Friday, Aug. 9, at East Liberty’s Ace Hotel, where there will be two- part “State of the Culture” panel discussion on “Diversity & Inclusion Beyond Browner Taprooms” and “Beer, Brand and Buildout — Creating an Empire Out of Hops,” followed by a bottle share.
Admission to that afternoon is $ 20 or $ 25 at the door and is included for those who have VIP tickets to the next day’s fest, which are $ 150. That gets attendees in from noon to 3 p. m. Saturday and into a “Drinking Partners” podcast featuring Brooklyn Brewery’s Garrett Oliver, plus special beers and an official swag bag.
Regular fest admission from 5 to 9 p. m. is $ 45, and you can get in starting at 3 p. m. ( and some special beers and a swag bag) for a $ 70 early- admission ticket.
Attendees get to keep their 5- ounce glass for unlimited tastings from some 150 brews.
For all the details on beer collaborations, participating breweries and food and merchandise vendors, bands and DJs, visit https://freshfestbeerfest.com.
• Also this weekend is the big beer festival at Voodoo Brewery’s Meadville HQ — Good Vibes. Named for one of its beers, the event runs from noon to 4 p. m. Saturday at the Compound production facility at 834 Bessemer St. The tickets are $ 125, but the beer list is epic and there’s music and food all afternoon, too. Get the details at voodoobrewery.com/ good- vibes- beer- fest.
• Mike’s Beer Bar on Federal Street on the North Side — formerly Beerhead — is pouring nothing but Pittsburgh- area beers from all 80 of its taps all this month. Owner Mike Sukitch says some breweries are creating beers just for this, and he expects to go through 200 different local brews. Check it out at https://mikesbeerbar.com.
• Not yet grand opened — that’s July 27 — but “soft” open on Friday is Lincoln Avenue Brewery in Bellevue.
• From 6 to 9 p. m. Thursday at Hal’s Bar & Grille in Ross, meet Hitchhiker Brewing’s cool Citroen craft beer truck, which will be dispensing four drafts. There will be two more in the bar and two more in the bottle shop, and there’s a can release. Hitchhiker’s Gary Olden says the French 1977 Citroen H van was mechanically overhauled in the Netherlands before coming to the U. S. via an importer who says it’s one of just 20 to 30 in this country.
• Three Western Pennsylvania beers medaled among 7,000 entered in the U. S. Open Beer Championships. St. Mary’s Straub Brewery’s Straub 1872 won a silver in American Lager/ Pilsner. Sarver’s Cellar Works Brewing’s St. Eldritch won a bronze in Barrel Aged Brett/ Sour Beer. Emsworth’s Aurochs Brewing’s Porter won a bronze in Gluten- Free Beer. Check out the full list at http://usopenbeer.com/ 2019- u- s- open- beer- championship- grandnationalchampion- and- medal- winners.