The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Beer festivals on tap across region
Sometimes, a beer lover needs to get out off their couch and skip happy hour at the bar for a new flavor experience.
Luckily, Northeast Ohio has a variety of upcoming festivals to expose those 21 and over to new beers and breweries in a number of different venues — all with different themes.
For instance, the fourth annual BrewFest Waterfront District will be held at Black River Landing, a Lorain entertainment area, from noon to 6 p.m., Aug. 12.
The first year of the craft beer festival was on Seventh Street in Lorain, and was held the other two years on Broadway Avenue in the city.
Howard Ross, co-organizer of BrewFest Waterfront District and co-owner of the Elyria-based Franklin Brewing Co., said the new Black River location should increase attendance from last year’s 1,500 to up to 3,500 people.
“This is a beautiful venue on the water,” said Ross. “There’s plenty of room. It’s new. It’s clean. We’ll have bands, food trucks and vendors. This will happen rain or shine. If it does rain, we’ve got five pavilions. We’ve got plenty of coverage. It’s just an easier set up. On Broadway, we had to close down streets, rent tents and figure out where to get power. Now, the bands will be in the new pavilions. It’s going to make for a great-looking event.”
Last year, the Lorain BrewFest had 42 different makers of specialty beer, cider and wine. The target goal is to have 50 this year.
“The overall goal is we want to grow this event but keep it inexpensive, and friendly for our brewers. We do pay our brewers,” Ross said. “This is done under the Lorain Growth Corp., a non-profit. The whole reason we do this is to bring people from all over the region to Lorain to show that while the city does need some help regarding revitalization, it has a lot of potential for future growth. We’d like to eventually grow it to where the event attracts 15,000 people, but we’re not quite there yet.”
Early bird tickets are available for BrewFest Waterfront District for a flat $20 until March 31 at brewfestwd.com and at Facebook.com/brewfestwd. Online tickets sales starting April 1 will continue all the way through the event at $25 plus a $2.50 service charge. Tickets will be sold at the event for $35 if not sold out.
Tickets include 15 fourounce samples and a souvenir sample glass.
“We do not charge for a designated driver ticket,” said Ross. “We don’t believe in doing that.”
In Lake County, the city of Mentor will host Mentor On Tap & UnCorked at Civic Center Park from 3 to 10 p.m. June 24.
Previously called Mentor On Tap for the inaugural event last year, this year’s beer festival will also feature local vineyards.
Ante Logarusic, Mentor’s community relations administrator, said attendees can expect to see about 30 beer and wine vendors, three to five food vendors and live music by local bands.
Mentor On-Tap & UnCorked is expected to attract about 2,500 people.
Premium cigars will be available for purchase from Red, Wine & Brew.
In addition, three national brewers will be featured in addition to Ohio brewers: Goose Island, Breckenridge and Kona.
The event was created in conjunction with The Brew Mentor.
“The tent arrangement will be a little bit different,” said Logarusic, “we’ll have a combination of sit down/stand up tables and some outside setup depending on the weather. Music will feature some acoustic performances and will also be moved to the serving/ reception area so, all in all, it will be a more intimate setting. If people choose to, they can bring some blankets and move out under the trees or the field.”
Tickets are available at mentorontap.com. Cost is $30 in advance and $40 at the door, and includes 15 four-ounce samples. Additional taste tickets will be for sale at seven for $10. Designated driver admission is $15 in advance and $25 on site and includes free soft drinks.
In Geauga County, between 1,300 and 1,500 people are expected to converge on Historic Chardon Square for the sixth annual Chardon Tomorrow BrewFest. The event will take place from noon to 5 p.m., Aug. 12.
Turpin said popular brewers including Great Lakes Brewing Co., Cornerstone Brewing Co., Chardon BrewWorks, Deschutes, Market Garden Brewery, Lager Heads Brewing Co. and Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. have been invited to Chardon BrewFest.
New expected brewers include BRIM Kitchen + Brewery in Willoughby and Masthead Brewery Co. in Cleveland, said Steve Turpin, head organizer of Chardon Tomorrow, the nonprofit that sponsors Chardon BrewFest.
The event moved to Chardon Square in 2016.
“We received raves from guests, vendors, sponsors, city officials and volunteers about our move to the Square,” Turpin said. “There is free, no-hassle parking, great bands and superior Chardon restaurants — Cleats, Square Bistro, Morgan’s, Spinners, Maple City Taps are expected to return. A taste of Chardon!”
Tickets are available in advance for $25 on chardontomorrow.org. After May 1, tickets will be $30.