St. Charles to host inaugural brew festival
With 37 breweries and about 75 different styles of craft beer and cider, people are likely to find a new favorite type of beer or cider at the inaugural Tri-City Craft Brew Festival.
The fest takes place from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 25, at Lincoln Park, 450 W. Main St., St. Charles.
“Craft beer is a really unique culture because it goes to a lot of different people,” said Alessandro Vazquez, owner of Brew Avenue Events. “It's all about the journey and trying different things you maybe wouldn't buy at the bar. You might find a new favorite.”
Since last fall, Vazquez has been working with the St. Charles Breakfast Rotary Club, a nonprofit community service organization, to organize the festival.
“When I came to St. Charles I was looking for a nonprofit partner that was local and close to the community. It all goes back to the community,” Vazquez said. “I approached the breakfast Rotary club to bringing a festival to St. Charles, and they were trying to think of a new fundraiser. In meeting them and getting to know them, they really committed to making it work. It's a feel-good all the way around.”
Members of the Rotary club thought the festival would be a great way to “revitalize” the club's fundraising efforts, club President Tom Tarvis said.
“We want to make the city proud and we want to make our club proud that we are putting on a high quality product,” Tarvis said. “We are hoping to raise money for our little foundation and give it away to local charities.”
To prepare for the festival, the club put together a Brew Fest committee to get all the necessary approvals for the event, and Tarvis, as well as other members of the club are taking a two-hour test to receive certification that allows them to pour alcohol.
“We are crossing all the T's and dotting the i's to ensure that everyone has fun and is safe,” Tarvis said. “It's been a tremendous effort on the part of our committee.”
Tarvis expects between 700 and 800 people to attend the festival, with over 500 tickets already sold.
At the festival, people will have the opportunity to sample different types of craft beer and ciders available. Samples are open to everyone and anyone as long as they're over 21, of course.
Along with local breweries, Vazquez recruited more popular ones to take part in the festival. He predicts Bourbon County Stout will be one of the first breweries to tap out.
“My goal is to create an open platform for people to experience craft beer and really to get into summer beers,” Vazquez said. “I really try to find a good mix of local beer styles and also some favorites from around the country,” Vazquez said.
Although this festival is mainly for beer and cider, there will be nonalcoholic options like 164 Brewing, a soda brewery in St. Charles.
The festival will also feature a DJ, local food vendors including the Blue Goose Market and the Beehive Tavern and Grill, as well as beer-centric activities like beer pong.
“Our ultimate goal is to do this as an annual event and bring a signature event down to St. Charles,” Vazquez said. “We hope it's a success and people enjoy themselves and give us a reason to do it again next year.”
People wishing to participate can buy three different types of tickets: VIP, general and designated driver. Everyone will receive a commemorative tasting glass as well as a festival program.
VIP tickets are $65 in advance and $70 at the gate the day of the event. These tickets include the perks of admission into the festival at noon, an hour before general admission which provides these ticketholders a chance to try the more rare and popular beers and ciders before others, as well as a VIP food voucher and 18 sample tickets.
General admission tickets are $45 in advance and $50 at the gate. These tickets provide 18 sample tickets and admission into the festival at 1 p.m.
Designated driver tickets are $15 for a 1 p.m. entrance into the festival unless accompanying a VIP member and will allow people to get soda and water as well as access to the food and merchandise vendors.