Suwanee Beer Festival

WHAT’S ON TAP FOR 4th ANNUAL SUWANEE BEER FEST

Brought to you by The Fresh Market, one of the South’s largest craft beer festivals returns to Suwanee, Georgia on Saturday, March 15^th at Suwanee Town Center Park. The event will take place from 1:00pm – 5:00pm, with VIP gates opening at noon.

The Suwanee Beer Fest has become a St. Patrick’s weekend tradition for thousands of beer lovers in the Metro Atlanta area and beyond. There are over 300 craft beers in the lineup this year, hand-picked by The Beer Growler, with several breweries featuring not-yet-released or seasonal brews and the VIP tent holding casks brewed exclusively for the festival.

The Suwanee Beer Fest has grown in size and popularity each year, and 2014 is said to be their biggest and best festival to date. Tickets went on sale Friday, February 7^th with VIP selling out in less than 15 minutes. General Admission tickets are expected to sell out and can be purchased for $35 at www.suwaneebeerfest.com, or $45 at the door if the event is not sold out. Tickets are also available for purchase at several sponsor locations, including: Beverage Superstore 1 & 2, Mellow Mushroom, The Beer Growler and Brew Depot.

General Admission tickets include: a commemorative souvenir tasting glass, unlimited sampling of over 300 beers, live music on Suwanee’s Town Center Stage, backyard games such as cornhole, basketball and beer pong, food for purchase from Atlanta’s favorite food trucks and restaurants and special deals from vendors. Back by popular demand, the entertainment lineup includes rock n’ roll band, Fulkinetic from Chicago and a local bluegrass favorite, Pullin’ Strings.

Returning to the Beer Fest this year, in an even bigger and bolder fashion, is the Home Brew Competition sponsored by Bob Carlton of home-brewing supply company – Brew Depot. The Suwanee Beer Fest is opening the Home Brew Competition to 400 registrants who will be judged by professionals across all BJCP Beer categories (no meads or ciders).  This competition has become nationally renowned as the 2012 Best of Show winner, Josh Rachel, went on to become Brew Master of Jekyll Brewing Company in 2013.

New to the festival this year is a Cornhole Tournament, sponsored by Gwinnett Cornhole with a grand prize consisting of: Sweetwater Brewery tour tickets, Terrapin Brewery tour tickets, merchandise from breweries, Suwanee Beer Fest t-shirts and hats, a $50 Suwanee Pizza Tavern gift card and more. Teams must register in advance at www.suwaneebeerfest.com for $20 per two-person team.

The 4^th Annual 2014 Suwanee American Craft Beer Festival is raising funds to support the Gwinnett & Forsyth County nonprofit – Kingdom Kids, an organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.

With over 300 beers to taste, the Suwanee Beer Fest organizers understand the importance of safe driving and are offering Designated Driver tickets for $10 with the purchase of a General Admission ticket. DD tickets include access to the festival, live entertainment, food and a complimentary bottle of water (without beer tasting). Local hotel, Suwanee Comfort Inn & Suites has also partnered with the Beer Fest to offer discounted room rates and a shuttle service to and from Town Center Park. Attendees simply need to mention that they’re attending the Suwanee Beer Fest when booking to obtain a discounted rate. There will also be a “Designated Driver Alternative” booth at the event – a service that drives people home safely in the comfort of their own cars for just a few dollars.

The festival ends at 5:00pm, but many Suwanee restaurants are hosting “after-party” events, including Mellow Mushroom and Friends Restaurant in Town Center Park.

For more information about the event, visit www.suwaneebeerfest.com.

-TPR