2012 Suwanee American Craft Beer Fest

by Angela Veugeler

Mark your calendars for the 2nd Annual Suwanee American Craft Beer Fest on March 31st, 2012. The Beer Growler and Veugeler Design Group, celebrating American craft beer, is set for 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Town Center Park and will include sampling of more than 200 beers from almost 100 breweries.

This year, the festival boasts an even larger selection of beer than the 2011 festival, with stouts, porters, spring seasonal beers and a great selection of Belgium beers. There will be new beers debuting at the Suwanee festival, including a Red Ale from Bottle Tree Brewing Company.

The VIP tent, limited to just 200 attendees, will be catered by Cinco’s, with a special menu that will pair well with the exclusive cask beers available only in the VIP tent.

Also new this year is a Home Brew contest sponsored and organized by Robert Carlton of Brew Depot, a home brew supply store located in Alpharetta. John Roberts, head brewer at Max Lager’s, Kevin McNerbey, head brewer at 5 Seasons Brewing Company and Phil Farrell, a Grand Master BJCP Judge (one of only 100 master judges in the country) will be judging the Best of Show beers at the festival. Awards will be announced at the festival.

The festival wouldn’t be complete without live music. Local band Asphalt Eyes, known for playing popular 80’s and 90’s cover songs will open the event and Fil Kinetic, a rock and roll and blues band from Chicago will headline.

Kroger will be back with their talented chef’s utilizing beer as an ingredient in some fantastic recipes and pairing them as well!

Food will also be available for purchase from a variety of vendors on site.

Be sure to visit the silent auction tent sponsored by Home Depot to bid on beer related paraphernalia. A portion of the festival proceeds, the home brew proceeds and the silent auction proceeds will be donated to KINGDOM KIDS, a Gwinnett based charity that focuses on helping children and families in the local communities who are battling diseases, abuse, neglect and other challenges by fulfilling wishes that bring joy to the children and their families.

Presenting sponsor The Beer Growler, currently in Decatur and Athens, will be opening soon off of Moore Road in Suwanee and will offer a large selection of craft beer.

General admission tickets are $35.00 and are available online at SuwaneeBeerFest.com, at Mellow Mushroom Suwanee and Beverage Superstore’s two Suwanee Locations. If the event does not sell out prior to the event date, tickets will be available the day of for $45. Ticket price includes a tasting glass for the afternoon of beer tasting. For more information about the event, visit SuwaneeBeerFest.com