The countdown to the 2024 Suwanee Beer Fest has begun and anticipation is bubbling over like a freshly poured pint. On March 16th, Town Center Park will once again transform into a craft beer lover’s paradise for the 13th annual installment of the festival, affectionately referred to among locals as “Suwanee’s favorite day.” Sip your way through more than 400 unlimited craft beer samples from over 100 breweries while enjoying the company of your 5,000 closest beer drinking buddies.
Voted the No. 1 Best Beer Festival in the Country by USA Today readers, the Suwanee American Craft Beer Fest is an experience that transcends the ordinary beer festival. It’s an epic celebration of craft beer, community spirit, and St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Not a fan of beer? No problem. Attendees can also enjoy ready- to-drink cocktails, seltzers, meads, ciders, wine, kombucha, and select spirits. Consider the next few pages your handy guide to this year’s fest!
St. Paddy’s Fun
As the largest St. Patrick’s Day weekend party in the metro area, Suwanee Beer Fest adds its own unique Irish flair to the festivities. A bagpipe player welcomes attendees as they enter the festival and a lively costume contest celebrates all things green. Festival-goers are urged to arrive in head-to-toe St. Paddy’s green, embracing kilts, shamrocks, green beards, and any other festive attire that adds to the lively beer- drinking spirit! This year’s Irish-themed festivities include:
BAGPIPE PLAYER: Everyone’s favorite bagpipe player will return to welcome festival attendees into the park with the sweet sounds of bagpipes. Get into the festive spirit as you make your way to your beer destination!
COSTUME CONTEST: For those of you coming decked out in your St. Paddy’s gear, enter yourself and your friends into the 2024 Suwanee Beer Fest Costume Contest. In order to participate, sign up at the main stage by 2 p.m. the day of the event. The contests will begin at 2:30 p.m. and will be based on the following categories: Best Beard, Best Costume (male and female), Best Kilt, and Best- Dressed Couple. Winners will be announced for each category and will receive AWESOME prizes from our vendors and sponsors!
Live Entertainment
The 2024 Suwanee Beer Fest will host two bands to keep you entertained all day long! As the gates open, Sucker Punch takes the main stage to welcome festival attendees to the event. Formed on the mean streets of Dunwoody in 2016, Sucker Punch cranks out rock hits from the ’90s and early ’00s. Known for their energetic performances, you’ll hear hits from bands like Green Day, Weezer, Blink 182, Third Eye Blind, Sublime, Bush, The Offspring, and so many more.
Headlining this year’s festival is Chicago’s premier Southern and classic rock cover band Whiskey Thunder. The all-star lineup covers songs by beloved artists like Lynyrd Skynyrd, .38 Special, Rolling Stones, Elvis, The Doors, and many more. They’ve garnered a reputation for being quite possibly the best bar band in the country and they’re ready to rock out at Suwanee Beer Fest!
New to the Fest
Bruzze Brewing
Eatonton, GA
Bruzze Brewing makes beer that embodies the spirit of lake life. Their mainstay brews, Lakelife Lager and Summer Bruzze IPA, are perfect for any occasion and are brewed with the utmost care. With a focus on using the finest ingredients and innovative brewing techniques, Bruzze Brewing creates beers perfect for sipping on Lake Oconee.
Contrast Artisan Ales
Chamblee, GA
Contrast Artisan Ales opened its doors in December of 2018 by Suwanee native Chase Medlin, who got his start brewing at the popular Twain’s Brewpub & Billiards in Decatur. From the delicious high- gravity beers and wine-shaped beer glasses to the modern white and grayscale taproom and vibrant standout fox mural at the Chamblee brewery, Medlin’s passion is evident in every beer brewed at Contrast.
Crooked Culture Brewing
Cumming, GA
After almost two decades spent mastering brewing techniques and serving as an integral part of two startup breweries that both went on to wild success, Patrick Leonard, along with business partner Nick Estes, opened Crooked Culture Brewing in 2022. The 7,000-square-foot brewery has 14 beers on tap and visitors can watch the game or enjoy time on the rooftop bar, outside patio seating, lounge area, or two-story main bar.
Freedom Brew and Shine
Cumming, GA
Freedom Brew and Shine is a family-owned and operated craft brewery and distillery. Founded in October of 2020 when owner, Chase Wales, took his passion for for craft beer and love for his country and turned it into a local brewery and distillery with “freedom” as its core value. From the beer flavors to the unique taproom, this brewery embraces the freedom to push boundaries and create a one-of-a-kind atmosphere in North Georgia.
River Remedy Brewing Co.
Rome, GA
River Remedy Brewing Co. was founded by a group of Rome, Georgia, locals who are passionate about good beer and helping their community. In fact, they give a portion of every pint sold to local charities, supporting everything from environmental causes to veterans to the arts and more — as long as they help the northwest Georgia region in some way. They want their beers to be a “remedy” for local causes!
Fun and Games
This year’s festival will see the return of the festival staples Giant Jenga and Peach State Cornhole, as well as crowd-favorite giant beer pong. The 2024 festival will also see the return of mini golf along with a new game: giant Connect Four! Be sure to grab your buddies for some friendly competition between all the beer samples!
The VIP Experience
his year’s VIP tent is designed with the true beer aficionado in mind. The festival has partnered with Dimensional Design, a local design and branding firm, to create a one-of-a-kind VIP experience featuring high-end finishings, comfortable seating, and live music (noon-1 p.m.). Plus, there will be an exclusive selection of more than 30 beers that won’t be available to general admission. Marlow’s Tavern will once again cater the VIP tent, serving up three delicious courses starting when the gates open. With an hour early entry, a meal catered by Marlow’s Tavern, exclusive beers, music, and incredible atmosphere, the VIP experience is sure to set a standard for beer festivals everywhere.
The Homebrew Contest
The 2024 Suwanee Beer Fest Homebrew Competition will see more than 300 unique home-brewed beers entered this year, all within the category of Suwanee Beer Fest’s Dark Beer Homebrew Competition. This means that all beers entered will be dark beers including stouts, brown ales, black IPAs, porters, dark European lagers, and more! Home-brewed beers in this competition are judged based on a strict set of criteria, including mouthfeel, aroma, appearance, flavor, and overall impression. The winners will compete for Best in Show on the day of the festival, and the winner will be crowned on stage.
For a Good Cause
The Suwanee Beer Fest team is dedicated to giving back and supporting the community. This year, a portion of event proceeds will benefit Cooper’s Crew, a Suwanee-based organization created in honor of Cooper O’Brien, who lost his battle to a rare form of cancer at the young age of 14. Cooper’s Crew provides funding for research and development to find a cure for childhood cancer as well as scholarships for young men and women facing challenging circumstances. Your participation in the festival helps support the Cooper’s Crew Fund and the Cooper O’Brien Scholarship Fund, which grants scholarships to graduating seniors at North Gwinnett High School each year who have overcome unique hardships. Please join us in raising funds and awareness for childhood cancer and to celebrate Cooper’s legacy.
5 Tips for Navigating Beer Fest Like a Pro
1) Fuel Up with a Homemade Pretzel Necklace
Prepare for a day of beer tasting by making your own pretzel necklace ahead of time. String some pretzels onto a piece of string or twine, and voila – you’ve got a convenient snack to munch on in between samples. Not only will it keep hunger at bay until you’re ready to swing by all the awesome food trucks, but it’ll also help cleanse your palate between beers.
2) Stay Hydrated
With all the beer flowing, it’s crucial to stay hydrated throughout the day. Luckily, the Spiffy Bin tent has you covered with free water to help keep your hydration levels up.
3) Map it Out
Don’t let the excitement of Suwanee Beer Fest overwhelm you – plan your route ahead of time by downloading the festival map at SuwaneeBeerFest.com. Knowing where your favorite breweries, food vendors, and attractions are located will help you navigate the crowds with ease and make the most of your time at the festival.
4) Vote for Georgia’s Finest Brew
Get in on the action and cast your vote in the Georgia Brew Battle. Upon entry, festival-goers will receive a token that you can use to vote for your favorite Peach State brewery. Make sure to drop off your token by 4 p.m., as the winner will be announced at 4:45 p.m. It’s your chance to support local breweries and crown the ultimate Georgia beer champion! Last year, Liquid Nation Brewing took home the title. Who will win this year?
5) Stock Up on Festival Swag
Don’t forget to swing by the Suwanee Magazine tent to snag a 2024 Suwanee Beer Fest shirt. The folks at this tent are also super helpful and can answer any questions you may have to ensure you have the best festival day possible.
Suwanee Beer Fest takes place March 16 from 1-5 p.m. at Town Center Park. Tickets on sale now. SuwaneeBeerFest.com
