Alltech Craft Brews & Food Fest

The inaugural Alltech Craft Brews & Food Fest got off to a fantastic start today in the Lexington Convention Center in Lexington, Ky. More than 40 craft breweries from 18 U.S. states showcased their brews to an excited audience of beer enthusiasts. Just over one thousand craft brews were available for tasting. The Fest served as one of the culminating events for the Second Annual Lexington Craft Beer Week, which celebrates Lexington’s craft beer culture and best local and regional brews; and “celebrate” is exactly what more than 2,000 beer enthusiasts, who came from far and wide to attend, did.

 

Patrons not only savored the many varieties of craft beers but also sampled the culinary delights of the region’s local and international food producers. Musical entertainment could be heard throughout the day thanks to local bands and artists which got everyone in the mood to have a great time. The crowds enjoyed their tastings to the sounds of Jordan English, Ben Lacy, the DeBraun Thomas Trio, and Coralee and the Townies.

 

Special craft beers were tapped at regular intervals throughout the day. Alltech Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co. showcased a special draft of their newly-released peach barrel wheat ale, which went down very nicely with the gathered crowd thanks to its subtle peach flavor.

 

The festival also featured the first professional beer competition for Kentucky, the Alltech Commonwealth Craft Beer Cup! Hungarian brewery, Zip’s Brewhouse, took home the Cup for their brew, “The Zips Christmas 2013 Brew.”Levente Gati, managing director of Alltech Hungary, accepted the award on behalf of the brewery.

 

It would take all day to name all of the fantastic national and regional craft breweries that were represented but a few of the most highly sought-after were Bell’s Black Note Stout, 3 Floyds’ Space Station Middle Finger, Brooklyn Brewery’s Cuvee La Boite, and Rivertown’s Pomegranate Lambic.