Friday, July 30
Cask-Stravaganza at 12South Taproom: I've always enjoyed the vibe at 12South Taproom and have attended a cask event there before (a quad-hopped Hopsecutioner from Terrapin Brewery), but this four-cask blowout promises to be stellar from a Nashville perspective. Representatives from Stone, Rogue, Bluegrass Brewing Co. and Schlafly will be on hand with unfiltered and unpasteurized versions of their beers that have been naturally conditioned. I'm not sure what all the selections are, but I do know that Bluegrass Brewing Co. is bringing Oak-Aged Rye 75. The event starts at 4:30 p.m. 12South Taproom is located at 2318 12th Ave. S. in Nashville.
SweetWater Pub Crawl: I've been a fan of Sweetwater Brewing Co.'s 420 Extra Pale Ale since my friend Luke introduced me to it a few years ago. And their IPA's not bad either. I've tried to keep an eye on what this Atlanta-based brewery is doing and I'm happy to see that they are making a pre-Music City Brewer's Fest splash with a charity pub crawl in downtown Nashville. According to SweetWater, you pay a $5 donation for a wristband and "all donations go to the Red Cross to help local flood victims." The event takes place over the course of four hours and four downtown watering holes--Broadway Brewhouse Downtown, 8:30-9:30 p.m.; Buffalo Billards, 9:30-10:30; Beer Seller, 10:30-11:30; and Riverfront Tavern, 11:30-12:30. SweetWater promises $3 SweetWater drafts and giveaways at each stop, with the night culminating at the SweetWater "Money Machine." The participants who grab the most "fish" within their allotted time in the tank will get prizes.
Yazoo Taproom Festival Pre-Party: I don't have many details about this one but Music City Brewer's Fest is like a home game for this Nashville brewery. It only makes sense that they'd throw a celebration to make everyone feel welcome. Yazoo's Sales and Marketing Manager Neil McCormick reports via his Twitter account that members of the Americana band Kelsey's Woods will be "breaking in our stage/loading dock," in the first live music event at the brewery's new location. This event runs from 6-8 p.m. in the side parking lot of the taproom, 910 Division St. in Nashville.
Saturday, July 31
Mafiaoza's 9th Annual Music City Brewer's Fest: This is the main event. Split over two sessions (the popular evening one sold out long ago... check with Mafiaoza's or Corrieri's Formaggeria for your last chance at tickets for the early session), the festival hosts over 50 breweries on the plaza of Music City Walk of Fame Park in downtown Nashville (bordering Demonbreun St. between 4th and 5th Ave. N.). In addition to interacting with the familiar names that they find in bars and beer stores across Tennessee, attendees will get to sample the offerings from some relative newcomers to the Nashville market, including Birmingham's Good People Brewing Company, Novato, Calif.'s Moylan's Brewing Co., and Adamstown, Pa.'s Stoudt's Brewing Co. [Correction: Good People products will be arriving in Nashville around the end of the year/beginning of 2011.] Sessions run from noon-4 p.m. and 6-10 p.m. Designated driver tickets are also available at a discounted price. And on top of it all, 15 percent of net ticket sales benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.
I'm looking forward to chatting with some friends and making some new ones over the course of what promises to be a great weekend. It may only be two days, but it's a start.
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