Jeffersontown Craft Beer Fest Returns
Writer / Kevin Gibson
Photography Provided
Now in its eighth year, Jeffersontown Craft Beer Fest returns on July 15 with some 50 craft beer stations, wine, live music, food trucks and, perhaps most importantly, tradition.
“It’s all about summer,” Co-founder Tisha Gainey says when asked about her favorite aspect of the annual festival that brings regional craft breweries together for a day of seasonal fun.
The festival, set for 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Gaslight Pavilion and 3rd Turn Brewing’s Kentucky Corner, is going to feature more than 75 beers in a wide variety of styles, not to mention hard seltzers and wines for summer sipping variety. A few of the beverage vendors involved include 3rd Turn Brewing, Lexington Brewing, Country Boy Brewing, Butchertown Brewing, Dogfish Head Brewing, Truly seltzers, Oliver Winery, Against the Grain, Bell’s Brewery, Pivot Brewing, TEN20 Craft Brewery, New Belgium Brewing and Hometown Brewing Co., among many others.
But attendees can expect more than just tasty beverages.
For starters, the Glaser’s Collision Live Music Stage will bring the tunes with One Louder. For a respite, festival-goers can take a break in Cox’s Cigar Lounge next to the pavilion, or catch shade in the German American Bank Shade Lounge under City Hall. The Truly Bubbly Bar will serve up the seltzers, and the Kentucky Corner will be set with more than a dozen Kentucky brewers, to get Bluegrass flavors in one spot. If you want to take a break for the beverages, Recbar will be on-site with a few arcade and pinball games.
Of course, longtime partner Oliver Winery will offer something for those attendees who may not favor beer. Oliver Division Sales Manager Travis Detenber says the Bloomington brand’s booth also will serve wine-based cocktails.
“Wine brings people together and so does this festival,” Detenber says. “It’s fun to give people an alternative to beer. A lot of people are excited to see something different, and there are always positive responses to our products. We gain fans every time we’re there. It’s great to see the same people coming back year after year too.”
The festival began when the Jeffersontown Chamber of Commerce decided to add a beer festival to its annual calendar, and as it happens, the owners of HB Productions, which had, at that time, recently launched the successful Tailspin Ale Fest, were introduced to the former chamber president. A partnership quickly formed, and the first Jeffersontown Beer Fest happened. It’s only grown in the years since.
“The City of Jeffersontown has absolutely embraced the event and is supportive with even utilizing the area under City Hall,” says Gainey, who is a co-founder of HB Productions. “With the growth of so many local businesses in the Jeffersontown area and the Gaslight Square business district, these shops and restaurants all benefit from the festival day with potential visits from patrons.”
The popularity has grown to the point that there are plans to move it to a larger venue starting next year, Gainey says. For the first year, the festival was held in the Gaslight Pavilion, later expanded to include the space behind 3rd Turn, and has since expanded into the whole of Neal Drive. Next year the festival is expected to be held at Jeffersontown Veterans Memorial Park, where a new amphitheater is currently being built.
The past few festivals have sold out, Gainey says, and “we don’t like turning anyone away.”
Other new additions include a few distilled spirits from breweries that have branched out their production, such as Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co., which will bring some of their cocktail-inspired beverages as well as bourbon for sampling. Boston Beer Company will have a malt beverage produced in partnership with Jim Beam, and Truly has a variety pack of Red, White & True flavored vodka beverages. Other breweries are creating cocktail-inspired beers, such as Dogfish Head Brewery’s Citrus Squall, a double golden ale and paloma cocktail, brewed with grapefruit juice, blue agave nectar, lime peel and sea salt.
Festival-goers won’t have to worry about walking around hungry. Along with the many restaurants nearby, food trucks such as Drake’s, and local Jeffersontown Chamber members like Raising Cane’s, will have booths.
And, of course, there will be beer. Lots and lots of beer. Not to mention the aforementioned extras.
“This festival is great for someone still just getting into the craft beer category and wanting to explore,” Gainey says.
For more experienced or experimental beer lovers, there will be classic stouts and porters, while popular styles like IPAs and hazy IPAs will satisfy the hop heads in attendance. But for those looking for more of a summer thirst quencher, the fest will have some light, crisp lagers, golden ales and pilsners. If beer isn’t your thing, well, there will be plenty of options such as the wine- and cocktail-inspired beverages.
“Another part of this festival is the dynamic of the attendees, as it includes everyone,” Gainey says. “Beer festivals are a great way to meet new best beer friends, as it’s a social event that brings thousands together.”
Jeffersontown is ready for the fun.
“It has been really cool to see how the festival has evolved over the years,” says Ben Shinkle, co-owner of 3rd Turn Brewing. “The first couple of years were heavier on national brands, but as the brewery scene in the state grew, so did the festival. Having been to a couple million beer festivals in my tenure, the J-town Beer Fest has a familiarity and a feel of a backyard get-together, only everyone brought really great beer.”
“The J-town Beer Fest kicks off our summer festivities and brings so many folks to J-town to see our thriving downtown, visit our locally owned restaurants and celebrate summer,” says Deana Karem, president and CEO of the Jeffersontown Chamber of Commerce. “Beer Fest offers music, local food, friendship and a great way to spend a Saturday evening in downtown J-town.”
As we already know, it’s all about summer.
Tickets are $45 in advance and $55 on the day of the event, if available. Tickets can be purchased in advanced at select Cox’s and Evergreen Liquors locations. Buy tickets online and find more information at jtownbeerfest.com.
