First Ashland Firkin Fest

The Ashland Firkin Fest welcomed about 800 happy craft beer fans, who did not let a steady rain later in the day dampen their enthusiasm. This was the first craft beer event ever held in Ashland, KY.

Even though the crowd was tight, the wait for beer was never long.

Tim Gibbs, festival committee member and president of the Ashland Alliance (Chamber of Commerce), revels in the fact that his region is an emerging craft beer market.

“We wanted to get people to come downtown and have some fun,” Gibbs said as he surveyed the large crowd at the beer tent.

“We’re highlighting our community. We’re highlighting our businesses, and we’re having fun at the same time.”

Fortunately the large festival tent was just large enough to hold most attendees at the same time, although it was shoulder to shoulder.

Festival draws from three states

The event brought in people from all around eastern Kentucky, southeast Ohio and western West Virginia. It was the Tri-State region’s second craft beer event of the year—the first being a festival in Ironton, Ohio. In August, Huntington, WV, will celebrate the region’s largest craft beer festival: the sold-out Rails & Ales Craft Beer Festival.

A group of beer fans from West Virginia gave the festival high marks. They felt the $25 ticket provided plenty of opportunities to sample many favorite Kentucky, regional, and national craft beers.

Homebrewing enthusiast Travis King, a visitor from Huntington, WV, gets his ID checked as he enters the festival grounds. He was happy to be at Ashland’s first craft beer festival.

The Firkin Fest had plenty of branded merchandise available, which was a very smart move for the first-year festival. The shirts in various looks were seen everywhere.

Some shirts show off the creativity of the shirt makers.

Later in the afternoon, the rain kept most people inside the tent.

A showcase for Kentucky beer & more

At least four Kentucky breweries showed off their wares. The festival included many more beers from the region.

The crew from Country Boy Brewing in Lexington, Kentucky, give Firkin Fest a big thumbs up. Brewery general manager Daniel Harrison said they brought three special firkins along with kegs of several other beers.

“We brought our Cliff Jumper IPA with Mosaic hops inside the pin, Amos Moses Brown/Porter with citra hops, and Stampin Ground Dry Stout with cocoa nibs,” Harrison explained.

On the regular taps they had their Cougar Bait Blond Ale, Squirrelly Belgian-style Wheat Ale, Country Jacket Sour Saison with crabapples (a collaboration with Blue Jacket Brewing in DC.), and Rum Barrel-aged Black Gold Porter.

Country Boy is a brewery that experiments with a lot of complex styles, but does the more simple beers well too. The Firkin Fest crowd approved because they voted County Boy their favorite at the fest.

“At the end of the day we just want to make good beer,” Harrison concluded.

West Sixth Brewing of Lexington, KY, brought a firkin of Key Lime Pie PA along with  several selections of their regular beers.

Riah Durick, of West Sixth Brewing, described the firkin brew as, “our regular IPA infused with limes, vanilla, and graham cracker.”

“It’s our favorite firkin in our taproom,” she added.

The brewery also sent it’s IPA, Amber, Double IPA, and Lemongrass Wheat. Durick said West Sixth likes to give back to the community, so they enjoy participating in local events such as Firkin Fest. Durick was hard at work all day pouring samples.

People liked the Abita firkin, which was Seersucker Pils flavored with fresh jalapeño peppers. Bells Brewing out of Michigan sent a firkin of Two Hearted Ale dry hopped with extra Centennial in the keg.

Local beer distributors brought a nice selection of craft beer from many of the country’s most popular breweries. A nice variety of beer from Kentucky and Ohio was on tap too.

Rick Duelly, of local beer distributor Triple Crown Beverage Group and a member of the festival committee, said all the distributors really got behind the festival.

“We’re just so pleased with how everything’s turning out,” he said. “It’s a great turnout for a first-ever event in downtown Ashland.”

Duelly’s company represents Alltech, Country Boy, Sierra Nevada, New Belgian, and Goose Island beers, which he brought to the festival.

Great Lakes Brewing of Cleveland had two firkins at the fest. One had Elliot Ness Amber Lager with apples and cinnamon. The other was Edmund Fitzgerald Porter with chili peppers.

Alltech Lexington Brewing Company brought its popular Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale.

Good Wood Brewing Company brought a nice selection of beers from its home in Louisville, KY.

Mr. and Mrs. Mike Jarrett operate Hickory Hill Farm, which they describe as a small mom and pop farm, that just happens to grow a few hops. Like most small farms in the region, they have a diversified operation producing mushrooms, eggs, and a bunch of other stuff.

“We’re involved with the Kentucky Hop Growers Alliance,” Jarrett said. “We’re at the ground floor of it; trying to get the news out that hops can be grown in Kentucky. We have Cascade, Centennial, and U.S. Goldings planted now.”

Hickory Hill Farm is located in Cater County, just east of Olive Hill, KY.

Another version of the Firkin Fest T-shirt was used for the festival’s 5k run.

Scores of volunteers turned out to help set up and pour beer. As all beer festivals know well, volunteers are worth their weight in gold.

The rain kept falling but the kegs kept rolling.

Everybody pitched in to make this a fantastic first festival.

You could find plenty of brews from popular brands like Dogfish Head, Founders, and 3 Floyds.

Firkin Fest was a cool event

Most of these folks will likely be back for the 2nd Firkin Fest in 2016.

The Firkin Fest event was organized by Ashland In Motion.