Sold-out FestivAll event features craft beer

Craft beer had its own themed event in Charleston, West Virginia, during FestivALL, which is something new for the all-everything-arts hoopla week that takes place in the city each June.

FestivALL’s first-ever craft beer event was held at Capitol Market and hosted by The Wine Shop’s new On Tap @ The Wine Shop program. Called The Art of Beer, the event was organized by wine shop owner Ted Armbrecht, who recently invested a tidy sum to significantly upgrade his craft beer department.

Armbrecht said he probably set his sights too low as the event sold out in advance very quickly.  Many people who inquired or walked up the day of the event had to be turned away.

“I’m hoping we can greatly increase the size next year,” he said.

At the event, patrons sampled a broad selection of craft beer from West Virginia, regional, and national brewers.

Local and regional craft beer featured

Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company’s Wil Laska was on hand to let the crowd enjoy his popular Mothman Black IPA and other GVBC brews. GVBC staff hits a large number of beer sampling events like this throughout the year. With their sales growing fast, it seems to be paying off.

The beer tasting event featured several nice selections by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. The company’s beer sales have certainly been growing in WV since it opened its new brewery in the Appalachian region of North Carolina. Long-time Sierra Nevada distributor Michael Folio said he was very happy to be one of the people participating in The Art of Beer.

Folio thinks people may be noticing that Sierra Nevada’s beer “is fresher than ever” due to the brewery now being only a five-hour drive away from his warehouse. He says the new brewery’s location is also helping the state get a better variety of Sierra Nevada beers.

“The beer market here, just like nationally, people are looking for different and better quality beers,” says Folio, “not just the usual run of the mill from the big 3 or 4.”

Folio has long headed the Charleston operation of his family’s North Central Distributors. He sells both craft beer and wine. North Central Distributors donated the beer to last February’s craft-beer-versus-wine pairing dinner, which was a fundraiser for FestivALL. This year by popular vote at the dinner, the beer parings beat out the wine pairings.

Volunteers and music make a good event

Rob Absten, president of K.R.A.Z.E. the Charleston-based beer enthusiast group, was there helping out, as he often does, by serving as a volunteer pourer. It was Absten’s efforts that helped kickstart this year’s successful legislative initiative to allow retailers to sell beer growlers.

The FestivALL provided music was a pleasant backdrop for the beer sampling event.

FestivALL events could have more craft beer

In contrast to this sold-out craft beer event, FestivALL’s main beer-themed event was poorly attended this year. The long-standing Blues, Brews and Barbecues event is a showcase for beers of the local AB-Inbev distributor. Most West Virginia and regional craft breweries are not allowed to participate in it.

The success of The Art of Beer event will hopefully show FestivALL leaders and related Charleston-area event organizers that they could benefit by putting an increased focus on craft beer and local beer, rather than defaulting to the tired and worn habit of featuring macro-beers at their main festival events. Arts events will benefit from the excitement and passionate following craft beer provides them.