Forest Festival adds craft beer event

The Mountain State Forest Festival kicks off its first ever craft beer event on Saturday, September 5 in Elkins, West Virginia. As of today, tickets are still available.

Attendees will get to sample beer from seven West Virginia breweries as well as other breweries from around the region. The event takes place at the Old Elkins National Guard Armory, and will begin at 3:00 p.m. and end at 8:00 p.m.

Participating breweries include: Big Timber Brewing (Elkins), Blackwater Brewing (Davis), Chestnut Brew Works (Morgantown), Greenbrier Valley Brewing (Lewisburg), Morgantown Brewing, Mountain State Brewing (Thomas), Wheeling Brewing, Antietam Brewery (Hagerstown, Maryland), and Terrapin Brewing (Athens, Georgia). Beer from additional breweries is also expected.

Tickets on sale now

General admission tickets are $30 and VIP tickets are $50. These tickets are limited and may not be available at the door. Designated driver tickets are $10 and will be available at the door.

Tickets may be purchased at the Mountain State Forest Festival office at 101 Lough St in Elkins or by calling the office at (304) 636-1824.

General admission ticket holders will receive a commemorative tasting mug and unlimited 5 ounce samples. VIP ticket holders will receive a commemorative growler and 1 hour early admission (2:00 p.m.) in addition to the commemorative tasting mug and unlimited 5 ounce samples.

Forest Festival gets into craft beer

Officials with the 79^th Mountain State Forest Festival announced its new Craft Beer Fest earlier this summer.  The Craft Beer Fest is separate from the rest of the Forest Festival, which will not begin until September 26.

“We are thrilled to be having a craft beer festival in Elkins,” said Lydia Jones, the festival’s director general. “The popularity of craft beer has taken off in our area thanks to Big Timber Brewing and the recent addition of the Growler Station at Lynn’s.  I hope this event can become an annual celebration.”

Big Timber Brewing Company opened in Elkins last summer and quickly established itself as a brewery to be reckoned with. Big Timber’s success has turned Elkins into a craft beer destination. Brilliant Stream profiled Big Timber and brewer Matt Kwasniewski last year (Link to  article).

Craft beer fest offers food and music

Musical entertainment will be part of the event and will begin at 3:00 p.m.  At 4:45 p.m., Chris Woodrum and Tim White will take the stage with the final act, Neotronic, starting at 6:30 p.m. and running until 8:00 p.m.

Local vendors will have food available for purchase. Participating food vendors include Beander’s, El Gran Sabor, and Gino’s.

The event is rain or shine and tickets will not be refunded.

“Ticket sales will be limited to 150 VIP and 700 General Admission for the first year,” added Jones. “We want to be sure we can accommodate the crowd and help ensure they have an enjoyable time.”

The 79^th Mountain State Forest Festival with the theme “Spark the Senses” will take place in Elkins, Saturday, September 26, 2015 to Sunday, October 4, 2015. Additional information is available online at www.forestfestival.com.