Ballpark hits craft beer home run

Mix a minor league ballpark with craft beer and a lovely spring day and you have a home run for fun.

Last Saturday, BrewFest CharlieWest took place at a West Virginia Power baseball game in Charleston. It was an absolute smash hit for local beer. And not bad for baseball either (the home team won the game).

Take me out to the ballpark for beer

Charleston beer fans enjoyed brews from five West Virginia breweries and two from neighboring states. About 20 special beers were sold and served beer throughout the game and afterward during a concert by local-favorite band The Country Stores.

Participating West Virginia breweries were Mountain State Brewing from Thomas, Bridge Brew Works from Fayetteville, Big Timber Brewing from Elkins, NET Brewery from Parkersburg, and Charleston Brewing. Other breweries from the nearby region included Country Boy Brewing of Lexington, KY, and Devils Backbone Brewing of Lexington, VA.

The in-state breweries sent their own representatives to assist with the festival and meet the craft beer fans. There, they received lots of praise and lots of question about their beer. It’s the kind of interaction that is great to see—the kind that helps build the local craft beer culture.

Bridge Brew Works brought a big crew and lots of tasty beer to the ballgame. It also debuted its newest brewer, Adam Herrold. Their spring seasonal, Black Diamond Schwarzbier, was drinking so well.

Mountain State Brewing Company is celebrating its 10 years of brewing beer in 2016. The state’s largest brewery made even more friends in Charleston on Saturday. Stephen Dilettoso  received lots of compliments on their Cold Trail Ale and Almost Heaven Amber.

Big Timber Brewing featured a nice variety of beer and experienced long lines throughout the day. Brisk business kept Alex Durand hopping. Popular spring seasonal, Sluice Dry Stout, was the first to sell out.

Charleston Brewing Company’s reps enjoyed the sunny afternoon. Vince Alonzo had fun meeting fans of the brewery, and many fans of Raj IPA there were.

Nate Herrold, co-owner of Bridge Brew Works, compared beer-marketing strategies with Matt Kwasniewski, co-owner of Big Timber Brewing.

What would a festival be without the volunteers that pitch in to make it happen. Charleston-area beer volunteers Yogi Dean and Rob Absten poured for The NET Brewery and Country Boy Brewing. The NET’s Wheat Ale hit the spot on the warm afternoon.

Devils Backbone  turned a double play with its Eight Point IPA and the award-laden Vienna Lager.

This was the second year for the brewfest at the ballpark. This year the festival was organized in conjunction with Proud Eagle Distributing, which is the local distributor for all the participating brands.

WV Power and Proud Eagle folks tell us that we will continue to see beers from West Virginia breweries sold at the games throughout the baseball season.

Baseball and music too

The home team won the game Saturday with a strong pitching and hitting performance. Go Power!

The Country Stores gave a rousing performance after the game.

We look forward to BrewFest CharlieWest 2017.

West Virginia Power Baseball website link