Frothy fun at August beer fests

West Virginia offers steins-full of frothy fun this August as two of the state’s signature beer festivals roll out their barrels. Rails and Ales in Huntington and Mountaineer Brewfest in Wheeling always give local beer fans their money’s worth and more.

Rails & Ales Craft Beer Festival

First up, on August 12, it’s Rails and Ales Craft Beer Festival, which is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year. There’s a reason this fest has endured for a decade: It has the best craft beer selection of any festival in the state.

Oh, that beer selection!!!

Rails & Ales beer curator, Jeff McKay, takes his role seriously. He is a master at securing specialty beers — especially imported ones — that are often only offered at Rails & Ales. Playing off his expertise developed running Huntington’s popular Summit Beer Station, McKay gets distributors and breweries to bring in beers that expand the envelope of craft beer in West Virginia.

“Without giving away too many secrets,” McKay hints, “we are offering several different beers that we will be making debuts at the festival. If everything goes according to plan, we will also have several new breweries at the festival as well.”

While the regular brewery tents will offer about 150 different beer selections, from which fest goers may freely sample, the festival beer garden will give attendees another option. McKay says the beer garden bar, located near to the entertainment stage, will allow attendees to purchase full pours of beer and wine to enjoy while listening to the live music.

McKay says the most important highlight for the organizers is that this is their tenth year holding the festival. “Growing this festival into West Virginia’s largest beer festival, we are extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to share this experience with everybody over the last decade.”

Get your Rails & Ales ticket

VIP admission starts at 3:30 P.M., and General Admission opens at 5:00. Last pour at 8:00. General Admission tickets available at $50 for advance purchase. (VIP tickets are sold out.) Takes place at Harris Riverfront Park along the Ohio River in downtown Huntington.

Ticket Link for Rails & Ales

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Mountaineer Brewfest

Beer fans can feel extra good about purchasing tickets to Wheeling’s Mountaineer Brewfest. It absolutely sets the standard in West Virginia for giving back to their community. Taking place on Saturday, August 19, it excels in both its beer offerings and its fund raising for local charities.

Festival founder/president Jeff Hayes reports that the Mountaineer Brewfest has raised over $166,000 to date in donations to local Wheeling charities through festival proceeds and matching tips generated by the Circus Saints & Sinners service club, whose members volunteer at the fest.

This year, Mountaineer Brewfest proceeds benefit Family Service-Upper Ohio Valley, This nonprofit organization assists senior citizens to independently live in their homes as long as safely possible. They provide non-medical in-home health care, transportation, wellness/social programs, and Meals on Wheels to residents of Ohio and Marshall counties.

110 beers on the riverfront

Mountaineer Brewfest not only excels in charitable efforts, but it also offers an incredible array of beer to sample. It starts with a stellar selection of 60 brews from 18 different West Virginia brewers in a row of shaded tents along the Ohio River levee. If that’s not enough, its riverfront tents, staffed by the Circus Saints & Sinners members, provide 50 more beer options from regional, national and international brewers.

A beer & food pairing dinner

Again this year, Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack Mountaineer is the festival’s title sponsor. The casino also hosts the VIP Craft Beer and Food Pairing Brewfest, which will be held for VIP Thursday Pairing Ticket holders and sponsors on August 17th, 2023, from 6pm to 8pm at Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack. Hayes reports that this pairing will feature craft beers from Weathered Ground Brewery with special food preparations complimenting the craft beer selections by Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack Executive Chef John Greenwald.

Beer from across West Virginia

Hayes expects the following WV brewers to be in attendance this year: Abolitionist Ale Works (Charles Town), Berkeley Springs Brewing, Big Timber Brewing (Elkins), Bridge Brew Works (Fayetteville), Chestnut Brew Works (Morgantown), Free Folk Brewery (Fayetteville), High Ground Brewing (Terra Alta), Parkersburg Brewing, Screech Owl Brewing (Bruceton Mills), Short Story Brewing (Rivesville), Stumptown Ales (Davis), The Peddler (Huntington), Weathered Ground Brewery (Cool Ridge), Bridge Brew Works (Fayetteville), Clendenin Brewing, Fife Street Brewing (Charleston), Mountain State Brewing (Thomas), and Swilled Dog Hard Cider (Upper Tract).

If you go, look for a special feature as Mountaineer Brewfest presents info on the history of Wheeling breweries.

Get your Brewfest tickets

The fest takes place at the Heritage Port along the Ohio River in downtown Wheeling. VIP entry at 3:00 P.M., General Admission gates open at 4:00. Closes at 10:00. VIP and general admission tickets are available at the festival website.

Ticket link for Mountaineer Brewfest