Mountaineer Brewfest rocks again

August 24, 2023

It’s possible that the folks in Wheeling pulled off their best festival yet. A crowd of around 2,500 thirsty attendees enjoyed plenty of great craft brews at Mountaineer Brewfest last Saturday. Quite an impressive turnout on a beautiful Saturday.

The crowd quaffed beers from 17 West Virginia brewers this year, along with scores of out-of-state brews. WV brewers in attendance for the first time this year included Fife Street Brewing of Charleston and Clendenin Brewing.

Tapping of the Firkin at Mountaineer Brewfest. Photo by PJ McDermott — *Dennis VanReenen, with hammer, taps the firkin at Mountaineer Brewfest. PHOTO: PJ McDermott*

Big money raised for charity

Always a keynote event at the festival is the tapping of the firkin, an activity which officially opens the event. Dennis VanReenen and his wife Janelle made the winning bid of $2,300 to wield the mallet this year. Dennis tapped a special firkin of Old Man Brown Ale from Abolitionist Ale Works in Charles Town.

The firkin tapping auction was held during a VIP dinner event on Thursday before the Brewfest. The VanReenans reside in Shady Spring, WV, and have been attending Mountaineer Brewfest for several years.

Proceeds from the auction, along with the festival’s overall profit, go directly to the fest’s designated charity, which this year is Family Service – Upper Ohio Valley. The charity will be honored at an event on September 19 in Wheeling.

The festival’s title sponsor again this year was Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack.

Winning WV beers honored at fest

The three top beers from West Virginia brewers at the fest were honored with trophies. Experienced beer-judging members of the Wheeling Alers Homebrew Club handled the judging. Festival President Jeff Hayes provided photos of the winners below.

First Place

Mountaineer Brewfest honors winning beers and brewers — *Mike Vance of Abolitionist Ale Works accepts 1st Place award from Adam Brothers (L) and Jeff Hayes (R)*

Shenandoah Saison from Abolitionist Ale Works, in Charles Town, WV, snagged the festival’s top award.

*Photo Credit: Mike Vance, Abolitionist Ale Works*

Abolitionist’s head brewer Mike Vance had this to say about his winning beer:

“Shenandoah Saison was the beer I designed for my in-house easy drinker from day one. A table saison that is dry and refreshing with good flavors, it is open fermented for a minimum of 6 weeks then keg conditioned. The beer stays out at room temperature and does not see the cold room until it becomes a back up in draft room. The last keg of every batch is always extra dry and has lager like characteristics. for the second year in a row.”

Second Place

*Big Timber’s Wayne Border accepts the award from the festival leaders Corey Albers, Jeff, and Adam*.

The second place brew was Pine Room Lager from Big Timber Brewing in Elkins. This newer beer was just introduced earlier in the year. The second award trophy held by Border is for Big Timber winning the festival People’s Choice Award. this award is voted on by festival attendees who select their favorite brewery of the festival.

Third Place

*High Ground Brewing’s owner, Dallas Wolfe, happily receives the award from Corey, Jeff, and Adam..*

The third place trophy went to High Ground Brewing‘s popular Delbert Czech Pale Lager. This beer also won 2nd place the week before at the Rails & Ales Festival. It’s racking up honors.