BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A sold-out crowd of beer enthusiasts sampled local brews Saturday afternoon at Spring Beer Fest, kicking off what could turn into another staple of the Lehigh Valley's festival scene.
Organizers said they sold more than 850 tickets for the debut festival, at which 22 breweries, two cideries, a kombuchery and a meadery offered adult beverages to eager festival goers. All of the businesses are based in the Lehigh Valley.
- The Spring Beer Fest opened with a bang Saturday, selling more than 850 tickets between its two sessions
- The festival's debut featured 21 breweries, two cideries, a meadery and a kombuchery, all from the Lehigh Valley
- Organizers were optimistic about the festival returning in 2024
Summer Herb, a bartender with Hop Hill Brewing Co. in Lower Saucon Township, said a constant flow of customers sipped its Galaxy Treasure IPA and Strawberry Dreamin', a strawberry blonde ale.
The Lehigh Valley is known for supporting its local businesses and breweries, but Herb said Hop Hill had thought the four cases of beer it brought would be enough.
"We're probably going to need to bring in some backups," she said.
Well attended festival
Many festival attendees were seasoned veterans of the Lehigh Valley's beer scene, but they still found new things to try and sample.
"The beers have all just been good. Sometimes [at other festivals], you dump your cup out because they're not so good."Beer Fest attendee Cody Hayton
Donald and Rebecca Jeanmonod of Hellertown said they're fans of Lost Tavern Brewing in the borough and were pleased with many of the beers available at its stand.
But after trying out many of the offerings, they were thinking about paying a visit to Böser Geist Brewing Company in Easton.
"We haven't been there before,' Donal Jeanmonod said. "It's not far, and it may be worth it."
Cody Hayton and Isabella Rivera made the trip from Harrisburg but said they've traveled farther for their love of suds.
They said they go to several beer festivals every year and made it to Denver last fall for the Great American Beer Festival, one of the largest beer festivals in the world.
Spring Beer Fest compared well to most of the events they've attended, they said.
"The beers have all just been good," Hayton said. "Sometimes [at other festivals], you dump your cup out because they're not so good."
Likelihood of returning is high
Spring Beer Fest is a partnership between the Lehigh Valley's Brewer Guild and ArtsQuest.
Chris McCall, president of the guild, said his organization has held a Fall Beer Fest for several years, but none had reached the success Spring Beer Fest achieved in just the opening hour.
"This has gone so well there's no point for us to have two beer festivals."Chris McCall, president of the Lehigh Valley Brewer Guild
ArtsQuest has provided a degree of marketing the guild couldn't provide, letting its members' brews reach more taste buds, McCall said.
Traditionally, beer festivals are held in the fall. But the packed festival calendar has made it harder for the beer fest to stand out, McCall said.
Given the high turnout at Saturday's event, the guild is already rethinking its event calendar, he said.
"This has gone so well there's no point for us to have two beer festivals," McCall said.
ArtsQuest Communications Director Jennifer LoConte said no official decision has been made about reprising the event, but the early results have been encouraging.
"We're thrilled with the overwhelming interest in Spring Beer Fest resulting in both sessions being sold out," LoConte said. "While we evaluate all events to determine whether or not they will return, the likelihood of Spring Beer Fest returning in 2024 is high."
