The inaugural Stowe Brewers Festival is just days away! With 40 different breweries, cideries, and meaderies attending, this event promises to be a great addition to the Vermont beer scene. Silas Atkins of Two Brews Podcast interviewed festival organizers Lisa Senecal and Nina Atkinson, who said that the support from local merchants and the town of Stowe has been overwhelming (listen to the full episode here).
Every year more festivals seem to be added to the Vermont beer lover’s calendar, so what makes this one different? Here are 5 things that will set the Stowe Brewers Festival apart.
1. Ninkasi-Stowe
Surrounding the brew fest is the Ninkasi-Stowe town-wide celebration, a weeklong event that showcases local music, food, shops, and outdoor fun. Over 60 Stowe businesses are participating, and passes are free with the purchase of a Stowe Brewers Festival ticket. You’ll want to take full advantage of that pass, because it entitles holders to special discounts at local businesses as well as access to events, offers, and tap takeovers (Ninkasi is, after all, the Sumerian goddess of beer!). Click here to see just the beer-related events taking place during Ninkasi-Stowe.
2. Green Initiatives
When I first heard about this event, one of the things that excited me the most was the effort to make it as environmentally friendly as possible. The organizers have worked hard to incorporate many opportunities to be green, like making the event super bike-friendly, asking food vendors to use only compostable utensils and plates, and having fully staffed waste-sorting stations. They’ve also partnered with Clearwater Filtration to supply unlimited free drinking water to attendees at this plastic water bottle-free event.
3. Giving Back
A big part of the Stowe Brewers Festival will be giving back to the community by partnering with local charities. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Vermont Food Bank, Friends of Stowe Adaptive Spots, and the Stowe Education Fund. Each vendor is also being encouraged to support their own favorite charities during the festival, whether it’s through a raffle, a game, or other donations. This is a fantastic opportunity to foster the social responsibility that the craft beer industry is so well-known for, especially in Vermont.
4. VIP Tickets
Ever wanted to be a VIP in the beer world? Here’s your chance. Attendees have the option of purchasing VIP festival tickets that entitle them to all kinds of awesomeness. VIPs receive three extra tasting tickets and are treated to a private hour of beer tasting before standard ticket holders are admitted (that means no lines!). They also get an exclusive catered reception, special swag, VIP parking, and 2 Vermont beers to take home.
5. Music Tent
There will be plenty of live music to rock out to during the Stowe Brewers Festival. There doesn’t seem to be much info out there yet about performers for the festival, but live music + beer is always outstanding in my book.
Honorable mention: ATMs will be available onsite!
I can’t wait to see everything the Stowe Brewers festival has to offer! Get more information and buy tickets here. Hope to see you there.
Vermont on Tap 