Halifax Seaport Beerfest
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| Brian Titus, Co-founder of Halifax Seaport BeerFest |
My
Partner, Bruce, and I started the BeerFest somewhat out of frustration since there
was no gathering/celebration around beer in NS. I'm the beer guy and he's the
event guy, so it just seemed the logical thing to do. BeerFests are fun to
attend for both the patrons and the brewers, and it's an opportunity to get
direct feedback
What is the event's
mandate?
The
goal was to have an outdoor summer celebration around beer (now including
ciders) where people could explore the different brands and styles available
today. Match these great beers with tasty local food and live music and we hope
to create something really special.
What are the challenges
of putting it together?
The
challenges are many. With construction in the Halifax Seaport, we lost our six-year
street venue. We've had to rethink every aspect to make the concept work inside
at the Cunard Centre and I think people will be impressed. There's also an army
of volunteers (160) to gather and coordinate, without whom we couldn't possibly
do this. The biggest challenge though is working with over 110 breweries and
agents to coordinate the beers plus shipping, cold storage, marketing, etc.
It's especially challenging during the summer when producers simply don't have
beer!
What are the rewards?
There's
a great deal of satisfaction when the beer list is set, details are falling
into place and all that's left is to enjoy the event you've worked so hard on.
It's also great to see so many brewers and owners come together and talk about
the challenges and opportunities we all face. There are always guest brewers
attending and this year is no different with Seamus O'Hara (Carlow Brewery) and
Daniel Emerson (Stonewell Cider), both direct from Ireland
Who attends?
An
incredible range, from 19 straight up, and almost evenly split men and women…self-described
"beer nerds" (myself included) and those just starting to venture
away from light lagers—everyone is welcome.
What can they expect to
experience this year?
Where
to start? 267 individual beers (including 7 gluten-free) and ciders (17 in
total!), entire pavilions dedicated to beers from Maine, Quebec and Ontario
plus the new Irish Craft Beer Village…Our strongest ever representation of
local beers with all four newly launched NS brewers (Big Spruce, Bridge, Boxing
Rock & Uncle Leo's) attending! There are also loads of great national &
international beers on offer as well. To pair with all this we'll have great
beer-friendly food for sale from four local restaurants and live music each
session. For the first time you'll actually be able to have a "Beer on the
Pier", relaxing on our 375' waterfront patio!
Why is it an important
event for the community?
For
the beer community, it's a chance to show what makes craft beer so exciting
today. For beer enthusiasts it's a chance to try an incredible range of beers,
over half are not carried in NSLC stores. For Halifax, it helps put this market
on the map as a superb beer destination and a genuine craft beer hotspot.
What are your future
plans for the event?
After
I sleep in for a couple days? I think we'll continue to profile interesting
breweries or areas, bringing something unique and surprising to the table each
year. Cheers to that!
Halifax
Seaport Beerfest
August
9 & 10
