Brattleboro Brewers Festival Saturday, May 25th

What started out 15 years ago as a local beer event with a couple hundred tasters, has since grown into a craft beer and cider festival with a couple thousand tasters from across New England and beyond. This year's Brattleboro Brewers Festival is shaping out to be their best yet with up to 75 different beers and ciders to sample. The festival will also be held at a brand-new location this year, SIT Campus — World Learning at 1 Kipling Road in Brattleboro. "The SIT campus is located on Black Mountain Road, and it has gorgeous views of mountain ranges," said Kelli Corbeil, of the Brattleboro Brewers Festival. "There is no parking on site, but there will be shuttles picking people up from parking locations all over Putney Road in Brattleboro. The festival will feature an afternoon of local food, brews, music and games over the Memorial Day weekend. This year's festival takes place on Saturday, May 25 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Kick off your shoes and dance to the rocking sounds of the band, Northern Fried, a jam, rock group from Boston. Anyone who considers themselves a foodie will appreciate the wide variety of local fare available. There will also be plenty of games for guests to play such as Giant Jenga, Connect Four or Corn Hole. Some of the specialty craft and food vendors include: Poppa G's Woodworks, Anon's Thai Cuisine, I Want Pig Candy, J&B's Curbside Cafe, Vermont Hempicurean, Mach's Woodfired Pizza, Maine Paracord, Frenchy & Balloos BBQ and Fries of Providence. Of course, it wouldn't be a brewfest without the brews! Ticket holders are able to vote for the best brew of the day, so make sure to drop a bean in the mason jar of your favorite brewer, who will be competing for the Brattleboro Brewers Festival's People's Choice Award. "This year we have five cideries. That's the most we have ever had for this festival. We will also have a wine vendor this year and people will be able to purchase the wine and leave with it," added Corbeil. "We really wanted to help support the Putney Mountain Winery and this was a great way to do that." Some of this year's options to sample will be: Lawson's Finest Liquids, Brick and Feather, Element Brewing, Black Flannel Brewing, Stowe Cider, Upper Pass Beer Co., Wormtown Brewery, Branch & Blade Brewing, Frogg Brewing, Liambru Ale Co., Mount Holly Beer Co., Vermont Beer Makers, Dirt Church Brewing, Whetstone Craft Beers, 14th Star Brewing, 1st Republic Brewing Co., Shacksbury Cider, Scott Farm Cider, Putney Mountain Winery and Spirits, Citizen Cider and Eden Ciders. Each year, the festival gives back a portion of its proceeds to support a specially selected local business or non-profit. Partial proceeds this year will go to Wreaths Across America for Veterans. "This will be in memory of James Savory. His wife, Pamela Savory, is trying to raise enough money to place over 300 wreaths for the veterans at The Pine Grove Cemetery in Hinsdale," explained Corbeil. "Wreaths Across America lay wreaths at the gravestones of veterans around Christmas time every year and it is quite a sight to see!" The festival is a rain or shine event. "Definitely come prepared for the weather and make sure to bring plenty of sunscreen. Visitors could also bring chairs for seating while watching the band," said Corbeil. Tickets and sponsor information is available at brattleborobrewersfestival.com. For more information, contact: kcorbeil@wtsaradio.com.