More than 100 craft beers available to taste at Egg Harbor AleFest

EGG HARBOR - The seventh annual Egg Harbor AleFest is set to offer beer lovers the chance to sample a wide variety of brews and ciders while taking in the view of the bay of Green Bay on Saturday.

About seven years ago, a group of beer lovers and Egg Harbor Business Association members banded together to create AleFest and tap into the growing appreciation for craft beers locally and across the country. Since the first AleFest in 2012, attendance has grown throughout the years, with nearly 800 taste testers reported to have attended last year.

Well over 100 craft brews and hard ciders from 40 brewers will be on the premises, in Harbor View Park overlooking the bay. As with most beer festivals, a wide variety of tastes and styles will be on hand to sample, from refreshing pale ales, lagers and hard ciders to hearty amber ales, stouts and porters. 

The festival draws many small and independent Wisconsin brewers, including local and area crafters Shipwrecked Brew Pub in Egg Harbor, Door County Brewing Co. in Baileys Harbor, Island Orchard Cider in Ellison Bay, Thumb Knuckle Brewing Co. in Luxemburg and Ahnapee Brewing in Algoma.

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Joining them are popular Wisconsin craft brewers like Stillmank, Badger State and Hinterland, all from Green Bay; O’so Brewing from Plover; Stone Arch of Appleton; Lakefront Brewing from Milwaukee; and Potosi Brewing of Potosi.

There also are brews from across the Midwest and beyond. Larger breweries with national distribution that dabble or specialize in craft-style beers also will offer samples, such as Goose Island from Chicago and New Belgium from Colorado.

The lineup offers tastes from breweries not seen in the typical local bar, keeping things interesting for beer-tasting newbies and veterans alike. And the number of samples is unlimited for general admission ticket holders.

Live music is provided by In Black 'n White, a reggae-rock-soul band based in Milwaukee.

A free trolley shuttle runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. between the festival and Egg Harbor restaurants and lodging establishments. Event T-shirts and other memorabilia will be available for sale.

The seventh annual Egg Harbor AleFest takes place from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Harbor View Park, 7809 Wisconsin 42, Egg Harbor. General admission is $45 in advance, $50 at the door, and includes unlimited beer samples and a commemorative pint glass. VIP admission is $86 in advance, $100 at the door, and includes early admission at noon with rare and limited-edition beer samples until 1 p.m, a commemorative glass stein, and complimentary food, water and soda, along with the unlimited beer samples. Admission for designated drivers and nondrinkers is $12 in advance, $15 at the door and offers a long-sleeved AleFest T-shirt and complimentary water and soda. Food will be available for purchase for non-VIP guests.

For advance tickets or more information, go to eggharboralefest.com.