Have you noticed the abundance of beer festivals in St. Louis? As craft breweries have multiplied in the last several years, beer events have grown with them until it seems there is one almost every weekend May through October. With so many to choose from, does it really matter which to attend? Could there be one that stands out from the crowd?
The St. Louis Brewers Guild Heritage Festival is just such an event (Friday June 13 and Saturday June 14 from 6-9 pm, Central Fields in Forest Park). Created 8 years ago as a collaboration of St. Louis’ breweries, the Heritage Festival was born to showcase all St. Louis has to offer, making this event unique.
The Heritage Festival, (as locals refer to it), is run by the nonprofit St. Louis Brewers Guild, an organization made up of breweries that physically craft their beer within the St. Louis market. This select list of truly local breweries is one of the first things, which sets this festival apart. To take it one step further, the Guild decided to make the Heritage Festival all about the diversity of beer styles brewed in the metro area. This year over 90 unique styles of beer will be featured. Attendees are guaranteed the ultimate opportunity to enjoy an amazing range of beers, all crafted by our much-loved local breweries, and the 6 local homebrew clubs invited to showcase their creations.
In keeping with the St. Louis centered theme, the Guild has included our favorite food trucks and 9 local bands, each present to entertain us in their own unique way, as we move about the grounds, sampling all these wonderful beer styles. For those guests who truly want a one of a kind festival experience, this year also includes a secluded VIP area, catered with local BBQ, its own live music, lounge (complete with comfy furniture), a bar with unique local beers not available in the festival grounds, preferential parking and air-conditioned rest-rooms.
Whether you are a craft beer aficionado or novice, to love St. Louis’ local brews is to attend the St. Louis Brewers Guild Heritage Festival. Tickets: $35 General Admission, $75 VIP on Friday and $100 VIP on Saturday (which includes entry 1 hour early) and are available at www.stlbg.com/heritage-festival.