Michigan’s only lager-centric festival will benefit Weekend Survival Kits, an organization dedicated to heling undernourished children. A new festival will celebrate a beer style that has received its fair share of contempt from the craft beer community.
“A lot of craft beer enthusiasts look down on lagers because they think that just because the big beer companies make it, it’s a terrible style of beer,” said festival organizer Paul Starr. “In reality, it’s one of the hardest styles to make.”
The first-ever Williamston International Festival of Lagers invites attendees to appreciate lagers. The festival is bringing over 30 lager-centric breweries from around the world to offer tastings of their helles, pilsners, märzens, bocks and more. It’s a chance to try lagers from breweries whose beer has never been poured in Michigan.
“Some of these beers will never be in Michigan again,” Starr said. “It’s really a one-time opportunity to try these beers without travelling the world to visit the breweries.”
The festival takes place at a time when lagers are gaining popularity, with more breweries releasing their takes the style.
“Lagers are going to come to the front again,” Starr said. “This festival is a chance to be a part of that wave.”
The nonprofit Weekend Survival Kits is hosting the festival with assistance from Old Nation Brewing Company. The organization provides food on the weekends to children in grades K-5 who may otherwise go hungry. Volunteers pack and discreetly deliver kits with enough food basics to make four breakfasts, four lunches, six dinners and two to four snacks—enough for two weekends—making sure participating kids are prepared to be fully engaged at school. One hundred percent of the festival’s proceeds will benefit Weekend Survival Kits.
The festival will take place on June 2 from 1-6 p.m. at McCormick Park in Williamston, Michigan. VIP ticket holders can enter at 12 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase online . A ticket includes entry to the festival, a logo tasting glass and 10-15 tasting tickets, each redeemable for one 3-ounce pour. Additional tasting tickets will be available for purchase at a rate of 3 tickets for $5. Press Release - WIFOL Attendees can look forward to groovy live music provided by Michigan bands Global Village and Soulstice.
Participating breweries include Ballistic Beer Co., Black Cloister Brewing Co., Cedar Springs Brewing Co., Dovetail Brewery, Drafting Table Brewing Co., Foundation Brewing Co., Great Lakes Brewing Co., Heater Allen Handcrafted Lager Beer, Hi-Wire Brewing, Lost and Grounded Brewers, Neshaminy Creek Brewing Co., North Pier Brewing Co., Old Nation Brewing Co., Pigeon Head Brewing, Penn Brewery Prost Brewing Co., River's Edge Brewing Co., Smith & Lentz Brewing Co., Speciation Artisan Ales, Upland Brewing Co., Urban Chestnut Brewing Co., Victory Brewing Co,Warped Wing Brewing Co., Wolverine State Brewing Co., Zwei Brewing and more.
For additional information or to schedule an interview, contact Travis Fritts from Old Nation Brewing at travis.fritts@gmail.com
Source: PRESS RELEASE
