There’s something brewing this month in downtown Tryon. The town will host the first ever Tryon Beer Fest on November 10, an event its organizers are hoping will grow into an annual celebration.
The event will have a German flair. “It’s going to be like an Oktoberfest,” says Shelly Block, owner of Tryon’s La Bouteille wine and beer boutique and the festival chair. “We’re going to have authentic German food, Bavarian pretzels, an oompah band and an accordion player who will play German music.”
Of course there will also be plenty of beer to sample and purchase. A ticket gets you 12 samples of some of the finest beers brewed by Western North Carolina’s local craft beer industry as well as a souvenir tasting cup. Local beer makers scheduled so far include Bottle Tree Beer, Sierra Nevada, Pisgah, and Highland breweries.
Festival-goers will also see beer brewing in action. Renowned brewer Jay Adams (aka, Dr. Beer) will be brewing beer on site. Block says Adams is also starting a brew club and will be available to share information about the club.
Designated drivers will be admitted for half-price, and non-alcoholic beverages will be available.
Block, who serves as promotion chair for the Tryon Downtown Development Association, says the organization was looking for ways to bring people to the downtown area in the fall. That’s when the idea was hatched for a beer festival.
“One of the goals of the organization is to hold events that bring people back to the downtown,” Block says. “This is the first year for the Beer Festival, and hopefully it will turn into something like Euphoria in Greenville.” She says the focus for this first year will be on the food and beer sampling. “It’s going to be a lot of fun and very festive.”
To purchase tickets, visit www.tryonbeerfest.com or get them in Tryon at La Bouteille or Tryon House. In Saluda, you can drop by Kathleen’s Gallery. Tickets for this 21 and over event are limited, so you are advised to get them early.
