CINCINNATI -- Get ready for a funky good time this weekend as Fifty West Brewing Company breaks out all the craft beer, food and music you can handle.
On Saturday, the brewery will be hosting 11 bands, 25 breweries and a wealth of their foodie friends for the third annual Fifty Fest celebration.
This year the party runs from noon to midnight Saturday at the Fifty West campus at 7668 Wooster Pike. Organizers are expecting more than 7,000 people to come to the east side brewery.
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The cost to get in is just $10 -- or a “golden” ticket that some lucky beer fans may have picked up earlier. WCPO Insiders can get free VIP tickets that get them into the festival and provide access to free beer and food. Supplies are limited.
While planning Fifty Fest, the brewers said they wanted to go bigger and better than ever with a focus on highlight local and Ohio producers.
The music will be featured on three stages this year and the artists will play “jamboree” style and toss to each other during their sets.
Patrons can also expect more amenities for families this year with a “Fifty Rest” area set aside from the main stage. The area will feature cool down activities, plenty of games for kids and a tented rest stop to help beat the heat or take a break from the action.
Courtesy of Fifty West Brewing Co.
Fifty West co-owner Bobby Slattery said, “What makes this event unique is how the community has turned this into something bigger than just a festival full of great beers and music. My favorite thing is seeing families that bring their little kids laughing and dancing together. It makes you realize the power of bringing people together.”
The Pink Ribbon Girls and Team Fight Club are sponsoring the “Fifty Rest” area this year. Patrons will also get to enjoy spa amenities provided by Urban Salon and Valenti Salon and Spa. As well as a water balloon zone and a DIY T-shirt station from Big Frog Custom T-Shirts.
The team said they’ve spent an entire year planning for Fifty Fest and they are excited to unveil some unique new ideas that may surprise people.
When it comes to beer, Fifty Fest can’t be beat. The brewers have a line-up sure to satisfy everyone from a craft beer newbie, to the aficionado and even non-beer-drinkers.
Courtesy of Fifty West Brewing
Co-owner and brewmaster Blake Hosburgh said, “We’ve collected a lot of special kegs to be tapped at Fifty Fest. We’re excited to deliver an impressive collection of rarities to our festivalgoers throughout the day including cellar aged beers, barrel aged beers, and sours from award winning breweries.”
Each of the 25 featured breweries will be bringing a special beer just for the event. So there’s going to be lots of rare beers available throughout the day to sample.
The brewers’ list includes:
- Taft’s Ale House
- Rivertown Brewing Company
- Urban Artifact
- MadTree Brewing Company
- Ei8ht Ball Brewing
- Tap & Screw
- Bad Tom Smith Brewing
- Rhinegeist Brewing
- Cellar Dweller
- Braxton Brewing Company
- Listermann Brewing Company
- Blank Slate Brewing Company
- Christian Moerlein Brewing Company
- Mt. Carmel Brewing Company
- DogBerry Brewing
- Old Firehouse Brewery
- Yellow Springs Brewing
- Great Lakes Brewing Company
- Jackie O’s
- Seventh Son Brewing
- Fat Head’s Brewing Company
- Weasel Boy Brewing
- Good Wood Brewing
- Thirsty Dog Brewing
One of the big surprises for this year’s festival is the return of TRIPA -- Fifty West’s Triple IPA. Festivalgoers will get to take TRIPA home in the form of 12 oz. bottles starting at 4:20 p.m. Saturday. It will also be available on draft.
The brewers said there is a limited of two bottles per person and $8 per bottle. Tickets for the bottles will be sold at the merchandising tent and can be redeemed when exiting.
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Beer won’t be the only libation available at the party. The Heritage will have a whole area dedicated to drinks for non-beer drinkers. Fans expect a variety of George Remus bourbon, Watershed vodka and gin and a
selection of wines from Vintner Select so everyone can join in on the fun.
Plus you can’t forget the food. Feeding so many people is a team effort and Fifty West has lined up friends to help out including:
- Pizzelii Pizza
- Maribelle’s
- Sunshine Caramels
- Carabello Coffee
- Quite Frankly
- Dilly Deli
- Beerded Pig
- Heritage Tastings: at the Cottage
- Sweeterie
- Keystone Bar & Grill
Topping it all off is an eclectic band list that is sure to get people dancing. Starting at noon and running until close, there are 11 bands playing on three stages for everyone to enjoy.
Organizers said the experience includes sets from:
- Young Heirlooms
- Mark Utley & Bullettville
- Newbees
- Elementree Livity Project
- Todd Hepburn & Connor Clark
- Moonshine and Wine
- Backbeat
- Noah Wotherspoon
- Tickled Pink
- Heavy Hinges
- Pike 27
Putting a party like this on takes an army, but those craft beer soldiers can get some perks. Fifty West is looking for volunteers to help with the event and you can apply to take part online at the event’s website.
For the latest on the festival and more on Fifty West, click here for the event’s website and Facebook page.
For the latest Cincinnati beer news and entertainment, go to wcpo.com/beer or follow Jesse on Twitter at @wcpojesse .
