- Memphis Brewfest
The Memphis International Beer Festival, aka Memphis Brewfest, returns for its fourth year on Saturday, April 27th, 4-7:30 p.m., at AutoZone Park. The first year drew 1,800 — a near-capacity crowd — so getting folks to the event has never been an issue. What is? “The weather,” says organizer Martin Daniel, “is very important.”
No matter the forecast, the Memphis Brewfest happens rain or shine.
Daniel, who has a son with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, founded the festival as a fundraiser for the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, with funds going to the Memphis Redbirds Foundation as well. The festival has raised $100,000 for the causes.
The festival offers 175 to 180 craft and international beers, ranging from Aech Schlenkeria Rauchbier to Yazoo Sue. Tickets are $41, with fest-goers getting a glass for sampling the beers and a map to guide them.
One thing new about this year’s Brewfest is that Budweiser of Memphis is on board as a sponsor. Budweiser of Memphis expanded its craft beer portfolio when it took over Southwestern’s craft beer division and now serves as the distributor for such beers as Ghost River and Yazoo. Beerfest’s other product sponsor is A.S. Barbaro, which distributes Coors products as well as Oatmeal Stout, Asahi, Schlafly, and many others.
Leading up to Brewfest is the first-ever Memphis Beer Week, a series of some 70 tastings, dinners, and other beer-related events being held across the city, put together by the folks overseeing the craft beers portfolio at Budweiser of Memphis.
Beer Week started Sunday and runs through April 27th. Events include the Yazoo Beer lunch on Friday, April 26th, at South of Beale. The lunch includes a selection of Yazoo beers paired with food. Yazoo beer will also be on special during the lunch, until 4 p.m. You can find a full schedule of Memphis Beer Week events on the excellent beer blog, fuzzybrew.com.
