Eric Bourgeois – Memphis Flyer

Memphis Brewfest is returning, but under a new name and with an additional event.

“Memphis Brewfest Weekend” will be held Oct. 16th and 17th at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Memphis Brewfest, with all the beer, will be Oct. 16th. And the new addition, “Memphis Brunchfest,” will be Oct. 17th. With brunch and more beer.

The last Memphis Brewfest was held in May 2019.

More than 50 breweries will be showcasing their beer at this year’s Brewfest, says event coordinator Eric Bourgeois, marketing director for Packed House Productions, which is presenting the event along with Good Beer Events. Packed House Productions is the parent company of the Aldo’s restaurants, which include Aldo’s Pizza Pies, Bardog Tavern, Slider Inn, and Momma’s.

Brewfest, which will be held from 3 to 7 p.m., will feature more than 150 beers, ciders, and seltzers “from around the country and a few international breweries as well,” Bourgeois says. Food from area restaurants will be available.

Partiers at the 2019 Memphis Brewfest. (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Brunchfest, which will be held from noon to 3:30 p.m., also will be presented by the Arcade, Hattie B’s, and Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, all of which will provide the brunch items.

“We will have beer, but the big thing at Brunchfest is the Old Dominick’s Distillery Bloody Mary bar,” Bourgeois says.

Guests will be provided ingredients to create their own Bloody Marys. “Old Dominick is providing the vodka.”

And, Bourgeois says, “We’ll have bottomless mimosas for those that aren’t too into the Bloody Mary.”

They also will have “a considerable amount of beer and seltzer. So, if they can’t make that Brewfest experience, fear not. They’ll be able to get the boozy experience Sunday.”

JJ Wilson the DJ will provide “the vibes for imbibing” during Memphis Brewfest Weekend.

Cost of the events are $45 for general admission Brewfest tickets, which include “unlimited samples from 50 breweries and cideries from across the country. They can sample food from local Memphis eateries. And craft vendors will be there.”

Brewfest VIP tickets will be $100. That gets you “all of the above, plus Fast Pass Entry into the festival, access to the VIP lounge at the Memphis Tigers football locker room, all-you-can-eat buffet, and VIP exclusive specialty beers and ciders.”

Eric Bourgeois at the 2019 Memphis Brewfest. (Credit: Michael Donahue)

And, Bourgeois says, the VIP ticket will include “most importantly, private restrooms.”

Brunchfest admission is $50. That ticket “adds even more boozy fun for the weekend warrior.”

As for Covid-19 precautions, Bourgeois says they will not enforce showing proof of vaccination, but they are “operating under the same safety measures by the host venue, the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.”

Tickets will not be available at the gate this year. Go to memphisbrewfest.com to secure tickets because they are anticipating a sell-out crowd, Bourgeois says.

Eric Bourgeois, Aldo Dean, and Michael Donahue at the 2019 Memphis Brewfest.

We Saw You: Trolley Night is Back

Hunter Raines sums up the return to Trolley Night after a 19-month absence: “Glad to see crowded sidewalks again.”

Raines and his wife, Sophie, were among the throng of people who attended the South Main Association event on Friday, June 25th.

Joviality was everywhere on a perfect weather-wise evening for the tour, which drew “at least 1,000 people,” estimates South Main Association president Eric Bourgeois. “It’s tough to put a number on it,” he says, adding, “It’s so strung out. In reality it starts around 5 and ends at 9 p.m. But for some people it ends at 1 a.m. There’s no set start and finish to Trolley Night. It’s whatever you make of your night.

“Trolley Night had something for everyone, whether you were enjoying live music at Slider Inn or shopping at Stock & Belle, or dancing the night night away, Soul Burger in hand, at Earnestine & Hazel’s at 2 a.m.”

Jessica Montesi, Montie Doss, and Erika Montesi were at Trolley Night (Credit: Michael Donahue)

The route is “loosely defined to allow for inclusion, especially on Trolley Night, when it’s all about supporting the neighborhood businesses. But it’s essentially from Martin Luther King north from Crump and west from B. B. King.

“In years past there was always kind of a mental stop at the G. E. Patterson area and Central Street Station. That long half mile stretch on to the next stop.”

This year, Ghost River Brewing Co., which is at Main Street and Crump Boulevard, was included. “They wanted to figure out how to have more representation on Trolley Night. So, the South Main Association coordinated with MATA for the first time to extend the trolley bus route all the way to include Ghost River at the South end of Main Street.”

More than 50 businesses take part in Trolley Night, Bourgeois says. “You had a combination of art gallery showings, live music at multiple locations, and you had different food and drink specials deals. And, thanks to the newly-implemented to-go alcohol rules, people were able to grab a cocktail and continue their stroll up and down South Main.”

It’s amazing to think that it’s been more than a year and a half since the last Trolley Night. “We didn’t have an official South Main sanctioned Trolley Night in all of 2020. We’re officially back.”

And, Bourgeois says, “We were able to reintroduce our South Main Association member lounge. That had the most attendees we ever had. Between Primas Bakery (+ Boutique) and the Trek bike shop.”

The South Main Association member’s lounge was the place to be on Trolley Night. (Credit: Michael Donahue)

This year’s event was “just a huge smashing return to the Trolley Nights of old. And it set the standard for the last Friday of the month to come.”

Mark your calendars. The next Trolley Night is July 30th.