The Aroostook County Brew & Wine Fest will hold its second annual fall gathering of craft beverages this Saturday, this time at the Nordic Heritage Center in Presque Isle.
The brew fest is on Oct. 15, 2016 from noon-5 p.m. and is organized by the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce, the Nordic Heritage Center, Aroostook Hops and the Maine Malt House.
The latter two businesses, from Westfield and Mapleton respectively, are rising players in the state’s farm-to-brew economy, and the Beer and Wine Fest is a good opportunity for them and other local businesses, said Lyn Frederick of the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce, who helped organize the event.
“We’re hoping for a great turnout. Ticket sales are starting to pick up,” Frederick said.
Last year’s event, held at Bigrock Mountain in Mars Hill under peak fall foliage and the first snowfall, sold out with 500 tickets. This year, Frederick said, there are 750 available.
In its second year, the fest moved to the Nordic Heritage Center in part due to challenges getting enough staffing at Bigrock, Frederick said. As at Bigrock, the event at the Nordic center will be held under a canopy tent, with patrons cordoned off from the rest of the facility and grounds, in accordance with state regulations for brew fests, Fredericks said.
In its second year, the festival has also brought on winemakers from the Maine Winery Guild to participate along with brewers from the Maine Brewer’s Guild, totalling 19 different vendors of beer, cider and wine, including Northern Maine Brewing Company of Caribou and Hidden Spring Winery of Hodgdon.
“We really want to showcase them so people can taste what they have and visit them locally,” Frederick said. All of the other beer vendors will be featuring at least one beer with hops from Aroostook Hops or barley malt from or the Maine Malt House.
Along with the brews will be live music by local musicians Travis Cyr and Jacob Graham, and a variety of food vendors, including Presque Isle’s Bob Saucier, with the Paddy Wagon food truck, and Frank Hallett, with West Mountain Kettle Corn.
The event kicks off at noon with a VIP brew and hor d’oeuvres session at $55 per ticket. The general session opens at 1:30 p.m. at $35 per person, and comes with a 5-ounce sampling glass and unlimited pours from the different vendors.
North Country Auto will be providing free rides to and from the Nordic Heritage Center with stops at the Hampton Inn and The Northeastland Hotel during the event. Taxis will also be stationing at the center and available for patrons to hire, Frederick said.
