Mountaineer Brewfest on Tap Aug. 19 at Wheeling Heritage Port
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WHEELING -- The ninth annual Mountaineer Brewfest returns to Heritage Port in Wheeling this summer, when revelers will not only get to enjoy some of the Mountain State's best craft beer but also help support a worthy local charity.
Brewfest officials gathered at Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack on Tuesday to announce the 2023 beneficiary and kick off the countdown to the big event.
Mountaineer Brewfest will take place on Saturday, Aug. 19, at Heritage Port. Those with VIP admission can enter at 3 p.m., and gates open for general admission at 4 p.m. The event closes at 10 p.m.
This year's charity beneficiary will be Family Service -- Upper Ohio Valley.
"The funding that is going to be raised during this event is going towards our Meals on Wheeling program for Ohio and Marshall counties," said Paula Calvert, CEO of Family Service -- Upper Ohio Valley, who thanked officials from Mountaineer Brewfest on behalf of the agency's board of directors, employees and many clients. "We serve over 100,000 meals a year, and the money that this spectacular festival raises for nonprofits and the impact that it has on the community is truly amazing. This is truly a remarkable day."
Jeff Hayes, founder and president of Mountaineer Brewfest, said the annual event continues to grow every year. Many local charities apply to be named the annual recipient of the event's proceeds, and a committee reviews submissions from several worthy applicants every year before one is officially selected.
"I've got to say, 2022 was an incredible year for Mountaineer Brewfest," Hayes said. "We were able to give the largest donation to date -- $40,000 -- to last year's charity. We're very proud of that. We're also very proud to have been named the West Virginia beer festival of the year. A lot of hard work goes into it, and we thank our loyal patrons. The feedback and appreciation we receive every year when we hear from them truly drives us to continue this."
There will be an array of artisan food vendors on hand during the event, in addition to live entertainment by local favorites Spinning Jenny, as well as The Hooch during the VIP hour. Sydney Mack from Nashville and Liquid A from Philadelphia will be the featured main-stage musical acts.
The biggest stars of the event, however, will be the many craft breweries from the Mountain State that will have their unique libations on tap. There will be returning favorites and some new brewers this year, Hayes said.
Samples will be available from craft brewers representing all areas of West Virginia. They include Mountain State Brewing (Thomas), Big Timber Brewing (Elkins), Free Folk Brewery (Fayetteville), Abolitionist Ale Works (Charles Town), Screech Owl Brewing (Bruceton Mills), Clendenin Brewing and The Peddler Brewing (Huntington), High Ground Brewing (Terra Alta), Chestnut Brew Works (Morgantown), Fife Street Brewing (Charleston), Berkeley Springs Brewing and Swilled Dog Hard Cider (Upper Tract), Weathered Ground Brewing (Cool Ridge), Stumptown Ales (Davis), Parkersburg Brewing (Parkersburg) and Short Story Brewing (Rivesville).
Brewfest also features a beer garden with more than 50 additional pours.
"Mountaineer Brewfest is a celebration of West Virginia's finest craft beers," Hayes said. "We have another great lineup of 16 West Virginia craft brewers -- 'Wild and Wonderful' as they are, from across the state."
The local charitable organization Circus Saints and Sinners continues to partner with Mountaineer Brewfest to help make the event a success every year. Jeffrey Yourkovich -- current board member of Mountaineer Brewfest and past president of Circus Saints and Sinners, noted that all of the proceeds raised during the event go to the charity.
"We are in charge of the beer garden section of the festival, where we serve regional craft beers," Yourkovich said of the Circus Saints and Sinners crew. "We accept tips at the beer garden -- and that goes directly to the charity each year. We're proud to announce that over those nine years, our charity donation for the entire festival -- including those tips and tip matches -- we're at $166,000. So we continue to strive to throw the best festival, have a good time and continue to raise money for local charities."
The title sponsor for Mountaineer Brewfest will once again be Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack, which has served as the event's title sponsor for the past eight years.
"It is a premier event for the community," said Kim Florence, president and general manager of Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack. "Not only does it get the community together to enjoy some great craft beer and some wonderful music, but it also does a lot to help our local charities, and we're just honored to be a part of it."
Tickets for the 2023 Mountaineer Brewfest go on sale June 1 on the event's official website. Tickets will also be available through links on the event's social media sites and at eventbrite.com, as well as in person at the Yourkovich and Associates office at 246 Kruger St. in Wheeling. For more information on the 2023 Mountaineer Brewfest, visit www.mountaineerbrewfest.com.