Greenville Craft Beer Week 2015
So very often, a celebration calls for a delicious craft beer or two. It is the perfect ingredient to add to parties, gatherings with friends, or even the end of a hard day at work. For one week in April, however, the craft beer industry itself is the reason for celebration, as we prepare for the second annual Greenville Craft Beer Week.
It was not that long ago that a celebration of Greenville’s craft beer industry would have simply meant picking up a six-pack of one of Thomas Creek’s tasty offerings at the local grocery store. Eventually craft beer purveyors like The Community Tap entered the market and connected with consumers looking for a wider range of options. Now, less than two years removed from being Greenville’s only distributing brewery, Thomas Creek is the senior member of a growing family of breweries with Quest Brewing Company, Brewery 85 and Swamp Rabbit Brewery recently joining the fraternal order of beer makers (with even more on the way).
Last year Brook Bristow and Vance Arthurs decided that this growth deserved a week of recognition. In a few short months they put together Greenville’s first Craft Beer Week to an amazing public response. With a full year of planning and experience under their belts, and the addition of Erin Gregory to the team, this year’s event promises to be something truly special.
Greenville Craft Beer Week kicks off on Sunday, April 19 with a disc golf tournament at Timmons Park held in partnership with the Upstate Disc Golf Club. You cannot consume alcohol in public parks, so play quickly, boys and girls. An award ceremony and craft beer are waiting just down the street at The Community Tap. The festivities then move to Barley’s Taproom for a screening of Crafting a Nation, a documentary on the American craft beer movement.
Like last year, the following work week will be packed with events, such as new releases from our local breweries, tastings and beer dinners at our favorite local restaurants. Thomas Creek, Quest Brewing Company and Brewery 85 collaborated on a handful of recipes, and each will be releasing a beer brewed especially for release during Craft Beer Week.
New this year will be a Rare Beer Auction where guests will have the opportunity to bid on hard-to-find brews. Even better, this particular event is for charity; all proceeds from the auction will go to Greenville’s Julie Valentine Center, a nonprofit organization offering services to sexual assault and child abuse survivors and their families.
The week closes on Saturday, April 25 with The Community Tap’s 2015 Craft Beer Festival at Greenville’s Downtown Airport. Now in its third year, this festival features rare and one-off brews from over 40 different breweries. With more beers and a bigger location than previous years, this is the perfect way to close a week-long celebration of the Upstate’s love of craft beer.
For a full schedule of events, visit www.greenvillecraftbeerweek.com.
Photo courtesy of Chelsea Ashford Photography and The Community Tap
