The second annual Columbus Beerfest was a huge hit for beertasters, breweries, distributors, and bar owners alike. Friday May 20 and Saturday May 21, 2011, thousands of patrons and dozens of breweries and distributors collided at the Columbus Convention Center for a weekend of pure beer bliss.
Booths lined the ballroom, filled with draft and bottle beers to sample (ove 175 craft beers in all), and free goodies like beer koozies, bottle openers, and bumper stickers. Elevator and Gordon Biersch, Arena District breweries/restaurants were two main events at the beerfest, providing the best samples of each beer selection. Other key vendors included Rogue, Goose Island, Flying Dog, Columbus Distributing, Columbus Brewing Company, Founders Brewing Company, and Left Hand Brewing Company. Yelp was in attendance, along with 101.1 FM (102 Five), Columbus' alternative radio station.
Patrons were provided 25 tickets, each good for one 5-8 oz. sample of various beers, ranging from dark IPA's to pale ales, and everything in between. Yelp provided free pretzels to all, and water was provided at every booth, to ensure that beer tasters remained hydrated. Protein-packed food was sold at various locations, and bands played covers of favorites from the 1970's to today. Staff and volunteers were in abundance to ensure that the event was celebrated without mishap, and to provide the best possible experience for all in attendance.
One new drink in particular was a favorite among all patrons that tasted its bubbly, orange and coriander-filled goodness: Lacu. A Belgium abbey beer bottled in Italy, the presentation of Lacu was perhaps as equally pleasing as the taste itself. In a champagne-like bottle, Lacu is labeled and corked by hand. Considered the "holy grail of beers", or as patrons of Beerfest exclaimed, "the champagne of beers!", Lacu is a must-try, and will hopefully be enjoyed in elite bars soon with the help of Columbus Distributing.
Columbus should be proud of the amazing craft beers brewed locally. For all of those who attended the beerfest, the beer was extraordinary, the atmosphere was loud and full of energy, and the memories will last a lifetime... or, at least until the 2012 Columbus Beerfest.
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