Labor Day weekend tasting event promises more than 35 brewers and new activities for brew enthusiasts!

Plans for the third annual Portland Brew Festival have been announced, and the popular event continues to provide beer enthusiasts a top-notch brew experience. Owner and producer Mak Sprague says that the 2013 event is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, August 30 and 31, and will feature more than 35 brewers, 95-plus brew products, and an expanded array of activities and demonstrations. The event returns to Portland Company Complex at 58 Fore Street in Portland, ME (and if you haven’t been to Portland, make sure to take some time to wander around in between brew events ~ it’s a great place!).

As always, the festival will spotlight established and up-and-coming breweries throughout New England, including some of Massachusetts’ best like Clown Shoes, Cisco, Angry Orchard, Harpoon and Boston Beer, along with regional ciders and meads and home brewing demonstrations and equipment.

“We continue to listen to beer enthusiasts and respond to the insights they want to gain at a brew festival,” said Sprague. “It’s about more than tasting; it’s about learning about regional beers and understanding the craft and enjoyment of beer, and we are excited about the new offerings this year.“

Each year, Sprague has expanded the scope of the festival beyond tastings, and this year is no different. The Maine Brewers Guild will host a food/beer pairing fundraiser on Saturday. At noon, several brewers from prominent Maine brands will be on hand to pair rare beers with complementary foods. Attendees will then be the first in line for the afternoon session of the Brew Fest. A portion of the proceeds from the event will support the Guild’s regulatory and educational activities.

In addition, this year’s beer-centric activities will include a Saturday afternoon presentation by Massachusetts-based NERAX on “The Care and Serving of Cask Ale” that will appeal to professionals and aficionados alike. Presenters Shahin Khojastehzad from Novare Res and Jan Williams and Mark Bowers from NERAX will tap and serve a sampling of beers.

Every attendee will receive a signature tasting glass with the Portland Brew Festival logo and will have the opportunity to purchase additional glasses along with T-shirts, posters and other festival-branded merchandise. Also new this year, Designated Driver/No Alcohol tickets will be available for just $5 each. Those abstaining from alcohol (and can we please get a round of applause for the folks who’ve agreed to be Designated Drivers??) will not get drink tickets or a sampling glass, but can take advantage of the demonstrations and presentations.

The event will feature traditional scheduled sessions, each with a limited admission that will allow guests the time and space to peruse the purveyors, interact with the experts, and hone their tasting techniques. The first session is scheduled for Friday, August 30, 5:30-9 p.m., a fantastic way to kick off Labor Day weekend. Additional sessions are scheduled for Saturday, August 31, from 12:30-4 p.m. and 5:30-9 p.m. An expanded array of local food vendors also will be on hand to round out the event with fare to compliment all the delicious brews.

In addition to commercial brewing operations, Sprague has invited home brewing clubs and retailers to be at the show to introduce attendees to the increasingly popular hobby of home brewing. Also, Sprague will once again display the impressive tractor-powered cidering equipment he built with his father (it’s really cool, so do check it out!).

This year, festival organizers and attendees will have the chance to help celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Maine Island Trail. The Maine Island Trail Association (MITA) is a membership organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the wild islands of coastal Maine. MITA will be holding paddling and sailboat demonstrations, a beach cleanup, and educational events on Saturday on the seawall next to the Brew Fest buildings. The MITA event will culminate with a light dinner and awards ceremony for members on Saturday evening, leaving everyone plenty of time to attend to the evening session of the Portland Brew Festival. Note that tickets to the dinner require reservations, so please visit MITA.org for more details.

The third annual Portland Brew Festival promises to be a first-rate beer experience (and a great way to spend Labor Day weekend…sun and suds!), and tickets, on sale now for $35 each at portlandbrewfestival.com, are expected to sell out well before the event. Event sponsors include Portland Yacht Services and MITA. Anyone interested in volunteering at the festival can contact portlandbrewfestival [at] gmail.com.

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