This was my fifth Brewfest. It is a good time to socialize and enjoy some good craft brew. I always hope there will be more seasonal dark brew offerings each year and there was nothing special in that respect this time. I was disappointed that Coastal Empire did not have their year-round Savannah Brown, However, it caused me to try a few ciders, several of which were surprisingly good.
The people pouring at the booths were really friendly and knowledegable about the product.
The cost of the event has increased, but what blew me away was the almost extra $10.00/ ticket due to fees via Ticketmaster. It sure would be nice to be able to acquire hard copy tickets at local businesses without all the fees.
Each year it seems the disorganized part of the event is the line waiting for entry. How many times do our IDs need to be checked since the person with the wristbands was not walking with the person going down the line? Communication needs to be better
For the expensive price of the tickets, a real glass would have been greatly appreciated.
I do like having it at the ITC where there is plenty of room to spread-out and weather is not a concern.
I would recommend this event to someone who has never experienced it, especially out-of-town folks; my guests are from another state and enjoyed the day. However, for us locals who are accustomed to access to good craft brew at local breweries and pubs, this was not so special anymore. Next year my friends and I are planning to have our own tasting of craft brews with good food at poolside for a fraction of the cost, and no need for an Uber.