Big Tap-In organizers plan fall octoBREWfest

Staff report

Boardman

The organizers of the Big Tap In will host a second beer festival this year called octoBREWfest.

The new event will focus on specially-brewed cask beers and seasonal brews and will be Sept. 21 at the Shepherd Event Center on South Avenue, according to Sandy Reda. She and her husband, Phil, own Vintage Estate Wine and Beer and the Magic Tree Restaurant in Boardman, and also stage The Big Tap-In every spring.

The idea for a second festival was an offshoot of the popularity of the Cask Corner at the Big Tap-In, which was April 21 at Shepherd.

“When we realized how excited people were to taste the specially brewed cask beers at the Big Tap-In [this year], we found ourselves brainstorming about an event that would focus on firkins of cask ale and highlight the creativity of the great brewers in the craft beer community,” said Sandy Reda. A firkin is a wooden beer cask, one-fourth the size of a barrel.

Cask ale, by definition, is unfiltered and unpasteurized ale that is gravity fed; it has no nitrogen or carbon dioxide pressure added.

“We felt like we could create a great experience for craft-beer enthusiasts by creating an event whereby we could combine great cask, fall, harvest and pumpkin beers with the spirit of the Oktoberfest and the fall harvest season,” said Reda.

She pointed out that Sept. 21 is the first day of Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, and the last day of summer. “This day seemed to be the perfect day,” she said.

The Sprouted Table will be the primary food vendor. It will have available for sampling and purchase locally sourced farmer’s fall harvest foods and specialty frankfurters, according to Adam Lee, president of the Youngstown-based event company.

Entertainment will include traditional German music as well as a stein hoist competition.

The event will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets will be $58 per person and will go on sale Tuesday at octoBREWfest.com and at Vintage Estate, 7317 South Ave. Pay by cash or check only.