ASHVEGAS GETTING IN ON THE ACTION

The Mountain Express Reports... BREWS NEWS   

by Anne Fitten Glenn on 03/23/2010

Greenville Gets a Brew Fest

Top of the Hops — Greenville, S.C.,’s own craft beer festival — will offer tastes of 130 to 150 brews from 40 to 50 different breweries at its inaugural festival. The event will be held on Saturday, April 10, from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Bi-Lo Center. Highland Brewing will represent Asheville (other WNC-crafted brews currently aren’t distributed in Greenville).

“We want to offer an eclectic and world-class collection of beers for beer lovers,” says Jay Wilson, one of the festival organizers. “Our goal is for them to be like kids in a candy store.”

There will be music by The Jaywalkers and Big Jar of Jamm, food vendors and beer-education seminars.

Greenville’s Barley’s Taproom & Pizza and Thomas Creek Brewery are primary sponsors. Top of the Hops is the brainchild of Red Mountain Entertainment, based in Birmingham, Ala. The group is working to organize beer fests around the country in cities where there isn’t already an established beer festival, Wilson says.

He notes that Top of the Hops will buy the beer for the festival from the breweries instead of asking for donations. “We’re hoping to help perpetuate the scene by purchasing beer and helping keep these small breweries in business,” Wilson says.

Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 the day of the festival. VIP tickets are $60 in advance ($65 on festival day) and include early admission and special beer tastings.

For more information and tickets, visit http://www.topofthehopsbeerfest.com/.