WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Craft brewers, distributors, and area restaurants and farmers’ markets will highlight the 8th Annual West Plains BrewFest, set for 5:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 14, 2020, in the Arena and Exhibit Hall at the West Plains Civic Center. Doors will open promptly at 5:30.
The first 700 people through the door will receive a souvenir 2020 tasting glass, courtesy of Simmons Bank, and all attendees will be eligible for door prize giveaways, which will include t-shirts, glasses, growlers, gift certificates, and more.
Attendees will have the opportunity to sample craft beers from a wide range of breweries, organizers said. Confirmations are still coming in, but thus far confirmed are participating Missouri craft breweries Boulevard Brewing of Kansas City; O’Fallon Brewing of O’Fallon; Piney River Brewery of Bucyrus; Public House Brewing of Rolla; and Wages Brewing of West Plains. St. James Winery will be participating with some specially chosen wines.
Great Rivers Distributing is bringing products from Anheuser Busch, Babe Brewing, Elysian Brewing, Goose Island, Michelob, and O’Fallon Brewing.
Grellner Sales & Service will feature products from Boston Beer Company, Boulevard Brewing, MillerCoors, Sam Adams, Schlafly Brewing, The Smirnoff Co., and White Claw Seltzer Works.
In addition to the craft beers and wines, attendees will enjoy a variety of samples from many area restaurants and farmers market members. Confirmed as of January 31 are Bootleggers BBQ, Higher Grounds Coffee Co., Kiko Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Lounge, Ozark Pizza & Bread Company, Ruby Tuesday’s, Snider’s Family Restaurant, Sole Café at the Grizzly Lofts, and Sugar Lily Bakery. GO FARM Market members and members of the Greater West Plains Area Farmers Market will have a wide assortment of their featured products.
T-Shirts will be available, printed on-site by Ink Monkey Screen Printing and Graphics. DJ Services will be provided by Bill Talley of SoundWorx.
The 4th Annual AHA/BJCP sanctioned home brew competition will be held prior to BrewFest. Several of the home brewers will also be sampling products during the event as well. For information on the competition, contact Amy Fisher at 417-204-2878.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the West Plains Council on the Arts’ efforts to promote arts organizations in the West Plains area, as well as fund the Gatewood Family Fine Arts Scholarship. The event is being sponsored by the West Plains Council on the Arts, Great Rivers Distributing, Grellner Sales & Service, Simmons Bank-West Plains, the West Plains Daily Quill all of West Plains; and by Piney River Brewing of Bucyrus.
Admission is $25 per person in advance and $35 at the door. All attendees must be over 21 and have a valid photo ID. Advanced tickets are available and may be purchased in West Plains at Bootleggers BBQ, Kiko Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Lounge, Wages Brewing, and from the West Plains Civic Center box office. In Bucyrus, tickets are available at Piney River Brewery. Credit card phone-in orders can be made through the Civic Center box office. Call 417-256-8123 to place your order.
More information about the West Plains BrewFest can be found at http://www.westplainsarts.org, VisitMo.com, BeerAdvocate.com, or at the event’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/WestPlainsBrewfest E-mail inquiries may be sent to Terri Combs at terricomb@gmail.com or by phone at 417-505-0812.
