Hops, Vines & Wines Selinsgrove Beer and Wine Festival Review
As a craft beer enthusiast, the Hops, Vines & Wines Festival in downtown Selinsgrove was everything and then some. I arrived at the event about forty-five minutes earlier, got my ID and tickets checked – then the anticipation began to build. Along with some friends, I was the first in line against the ribbon, eagerly waiting for it to be cut.
As you entered you could see the brightly colored tents and distinct tap handles lining the streets-Tröegs Brewing Company, Rusty Rail Brewing Company, Old Forge Brewing Company, Marley’s Brewery, and Selin’s Grove Brewing all in a row (for a full list of participating breweries, click here). The only problem I had was trying to figure out where to start! The answer was found thanks to a man with a beard, the reigning champion, Three Beards Brewing.
From there it was off to Troegs then Marley’s where I had an incredible Peanut Butter Stout, the Pack Dog Peanut Butter Ale. Seriously, it was like drinking a milkshake. I must have walked up and down that street a good fifteen times stopping at Shy Bear Brewing, Victory Brewing, Que Brew, Elk Creek and Shipyard Brewing. At the end of the event, my bottle cap (you get a bottle cap to vote for the best beer of the day) went to Three Beards Brewing. Can Three Beard’s Brewing take the win again in 2017? I don’t know, but I’ve already saved next year’s date- Saturday, July 15, 2017, to find out.
I had an entire day of sampling some of the best craft beer in Central PA, laughing and running into old friends. The experience was definitely well worth the price of admission. To anyone who has thought of going to a beer and wine festival, do it. I’m already looking forward to the Lake Augusta Wine and Brew Festival on September 17th in Sunbury. Tickets are available at Weis Markets in Sunbury, Selinsgrove, Lewisburg, and Danville, at Brewers’ Outlet on Reagan Street in Sunbury, or online here. Don’t forget to check their Facebook page for updates, see you there!
– Steve