Texas Craft Brewers Festival Lineup Announced

The greatest showcase of Texas craft beer is set for September 27 as the 2014 Texas Craft Brewers Festival pitches its tents at Fiesta Gardens in Austin, Texas. Presented by H-E-B and produced by the Young Men’s Business League of Austin, in partnership with the Texas Craft Brewers Guild, the festival is the state’s largest craft beer event focused exclusively on Texas-produced craft beer.

“We expect to easily surpass 2013 numbers for brewers and beers served,” says Charles Vallhonrat, executive director of the Texas Craft Brewers Guild and co-chair of the Texas Craft Brewers Festival. “In 2013, we saw a 35 percent jump in participating brewers, and we’re poised for a similar jump again this year.”

The Texas Craft Brewers Festival, launched in 2003 by founders of the Texas Craft Brewers Guild, has earned a reputation as a must-attend event for craft beer-loving Texans. For years, only a handful of brewers participated — because only a handful of brewers existed in the state.

That’s all changed. As Texas has gained a love for craft beer, the number of brewers is exploding in every corner of the state.

And this thirst for regional and locally produced craft beer isn’t slaking. Newly released data from the Texas Craft Brewers Guild paints a robust picture for the state’s still-youthful craft beer industry. Output for Texas brewers jumped over 17 percent in 2013, and for brewers falling in the less-than-225,000-barrels-a-year category, that jump was an even more impressive 44 percent. See today’s Texas Craft Brewers Guild release: Texas Craft Beer Production Hits Record Highs In 2013.

Craft & Community

Beyond its craft beer focus, the Texas Craft Brewers Festival is about community.That plays out on the ground at the festival, where brewers actively mingle, but also in the festival’s collaboration with the Young Men’s Business League of Austin to benefit Austin Sunshine Camps, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing mentorship, education and personal development for high-potential, low-income girls and boys throughout Central Texas.

“The festival is great fun, but it’s also contributing to a great cause,” says Paul Glantz, co-chair for the Texas Craft Brewers Festival for the Young Men’s Business League of Austin. “Along with the brewers, attendees and sponsors directly help our organization make sure these kids get the care and attention they deserve.”

Co-presenting sponsor H-E-B values the festival’s community-centric approach, and their True Texas Brews on Tap program tells you where their heart lies.

“At H-E-B, establishing initiatives that make Texas a better place to live is the core of our business, and we are excited to show our support of the Texas craft brewing community by featuring our True Texas Brews on Tap program at this year’s festival,” says Jennifer Mueller, senior marketing director for the H-E-B Central Texas Region. “We are honored to be a part an event that not only supports talented individuals in the craft brew industry, but also one that is making a positive difference in the lives of young Texans.”

Other sponsors, too, deliver that community spirit. They include Craft Pride, Saint Arnold Brewing, Deep Ellum Brewing, Real Ale Brewing, Jack Martin & Associates, Texas Craft Brewers Guild, Cafe Mueller at H-E-B, Cross Oak Group, G&D Chillers, American Canning, Beer Alliance of Texas, (512) Brewing, Austin Beerworks and Live Oak Brewing.

Texas craft brewers initially signing up for the Texas Craft Brewers Festival are below, with more to be announced soon:

Tickets for the Texas Craft Brewers Festival on sale noon CT, 6/3

Learn more about the Texas Craft Brewers Festival: Website: http://www.texascraftbrewersfestival.org/ Twitter: @TXBrewersFest Hashtag: #TxBrewFest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TexasCraftBrewersFestival Google+: http://bit.ly/TCBF-Gplus Contact: Joanne Marino, 512-677-5173 [email protected]