Over the last few years, local craft beer has become a huge component of the annual Block Street Block Party festival held each spring on Block Avenue in Fayetteville.
This year, several of the state’s top brewers have come together to take things to a whole new level.
For the first time in 2015, the Arkansas Brewers Guild, an organization created by several of the top brewers in the state, will host their own beer garden and music stage during the event. And nearly all of them are bringing beer.
Local breweries Fossil Cove, Ozark, Saddlebock, Apple Blossom, and Core are all planning to help stock a new beer garden located at the corner of Block Avenue and Spring Street, along with Central Arkansas breweries Diamond Bear, Stone’s Throw, and Lost Forty Brewing.
“This is the first time we’ve ever done an event like this, and we’re obviously excited about it,” said guild secretary/treasurer Evan McDonald. “It has taken a lot of cooperation and work, but this sort of thing is only the beginning for what we want to accomplish as a brewers guild.”
It will also be first time for Lost Forty to offer its beers in Fayetteville. The new Little Rock brewery opened in mid-December, and is the latest project from Central Arkansas’ Yellow Rocket Concepts, the group responsible for some of Little Rock’s most popular restaurants – Big Orange, Local Lime, ZAZA, and Heights Taco & Tamale.
“We have had tons of requests for our beer to be sold in Northwest Arkansas and we are excited to be able to participate in this great annual event,” said James Denoyer, Lost Forty’s vice president of sales.
According to Denoyer, Lost Forty will offer their Love Honey Bock and Lost Forty Pale Ale, as well as their White Hop Ale and Chinook IPA, which are normally only available in the brewery’s taproom.
In addition to the beer, the guild has also sponsored a live music stage in their garden. As we mentioned last week, that stage will include performances by School of Rock Dean’s List, The Good Fear, Flight Machine, 1 Oz. Jig, and Dumptruck Boyz.
The craft beer garden will be open from noon until around 9 p.m. Pints will be sold for $5, and 12-oz cans will be sold for $4.
Proceeds raised in the garden during the event will benefit future events created by the guild, including a new Oktoberfest event on Dickson Street planned to debut this fall.
