PNJ: Emerald Coast Beer Fest is back

JULIO DIAZ • JDIAZ@PNJ.COM • SEPTEMBER 8, 2010

It’s a big week for beer lovers, as the annual Emerald Coast Beer Festival is happening at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. in downtown Pensacola.

The fun gets started Thursday with a beer-pairing dinner starting at 7 p.m. Cuisine from Seville Quarter will be partnered with beers from this year’s featured brewery, Sierra Nevada. Southern U.S. Beer Guru Tom Blanch will introduce the beers for each course.

The five-course menu includes fried green tomatoes with a creamy crab salad paired with Sierra Nevada Kellerweis Hefeweizen and pork two ways paired with Sierra Nevada Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale, among other selections.

Tickets for the dinner are $50, and reservations are required. Call Nancy at 434-6211 to secure your spot.

Friday is the main event, the beer tasting featuring the wares of more than 40 breweries, brewpubs, homebrew clubs, distributors and retailers. Attendees will get a chance to sample all the beers, dine on food from a variety of vendors and enjoy the music of the Bud Zepper Blues Band and Bella Orange.

The beer tasting is scheduled from 6 to 8:30 p.m., but VIP access begins at 5:15 p.m. VIPs also have access to a special VIP room throughout the tasting.

Tickets are $20 in advance from a member of the sponsoring club, the Escambia Bay Homebrewers, $25 in advance from ticket outlets including Seville Quarter or $30 at the door. VIP tickets are $50. For more information, visit www.emeraldcoastbeerfest.com.