This year’s Brewsgiving Beer Festival has found a new home in Downtown Pottsville!
Set for Saturday, November 16th, this one of a kind collab event, organized by Cousin Dave Entertainment and Pilger Ruh Brewing, brings a blend of craft beer, food, pro wrestling, and live music to the heart of the city.
The festival, previously hosted by The Humane Fire Co., has outgrown its old venue. “We loved having the event at The Humane; it was easy to set up and tear down, and they were great hosts, but we just needed more room, so Downtown was our next best option,” said Tyler Budwash of Pilger Ruh Brewing.
Though more intimate than the summer’s festival, Brewsgiving still packs a punch, featuring 20 breweries and homebrewers, along with a lineup of food trucks and vendors.
The highlight of this year's event? A unique twist: the 20 breweries are split into 10 teams of two, with each team creating a collaborative beer exclusively for the festival.
Attendees can sample each of these special brews and vote for their favorite, with the winning team taking home the coveted Brewsgiving Tag Team Collab Championship.
Last year’s titleholders, Michaux Brewing from Waynesboro and Brother’s Kershner Brewing Co. from Skippack, are back to defend their title. “Everything about this event is just really neat, you know? There’s just a lot of neat things happening!” remarked Dave Cantwell of Cousin Dave Entertainment.
Some of the standout beers crafted for the festival include a Sweet Potato Pie Imperial Stout with cinnamon, vanilla, and Wild Turkey-soaked oak chips; a Triple Hazy IPA with starfruit; and a Swedish Fish Lager. Each brewery will also bring at least two other beers, ensuring a wide variety for every palate.
For those looking for more than just beer, Brewsgiving delivers a full day of entertainment. AXW’s Brewcade will provide live pro wrestling, with headliner Journey Burke taking on reigning Pilger Ruh Brewing Fightertainment Champion Jason Furious, who’s held the title since last year’s event. “I love this event. There’s something for everyone. My 18-year-old son loves pro wrestling, so we get to go do something together on a Saturday, and we both have a lot of fun,” said festival-goer Jeff “Gumball” Tidds from Shamokin, PA. In addition to the main event, the Brewcade will showcase five other thrilling matches, including AXW Heritage Champion Tommy Vecs versus Leo Sparrow. Tony Deppen of Pilger Ruh Brewing chimed in: “You can’t beat a festival that features two of my favorite things—pro wrestling and craft beer.”
For sports enthusiasts, the event will have screens showing college football, along with cornhole games and live music by the band persona.
. “It’s great to see an event in Schuylkill County that has a little something for people of all ages,” commented Zack Yankiewicz from Gordon, PA.Brewsgiving’s festivities kick off with an ELITE HOUR VIP session from 1-2 p.m., allowing exclusive access before general admission opens at 2 p.m. Throughout the event, patrons can enjoy fare from vendors like GNAWJAW Bacon and Beef Jerky, Pressed Coffee, Cousins Maine Lobster, and many more. Specialty booths will offer everything from permanent jewelry to cigars and candles. There will even be a Beard Competition hosted by J&B Beard Oil!
The festival wraps up at 5:30 p.m., but the fun doesn’t end there. An after-party at Pilger Ruh Brewing will feature live music from Goblin City Rat Boys, Suburban Downgrade, and Lunch Trucks. “I come up every year from Philly for this; it’s great to see all the guys,” said Ryan Flannery of Philadelphia, PA.
Tickets are available online at Big Ticket or on Facebook, and they can also be purchased at the door on the day of the event.
https://www.bigtickets.com/events/cousindaveent/2024brewsgiving/
Featured Brewery Teams:
- Michaux & Brother’s Kershner
- Pilger Ruh & Urban Village
- Cartel & Seven Sirens
- Rough Edges & Cushwa
- Zeroday & Rural City
- Pagoda City & Schaylor
- Pour Man’s & St. Boniface
- Robin Hood & The Warbler
- Lindgren & Fluffy Bunny
- New Trail & Country Club
Top 3 Homebrewers from July’s Festival:
- Ramble On
- Tom Ryan
- Beer Food Fun