UPDATE, AUG. 15: The Memphis Collaborative Beerfest scheduled for Aug. 19, 2023, has been called off. Organizers hope to hold the event in 2024 instead and get additional Memphis breweries to participate. Only four breweries had signed on for the event.
The original post appears below.
Memphis is getting a new craft beer event next month — this one focused on beers made in partnership by local breweries.
Four Memphis-area breweries — Cooper House Project, Grind City Brewing Co., Hook Point Brewing Co., and Urban Consequence Brewing Co. — are teaming up for the inaugural Memphis Collaborative Beerfest.
The event will be hosted at Grind City Brewing, 76 Waterworks Ave, on Saturday, Aug. 19, from 3-8 p.m. Tickets, which are on sale now, are $80, and participating breweries will split the profits from the event equally.
“There are several great beer-centric events in Memphis, but nothing that was exclusive to Memphis breweries,” said Ian Betti, Events Director at Grind City Brewing.
“That’s a shame because we have a ton of amazing brewing talent in our city, and we work with some of the best water in the country. We decided that we needed to create an event that showcases the community’s brewing talent, and better yet, do it in a non-competitive way. “
Another driver behind the beerfest idea was a lack of collaborative local brews.
“Sure, local breweries do collaborations, but they tend to be with breweries from other cities or states. I wanted to change that,” Betti said.
“We built this event around a few principles — build relationships within our community, learn something new, and benefit everyone involved. Hopefully, that’s not only true for the breweries but also true of those who attend the event.”
Each participating brewery is being paired with another to make two new beers, one brewed at each brewery. The result will be four new beers brewed for the event. (Betti said it’s possible two more breweries may join, which would mean six new beers in total.)
Betti said general styles were randomly drawn — ale, lagers, sour beers, etc. — “but the rest is totally up to the breweries to express their creativity.”
Tickets for the event include unlimited beer tastings and a souvenir event cup. Food will be available for purchase. Live music for the event, and other details, will be announced later.
