Beer festivals and tastings are popular destinations throughout Pennsylvania. In fact, beer industry and fan website Beer Advocate lists a beer festival somewhere in the Keystone State for nearly every day in September.
So it's only natural that another of the events come to Altoona.
From 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Altoona Community Theatre will host SeptemBeerFest at the Lakemont Park Picnic Pavilions at the Altoona amusement park to raise funds for the ACT 2012-13 season. The event will feature a distinct flavor, said chairman Bill Amrhein.
"We wanted it to have a fall flavor," he said. "So we're primarily tasting fall and autumn brews."
Among the breweries planned for the SeptemBeerFest are:
* Crispin Cider
Fact Box
Want a taste?
Those who want to attend ACT's SeptemBeerFest at 1 p.m. Sunday at Lakemont Park, Altoona, can buy tickets online at septembeerfest-efbevent.eventbrite.com
* Henry Weinhard's
* Magic Hat Brewery
* Shock Top
* Duquesne Brewing
* Yuengling
* McSorley's
Also providing a seasonal brew will be local brewer Marzoni's Brick Oven & Brewing Co.
Entertainment at the event will be provided by Felix and the Hurricanes, while a separate pavilion will feature the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New York Jets pre-game, as well as other NFL games, on six flatscreen TVs.
Amrhein, an Altoona resident who volunteers at ACT in various backstage roles, expects the event to be popular.
"It's coming together to be a wonderful event," he said. "Expect a lot of fun. We're hoping to be able to do more with the theater using these funds."
Amrhein said that the event committee has been a big help in putting the SeptemBeerFest together.
"It's things like group effort and a lot of volunteers and friends that make these kinds of fundraisers work," he said.
In a press release for the event, ACT operations manager Steve Helsel said, "Because our performance year opens at a time when beer-makers are featuring new and popular seasonal brews, we thought a tasting afternoon the week of our opening show would be a great kickoff. And Lakemont Park, although shut down by then for the year, is working with us to meet all of our needs and provides a great outdoor venue with covered pavilions, should the weather not cooperate."
Admission to the event is $30 in advance and $35 at the gate. Tickets can be purchased through the website EventBrite at septembeerfest-efbevent.eventbrite.com. Admission is only open to those age 21 and older. Tickets for the event include hot dogs and sauerkraut and pretzels, as well as a 5-ounce beer stein for tasting the beers.
Tickets are limited to 1,000 attendees.
For more information, call the ACT administrative office at 943-4357.
Mirror Staff Writer Keith Frederick is at 946-7466.
