Craft beer takes center stage at Annual Taste in Inverness Event.

Craft beer takes center stage at revamped 'The Taste' in Inverness, Florida.

The Citrus County Beer Experience will offer unlimited samplings at the food and beverage showcase

The City of Inverness has revamped its annual Taste of Inverness in 2017 to enhance the enjoyment of residents and visitors. The premier addition to what is now called The Taste is the Citrus County Beer Experience, a massive tent under which a wide variety of craft beers from regional breweries and home brewing clubs will be available for unlimited sampling.

The Taste will take place Saturday, April 8, from 3 to 8 p.m. at Liberty Park, 286 N. Apopka Ave., Inverness, Florida, and will benefit the Citrus County Education Foundation.

Local entrepreneurs Kemper Willcut and LouAnn Jacobs, owners of Pine Street Pub and The Cove Pub and Grub, both in Inverness, collaborated with the City of Inverness in conceiving the idea of integrating craft beer into the annual showcase. And it won’t be the last time the Citrus County Beer Experience tent will be raised.

“The Beer Experience was put together specifically to coordinate and conduct beer events throughout Citrus County and the Central Florida area,” Willcut says.

And the homebrew clubs participating will be entering their brews into a judged competition for prize packages.

“I want the homebrewers to be a big part of this,” Willcut says. “We are giving away cash prizes and awards — that’s a big deal. “  

Those prizes are:

·            1st place:  $100 cash plus $100 gift certificate from Pine Street Pub

·            2nd place:  $50 cash plus $50 gift certificate from Pine Street Pub

·            3rd place:  $30 cash plus $30 gift certificate from Pine Street Pub

Those attending who wish to participate without sampling the craft beer will be able to enter the festival for only $5 to enjoy music from local bands, an art show and a la carte food sampling from at least 10 local restaurants and 10 specialty food trucks. None of the food offerings will cost more than $6, and beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.

But craft beer fans who want the full Citrus County Beer Experience will pay only $20 more for unlimited sampling of the commercial and home brews throughout The Taste.

These are the commercial breweries already confirmed as participating. More will be added:

Florida breweries

·            Cigar City Brewing (Tampa)

·            Copp Brewery (Crystal River)

·            Nature Coast Brewing Co. (Crystal River)

·            Infinite Ale Works (Ocala)

·            Swamp Head Brewery (Gainesville)

·            Backyard Barn Winery & Microbrewery (Wildwood)

·            Brooksville Brewing Company (Spring Hill)

·            Miami Brewing Co. (Homestead)

·            Funky Buddha Brewery (Oakland Park)

·            Barley Mow Brewing Company (Largo)

·            Green Bench Brewing Co. (St. Petersburg)

Other breweries

·            New Belgium Brewing

·            Samuel Adams

·            Sweetwater Brewing Company

·            Abita Brewing Company

·            Terrapin Beer Co.

·            Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

·            Founders Brewing Company

·            Left Hand Brewing Company

·            Oskar Blues Brewery

·            Guinness

Plus numerous local homebrewing clubs.

WHAT: The Beer Experience at The Taste beer & food festival

WHERE: Liberty Park, 286 N. Apopka Ave., Inverness, Florida

WHEN: Saturday, April 8, 3 to 8 p.m.

WHY: Food, beer and fun! Plus, a portion of proceeds will benefit the Citrus County Education Foundation. Its mission is to support Citrus County public schools in order to enhance learning and improve personal development for present and future generations.

HOW MUCH: $5 for admission to the festival; $25 includes general admission and unlimited sampling of craft beers.

INFORMATION: TasteofInverness.com

Green Lion Festival Home Brew Competition

What: Home Brew Competition @ Green Lion Festival 2014
When: October 4th 10am-4pm
Where: Aardwolf Brewery

Mark your calendars, because this is going to be one heck of an event. The Green Lion Festival is an annual event hosted by the U.S. Green Building Council and Aardwolf Brewing Co. The event if free for everyone and will include over 150 local businesses!

This year, the event is getting a pretty cool makeover. The Home Brew Competition will allow local brewers to get in on the action and share their home brew with people at the event. And like any competition, there will be winners and prizes.

The top three brewers (the winners will be chosen by popular-vote) will receive commemorative growlers, engraved for the event, and filled with 64oz of Aardworlf beer! If that's not the coolest trophy ever, then I don't know what is!

Home brewers can register for the competition by signing up below. Please note: registration is free, but brewers must be able to provide at least a 5 gallon batch to ensure there's enough beer for voters to sample. The beer does not need to be kegged; pouring from bottles is completely fine.

Registration ends September 15 and is limited to the first 20 home brewers who sign up.

Home Brew Competition Registration:

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