AMERICUS — Over 1,200 are expected in Americus on Saturday, April 8, when Americus Main Street will host its first-ever craft beer festival, Americus Hot Glass Craft Beer, in downtown  from 2-6 p.m. This exciting event taps into the rich history of artisan glass blowing in Americus and combines it with Georgia’s innovative craft brewing culture. For the inaugural event, 10 Georgia breweries will each offer several different beers, and Americus’ own Mobile Glassblowing Studios will be joined by glass blowers from around the country for special demonstrations on six glass furnaces.
Americus Hot Glass Craft Beer Festival is unique to Americus because it combines the craft beer movement with the art of glass blowing. “With its rich history of glass blowing and a growing population of craft beer enthusiasts — including an award winning club of home brewers — Americus is an ideal venue to combine these artisan worlds into one truly special event,” said Butch Cusack, festival committee chair.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the gate and can be purchased online at hotglasscraftbeer.com or from one of the following downtown businesses: Wolf Creek, Center Stage Market, The Look Salon Studio, Americus Center for the Arts, and Mobile Glassblowing Studios. Each ticket will allow entry into the event, a commemorative tasting glass, and seven  tasting tickets. Additional tasting tickets can be purchased at the event. Non-drinking tickets can be purchased online or at the gate for only $5. Three local restaurants will also be on site. Live music by The Plucktones and Pickled Holler will be featured.

Participating breweries are: Omaha Brewing Company, Piedmont Brewery & Kitchen, Service Brewing Company, Macon Beer Company, Sweet Water Brewing Company, Southbound Brewing Company, The Cannon Brew Pub, Orpheus Brewing, Monday Night Brewing, and Jekyll Brewing. Wolf Creek Plantation, a new local winery, will also be on hand offering tastings of their muscadine wine.

There will be several glass furnaces sponsored by Mobile Glassblowing Studios, Georgia Southwestern State University’s Fine Arts Department, Devan Cole & Hot Glass Academy, Bee Creative Glass, Nick Daglis, and Kelly Robertson, all made in Americus by Mobile Glassblowing Studios, which will host about 20 different glass blowing artists throughout the duration of the event.

For more information, visit our website at www.hotglasscraftbeer.com.