The Opelika Event Center will be brewing up a good time Saturday, Feb. 15, with its second annual Winter Brewfest: Rhythm and Blues. The Brewfest, brimming with vendors, allows guests to sample multiple beers from the region, including many IPAs.
A ticket to enter the Brewfest costs $25 per person. Each guest receives three drink tickets, with one ticket being equivalent to one drink.
“We decided to allow the tickets to be exchanged for wine and well drinks, not only beer,” said Lisa Ditchkoff, owner of the Event Center Downtown.
Ditchkoff also said because the event falls on Valentine’s weekend, he and his staff want to accommodate the spouses or girlfriends who prefer wine or mixed drinks to beer.
While this is only the second year of the Winter Brewfest, Ditchkoff predicted to have many more people attend, compared to the 250 who attended last year. Ditchkoff also said he believes attendance will grow because of the popularity of the event.
The Brewfest offers more than 40 different beers to sample. Westbrook, Caldera, Whole Hog, Ass Kisser, Blue Moon, Sweetwater, Thomas Creek and Good People will bring the winter-themed beers and IPAs.
“The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the featured bands, Trace Pridgen and Josh Adams, will begin performing at 7 p.m.,” said Clemon Byrd, director of entertainment. “We are very excited about the event.”
According to Ditchkoff, Trace Pridgen's band will be performing from 7–9 p.m., followed by Josh Adams.
“Pridgen is a 24-year-old Opelika native with a big following base, and he gets booked for a lot of parties,” Ditchkoff said. “Josh Adams is an Auburn Police officer and a singer-song writer. They’re both as cute as they can be.”
The bands will play cover music and original songs during the craft beer tasting from 7-9 p.m. Regular beers that the Center carries will be provided and the house wines will also be available.
“This event should be a big thing for both our bands,” Pridgen said. “We’re going to do a lot of intermingling during the show, it’s always a lot of fun when two local guys or bands get the chance to perform together.”
Pridgen even said she promises those who attend the event “Wagon Wheel” will definitely be played, along with many other covers the crowd can sing along and dance to. Pridgen also said the event promises to be a great time for all attending.
The Brewfest offers the Auburn-Opelika area a night to try new beer and mingle with vendors and other beer lovers while listening to good music.
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