Motley Brews’ 2015 Great Vegas Festival of Beer (GVFB) celebrates its fifth anniversary as Nevada’s largest craft beer festival throughout the streets near Downtown’s Fremont East Entertainment District on Saturday, April 11 from 3 to 7 p.m.
“When we started the Great Vegas Festival of Beer in 2011, our main goal was to expose novices to what craft beer was all about,” says Brian Chapin, founder of Motley Brews. “The craft beer movement in Las Vegas has grown in leaps and bounds since then, and so has our attendees’ palates. This growth inspires us to continue creating original elements in our fifth year which emphasizes the lifestyle behind the festival.”
Feeding off the growth of the craft beer movement, breweries from near and far will set up shop for the day to introduce festival-goers to favorites from across the country. Some brewery highlights include: Alpine Beer Company, Green Flash, Stone, Rough Draft and local newcomers Old School and Hop Nuts. The festival will also present several cider and wine options to sample at the event.
Motley Brews is once again working to spread local love with Nevada craft breweries. This year’s official beer of Great Vegas is a collaboration between the Nevada breweries called “Banana Split.” The style is a German Hefeweizen with cacao nibs and vanilla beans. Other one-off beers will be exclusively available in the Nevada Craft Brewers Association Pavilion.
The 2015 festival hosts more than 100 breweries serving over 300 beers and a unique partnership with Las Vegas’ top culinary experts to expand the festival’s interactive experience by fusing the craft beer and culinary worlds. Nearly 6,000 craft beer enthusiasts will gain a taste for the festival experience with the return of the Gastropub dining pavilion and BrewLogic sessions, featuring industry professionals and top chefs such as “Dr.” Bill Sysak of Stone Brewing Co. and Chef Justin K. Hall.
Motley Brews will push the limits of the traditional craft beer festival by bringing an equally-impressive culinary experience to the table with beer-inspired menus from the city’s top restaurants. To pair with the endless selection of craft brews, the Gastropub will offer dishes from MTO Café, DW Bistro, Lulu’s Bread & Breakfast, Stack Restaurant & Bar, Naked City Pizza, O Face Doughnuts, Nacho Daddy, TruckUBarbeque, Sausagefest, The Goodwich, Echo & Rig, Cantina Laredo and Pot Liquor. Food in the Gastropub will be available for purchase and is not included as part of the festival ticket.
Festival-goers wishing to learn more about the culinary uses of beer will have the opportunity to attend a variety of BrewLogic informational sessions within the Western Hotel. “Dr.” Bill Sysak will guide guests in the art of doughnut and beer pairings while Las Vegas’ very own Chef Justin K. Hall will pickle the palate with a beer vinegar made exclusively for the festival.
Guests can keep the fun going with a variety of entertainment options, including non-stop live music by local Las Vegas artists, Josh Royse and Brumby. The Human Arcade, presented by Zappos, makes for the perfect excuse to bring out the classic childhood party games such as corn hole, life-size checkers, beer pong and more. For those who like to think outside the box, House of Blues raises the volume of entertainment with a variety of live DJ sets at the “Silent Disco.”
An exclusive VIP area, known as the Brewers Lounge, will take place at the heart of Downtown Las Vegas, Atomic Liquors. VIPs will get exclusive access to craft beers, specialty pours, beer cocktails and more all while sampling innovative beer-inspired dishes from Chef Ben Vaughn’s new downtown restaurant, Southern Kitchen.
Tickets are now on sale and priced at $40 for General Admission and $50 for Early Entry, available online until the day of the festival. Pending availability, General Admission and Early Entry tickets will be available at the door for $45 and $55 respectively. VIP tickets have already sold out. Doors open for Early Entry and VIP ticket holders at 2 p.m. A portion of ticket proceeds will benefit Goodie Two Shoes Foundation and Nevada Craft Brewers Association (NCBA). For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit the Great Vegas Festival of Beer website.
