The second annual Saint John Beerfest is taking place next Saturday, April 13th, from 7:30-9:30pm. It is being held in the Market Square Atrium, adjacent to the Hilton Saint John. VIP Tickets for the fest are now sold out (allows entry at 7pm), but there are still some available for the regular session. They are only available in person or via phone at the Harbour Station, and are $60.
The fest will feature 130+ beers, over 20% of which are not available at the ANBL. There will be roaming entertainment from Atlantic Cirque, with food from the SJAH, Smokin Pig BBQ and Grannans Seafood available. The event is also a fundraiser for Ducks Unlimited.
Beer-coloured Fountain and Beer Fans during the 2012 Saint John Beer Fest
I spoke with organizer Peter Stoddard (also owner of the Saint John Ale House) about the event.
The Market Atrium seems like a solid choice for venue, can you speak about the reasons why you chose it?
Time of year is important: April can be cold, so heated underground parking, available overnight, so no tickets. It’s attached to the two major hotels uptown and easily accessed inside day or night. It is unique and has built in atmosphere. It’s also attached to all the sponsored Restaurants. It’s big enough to work, yet small enough to be intimate. Personally I love Market Square and it is Saint John’s Festival Place!
Why have you chosen D.U. as your fundraiser recipient?
I have been a long time supporter of Ducks Unlimited Canada, I am the Atlantic Spokesperson for them. We do many events and fundraisers with them and I believe the work they do can be seen and touched by everyone around.
Members of Atlantic Cirque during the 2012 SJBF
Are there bands or other entertainment joining Atlantic Cirque?
We have a live DJ playing house music in the back ground with a surround sound speaker setup and upgraded versus what we had last year. The atrium doesn’t lend itself to be a great live music venue due to the acoustics, so we have opted out of that option for now.
Can you comment on non-alcoholic options at the Fest?
We will have Pop and Bottled water and I believe there will be some non-alcoholic beer options. The reality is it’s a Beer festival, so we are encouraging Taxis, again easily accessible or there is a Beerfest rate at the Hilton for people that just want to make a night of it.
Is there anything else we should know?
It’s year two, so we have learned a bit more about the flow of the space, what people are looking for and feel we have upped the bar and managed to keep the price at the same level. All of the food is included in the price of admission, we had great success with the food end of things last year and are looking at another great year for it!
Jesse Vergen of Smoking Pig BBQ at SJBF 2012 (and will be back in 2013)
Table #1
Garrison Tall Ship Amber Ale
Garrison Irish Red Ale
Garrison Raspberry Wheat
Garrison Hopyard Pale Ale 6
Garrison Imperial IPA
Garrison Ass Kicker IPA
Garrison Kellye’s Wild Rye’d IPA
TABLE #2
Picaroons Best Bitter
Irish Red
Dark and Stormy Night
Yippee IPA
Simeon Jones
Timberhog Stout
Yippee IPA
TABLE #3
Shiretown Blonde du Quai
Shiretown Big Brown Ale
Uncle Dunkel
TABLE #4
PEI Brewing Co/Gahan Sir John A Honey Wheat
Island Red
Iron Horse Brown
1772 IPA
Beach Chair Lager
TABLE #5
Carlsberg
Carlsberg Light
Kronenbourg
Mill Street – Tank House
Mill Street – Organic
Mill Street – Lemon Tea
TABLE #6
Saint John Ale House
TABLE #7
Coors Light
Molson Canadian
Rickards Red
Rickards White
Rickards Blonde
Rickards Dark
Creemore Springs Lager
Creemore Traditional Pilsner
Molson Canadian 67
Granville Island English Bay Pale Ale
Granville Island Lions Winter Ale
Strongbow
Newcastle Brown Ale
Molson Canadian Wheat
TABLE #8
Lemongrass Thai Fare/Pepper’s Pub
TABLE #9
Hop City Big Mouth
Hop City Barking Squirell
TABLE #10
MooseLight
Alpine
Moosehead Pale Ale
Moosehead Premium Dry
Clancy’s Amber Ale
Cracked Canoe
Moosehead Lager
Mooselight Lime
Moosehead Cask Ale
TABLE #11
Paulaner Hefe Weissbier
Samuel Adams Boston Lager
Samuel Adams Spring Lager
Tennents
Twisted Tea
Magners Original Cider
TABLE #12
Bavaria Strong 8.6
Fuller’s Honey Dew
Fuller’s Porter
Hacker Pschorr Weisse Beer
Koningshoeven Tripel Trappist Beer
TABLE #13
Pump House Blueberry Ale
Pump House Fire Chief Red Ale
Pump House Scotch Ale
Pump House Special Old Bitter Ale (SOB)
Pump House Cadian Cream Ale
Pump House Premium Lager
TABLE #14
Erdinger Weissbier
Erdinger Dunkel Weissbier
Affligem Blonde
Fruli Strawberry White
Stiegl Lager
Mort Subite Kriek
Mongozo Premium Pilsner
Stiegl Radler
Palm Amber Ale
Delirium Tremens
TABLE #15
Grannan’s
TABLE #16
Bud Light Platnium 6 pack
Bud Light Platnium 650 ml bottle
Michelob ultra 12 pk bottles
Alexander Keith’s Hallertauer Hop Ale
Alexander Keith’s Cascade Hop Ale
TABLE #17
Propeller IPA
Propeller Exrta Special Bitter
Propeller Double IPA
Propeller London Style Porter
Cask Dry Hopped ESB
TABLE #18
Tidal Wave Douple IPA
Sandpiper Pilsner
TABLE #19
St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout
St. Ambroise Apricot Wheat Ale
St. Ambroise Pale Ale
St. Ambroise Scotch Ale
St. Ambroise IPA
TABLE #20
Smoking Pig BBQ
TABLE #21
SLEEMAN CLEAR 12 CANS
SLEEMAN CLEAR 12 BOTTLES
SLEEMAN HONEY BROWN LAGER 12 BOTTLES
SLEEMAN ORIGINAL DRAUGHT 12 BOTTLES
BLANCHE DE CHAMBLY 6 BOTTLES
EPHEMERE POMME 6 BOTTLES
SAPPORO 4 PACK
TABLE #22
Grolsch Lager Can
Pilsner Urquell
Peroni Nastro Azzuro
American Vintage Hard Iced Tea
TABLE #23
Guinness Draught
Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale
Harp Irish Lager
Smithwicks
Guinness Black
TABLE #24
Innis & Gunn Blonde
Innis & Gunn Original Oak Aged Beer
Innis & Gunn Spiced Rum Finish