Lake Norman Publications

Taste a home-brewed Huntersville beer at the Renaissance Festival


BrewFest Weekend at the Carolina Renaissance Festival includes home-brewing demonstrations and beer sampling. Doug Coats

1. Ren fest rewards local brewers

One of the special events of the Carolina Renaissance Festival is BrewFest Weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 19-20. Each year, the festival awards the Gambrinus Cup for best home-brewed beer, typically coming from a Charlotte-area resident, at the U.S. Open Homebrew Competition. Nationally certified judges reviewed 435 entries from across the region July 20 at The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery in Charlotte.

2. A Huntersville man won this year

Huntersville’s Patrick Scherer is the Gambrinus Cup winner for his Hazy IPA. As part of winning the cup, Scherer had his recipe brewed on a commercial scale by Foothills Brewing Company of Winston-Salem and offered to the public as a premium beer at the Renaissance Festival. The cup itself is a Renaissance Festival artisan-crafted trophy. Two years ago, Denver’s Trey Lovelace took top honors for his schwarzbier called Knightwatch. The festival’s Lord Mayor will present Scherer the cup Nov. 16 in front of the crowd at the jousting ring.

3. There’s beer sampling at trail’s end

After festival-goers wind through the Village of Fairhaven and pass the “live mermaids,” at the end of the trail awaits beers from Foothills Brewing, including the Gambrinus winner. A $10 fee gives patrons a wristband, allowing for six 7-ounce sample pours. Other regional home brewers may also be demonstrating the process, but will not be selling their creations. BrewFest activities start at noon each day, with wristband sales ending at 3:15 p.m. and activities ending at 4 p.m.

4. Another beer topped the U.S. Open

Jamey Barlow of Charlotte won honors at the competition, with his Brett Beer topping all of the other entries by winning First Place Best of Show. The U.S. Open is organized by the nonprofit club Carolina Brewmasters and consists of six homebrew competitions across the Carolinas. Brewers can compete for top honors in three categories: Carolina Brewer of the Year, Carolina Master Brewer of the Year and Carolina Meadmaker of the year.

5. There are more special events

The Halloween Daze & Spooky Knights weekend will be Oct. 26-27. There, children and parents can take part in a safe trick-or-treating experience with free treats to be found at more than 100 locations throughout the festival village.  A children’s Halloween Treasure Hunt features a treasure chest filled with prizes. Celtic Music Weekend is Nov. 2-3 featuring CRAIC and The Reelin Rogues, along with the Men of Skills Competition. The festival grounds can be accessed by N.C. 73 and Poplar Tent Road. 

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