THE BEER BEAT: Fest of Ale returns on June 2, so please allow me to revive an idea for pre-fest fun next year.

The time has come to show some love for this year's edition of Keg Liquors Fest of Ale on Saturday, June 2, which I'm delighted to do because the event is richly deserving of praise, but before we go there, a few words pertaining to future hopes, with a link's worth of background from last year.

THE BEER BEAT: Fest of Ale is almost here, though New Albany Craft Beer Week wasn't.

In 2016, I took a stab at organizing a New Albany Craft Beer Week to precede Fest of Ale, with the festival itself being the exclamation mark to the preceding week's craft-beer-related frolicking -- tastings, pairings, food, music, education, and whatever else springs to mind for linking together into a week-long program of beer-related entertainment.

Beer weeks are a fine cross-organizational, team-building device; they're fun, people enjoy them, and they're exercised widely. Because beer weeks involve numerous participating bars, eateries and breweries, they can be a bear to organize.

Ours didn't come together in 2017 and probably won't in 2018, but if Andrew Nicholson and Kelly Winslow (especially these two) are reading ... there's always 2019. I'd be happy to give you both the rundown.

Meanwhile, 2018 will be the third year for Fest of Ale at the Riverfront Amphitheater. Gear up and get ready.

Thousands of fun loving beer drinking folks from Southern Indiana and Louisville gather annually, rain or shine for the this popular annual “Fest of Ale” event, presented by Keg Liquors to sample beers from around the world, socialize with friends, and raise funds for our children in need! This grassroots fun Fest promoting independent breweries and businesses offers over 250 amazing craft and import ales for sample, and raises thousands of dollars for the Crusade for Children.

The first big mile marker is the annual Keg Liquors Fest of Ale Ticket Presale at The Exchange

TICKET PRE-SALE EVENT AT The Exchange pub + kitchen
Wednesday, April 11th from 5pm-8pm
Save $10 plus the online ticket fee. ONE TIME ONLY.

PreSale Tickets at The Exchange = $30 (Save $10 + online fee)
Tickets on sale Friday, April 13 @ BOTH Keg Liquors Locations = $40 (Save $5 +online fee)
Tickets on sale Friday, April 13 online = $45+ online fee
Tickets day of (if available) = $55

The 13th Annual Keg Liquors Fest of Ale benefits the Crusade for Children. Location: New Albany Amphitheater
Date: June 2 from 3-7PM. Designated drivers are free to enter.

The Facebook page: Keg Liquors Fest of Ale
The web site: THE KEG LIQUORS FEST OF ALE

Keg Liquors Locations:
New Albany, 4304 Charlestown Rd, New Albany, IN · (812) 948-0444
Clarksville, 617 E Lewis and Clark Pkwy, Clarksville, IN · (812) 283-3988