CONYERS - There won't be 99 bottles of beer on a wall, but there will still be a wide variety of craft and local beers to sample and delicious food to snack on when the first Conyers Beer Fest comes to town October 10.
The Beer Fest will feature 25 to 30 different beers brewed from about 20 local breweries within a 20 mile radius, says Neal Stanford, organizer of the Beer Fest and past president of the Rotary Club of Conyers. Each attendee will be equipped with a 4 ounce cup that will be used to try each beer.
"It's kind of like a wine tasting," said Stanford. "We wanted to do something new and different for the city," he said.
Beer was the theme of choice because of its diversity and ability to relate to a variety of people, says Stanford. There will also be food provided, water and a cigar booth.
The Rotary Club of Conyers, the Rockdale County Rotary Club and the Conyers-Rockdale Council for the Arts are sponsoring the fundraising event. Stanford expects nearly $20,000 will be raised which will go to support the charities of the three organizations.
"We just thought it would be a good way to raise more money for our charities," said Stanford.
Also sponsoring the event are Gravity Craft and Homebrew Supply, Copy Central, National EMS, Bank of North of Georgia and Mellow Mushroom.
Beer-themed festivals are common in the metro-Atlanta area, with festivals happening in Atlanta and Decatur, Georgia in DeKalb County. This will be the first beer-themed festival in Conyers and is expected to draw nearly 500 people to Olde Town Conyers. Each person will have to pay $40 and be at least 21 years old to receive admission into the event.
This fundraising event has been two years in the making. City laws had to be changed that would allow for the nonprofit organizations to host such an event where alcohol is the center piece.
Conyers City Manager Tony Lucas thinks the event will be a benefit to the organizations, their charities and the Olde Town businesses.
"We're excited and we're hoping to have it on an annual basis," said Lucas. "If you get 300 or 400 people in Olde Town, you have to think they'll frequent some of the business that are open after the event ends."
The event will be held at the Olde Town Pavilion from 1 to 5 p.m. on Oct. 10. People interested can register online at conyersbeerfest.com.
