KahBang announces Bangor Brew Fest, set for Aug. 10 on Waterfront

The KahBang Festival, in partnership with Nocturnem Drafthaus and Central Street Farmhouse, both in Bangor, announced this week the lineup for its 2013 Bangor Brew Fest, set for noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 on the Bangor Waterfront. Early bird tickets will go on sale on Friday, May 10.

The event will expand upon last year’s event, with more breweries and a bigger location, as well as three different “sessions” which beer fans can sign up for at either noon to 3 p.m. or 5 to 8 p.m., with a VIP session from 4 to 5 p.m. Breweries set to be included in the festival are national and international labels including Sierra Nevada (California), Samuel Adams (Massachusetts), Unibroue (Quebec), and Smuttynose (New Hampshire). Maine brewers include Allagash (Portland), Baxter (Lewiston), Rising Tide (Portland), Black Bear (Orono), the Sea Dog (Bangor), Penobscot Bay (Winterport), Sebago, Gritty’s, Honeymaker Mead and Urban Farm Fermentory (all out of Portland).

Brew Fest ticket holders are invited to attend lectures throughout the day from brewing experts. Including special guest speaker John Palmer, author and self publisher of “How to Brew” in the guest speaker tent. Home brewing and equipment demos will also be held on site throughout each Brew Fest session, and will be open to the public.

Also at the Brew Fest, Central Street Farmhouse will be announcing the 3rd annual Maine Homebrewers Competition finalists. Winners get a chance to brew with local brewmasters and one grand prize winner will have their recipe brewed professionally. Submissions for the competition will be accepted from July 5-July 19. Official rules and more details available at centralstreetfarmhouse.com.

KahBang’s event is entirely separate from the Bangor Convention and Visitor’s Bureau’s own beer event, set for June 22 on the Waterfront and featuring only Maine breweries. The Bangor CVB event is also the same weekend as The Festival 2013, set for June 21-22 at the Portland Yacht Services Building, and featuring more than 70 brewers from all over the world, including some rare Belgian, German and French beers and an array of American craft breweries. In other words: it’s an amazing summer for beer in Maine.

Emily Burnham

About Emily Burnham

Emily Burnham is a Maine native, UMaine graduate, proud Bangorian and a writer for the Bangor Daily News, where she's worked since 2004. She reports on everything from local bands to local food to all the cool things going on in the Greater Bangor area. In her quest for stories, she's seen countless concerts and plays, been lobster fishing, interviewed celebrities, hung out with water buffalo and played in a ukulele orchestra. She's interested in everything that happens in Maine.