Owensboro will host the second annual Hops on the Ohio beer festival from 3-7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3 at the RiverPark Center. Officials running the beer fest say this year’s event will be even bigger and better than last year’s, which brought over 500 people from all walks of life to celebrate craft beer, local food and live music.
Cody Anderson, a promoter and planner for both Hops on the Ohio events, said this year’s beer festival will see expansion in all directions. Even more, those who attend will have the chance to taste and try different drinks that haven’t even hit shelves yet.
“We’re adding winery and canned cocktail options this year,” Anderson said. “Monaco cocktails will actually be launched for the first time at this event.”
Anderson said Monaco will be launching a canned cocktail that’s both higher in alcohol content and lower in calories — only 69, to be exact.
Two exclusive beers will also be offered during the festival. One of them, Anderson said, was brewed by Cincinatti’s Rhinegeist Brewery — one of the event’s sponsors — and has been aged in an O.Z. Tyler bourbon barrel for almost two years.
Anderson met with the owners of Lexington’s Country Boy Brewing, a sponsor of the event, and had the chance to blend three different barrel-aged beers that will be exclusively offered at Hops on the Ohio as well.
“For a full day I got to play in Country Boy’s cellar. I got to mix three different beers at a certain ratio, and we added some adjunct flavors — we added some Mexican chiles to give them some Mexican flavors,” Anderson said.
Easley Winery, out of Indianapolis, will offer wine tastings alongside the 20-plus breweries who will pour a variety of beer samples to guests during the four-hour festival and concert.
One of Anderson’s focuses for these events has circulated around featuring regional breweries in close proximity to Owensboro.
“J’s Good Grub will be there, which is great because they’re making a big splash around town,” Anderson said. “Waffle’d It [out of Bowling Green] will be serving craft waffles — anything from lemon-blueberry to a Nashville Hot Chicken variety.”
Additional food will be served to those purchasing VIP tickets, courtesy of Kentucky Legend, and will be cooked and prepared by Bowling Green’s Hickory & Oak Chef Josh Poling.
“Kentucky Legend is excited to be the VIP host sponsor again this year for Hops on the Ohio. We were so pleased with the turnout last year and were highly impressed with the amazing menu created with our products,” said Legend’s Brooklyn Maple. “The RiverPark Center is a huge asset to our community, and we’re always proud to support them in bringing unique events to our backyard. We honestly cannot wait to see what Chef Josh Poling has in store for us.”
Fat Box, a Bowling Green band that features a myriad of rock, funk, blues and jazz, will perform outside on the BB&T Patio all day, Anderson said. An official after-party will be held at Bar Louie following the event.
Tickets for Hops on the Ohio can be purchased by calling the RiverPark at 270-687-2787 or by clicking here. General admission tickets are $35, VIP tickets are $55 and designated driver tickets are $5.
