By Adam Brazeau
CORNWALL, Ontario – An all-day event connecting beer lovers with the burgeoning craft beer scene served up plenty of variety Saturday.
Hundreds of thirsty patrons raised a glass or two (or three) at the first Eastern Ontario Festival of Beers – a craft beer tasting event hosted at the Nav Centre in Cornwall.
Over 50 varieties of craft beer, as well as samples of wine, spirits, and cider flowed at 12 booths. The festival also offered the spoils of a tasty collaboration with local hot food vendors and artisan food producers.
Rob Csernyik, chair of the festival, wanted to connect the community with the craft beer scene and judging by the response from the first half of the event, a second year is already in the mix.
“There’s definitely a lot of interest in craft beer here in Cornwall – people have responded to the festival really well,” said Csernyik. “When you look at a lot of the restaurants downtown, it’s something they’re really starting to carry. But what’s interesting is that Cornwall is still kind of an untapped market when it comes to festivals and bars carrying it – that’s one reason brewers were excited to participate.”
More to come.
