VIDEO: Firkin Fest brings beer lovers together

ASHLAND, Ky.– Brewers were forced to tap reserve kegs to slake the thirst of craft beer enthusiasts pouring into downtown Ashland, Kentucky.

The city’s Firkin Fest — one of dozens that take place around the country — attracted more than 1,500 festivalgoers on Saturday with live music, food trucks and craft-brewed beer.

“Success, that’s the word that comes to mind. This was a great success,” said Ashland In Motion Director Whitney Lowe.

Most of the festivalgoers traversed the closed-off stretch of downtown with 3-ounce mini-mugs and 10 sampling tickets. They tasted beers ranging from India Pale Ale to a habanero-infused brew.

Firkin Fests take place all over the U.S. in places like Texas, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota. A firkin is a unit of measurement and size of a kind of keg used for cask conditioning– unfiltered and unpasteurised beer, according to hoppytrailsbeernews.com.

The processed used to tap this keg provides naturally fermented and carbonated beer which some beer lovers say taste better.

“We love Firkin Fest,” said Jeanetta Adkins of Westwood, who journeyed to the festival with Andrew Nixon of Santa Barbara, California. “The layout is even better than last year, especially with the food trucks. They’ve done such a great job this year.”

“That’s what this festival is really about, tasting craft beer,” said Mayor Chuck Charles. “It’s a great thing for the city. I’ve heard for years and years, there’s nothing to do in Ashland for the young people. Well, this is that event. But you also see young and old, you see families here with their kids. It’s just a great time for the city of Ashland.”

Lowe said she was thrilled with the success of Ashland’s craft beer festival in year two, and credited the work of the festival committee and volunteers for the improved turnout.

Clark said the young festival will continue to grow in years to come.

“We’ll be back again next year,” she said.

Adkins writes for the (Kentucky) Daily Independent.