Home brewers to offer beer samples at festival's Space Bar
“People always ask where they can buy our beer,” Ken Scott, 57, of Mars said with a laugh. “Well, you can't.”
Scott is a member of the Butler Society of Home Brewers, and the group will give visitors to the Mars New Year celebration the opportunity to at least taste the county's best beer.
The brewers plan to have their own festivity called the Space Bar from 6 to 9 p.m. June 19 at the Geyer parking lot apartments on Pittsburgh Street.
At the bar, anyone 21 and older can sample beer for $15. Samplers will be given six tickets, each exchangeable for one sample, and a five-ounce, etched glass.
Scott said 400 glasses will be available. Customers can buy additional glasses for $5 each.
Participants can write their names and contact information on the tickets they give vendors for samples because there will be a drawing for beer-related items from Butler County businesses.
Scott said Mayor Gregg Hartung invited the organization to be part of the celebration.
“The mayor called me up and asked me,” he said. “We kind of worked it out over the last few months.”
Scott said the tasting will feature a variety of beers from local personal homemades to those of local breweries. Scott expects each vendor to have different types of beer available.
Scott said he will showcase two styles, one of which will be accented by Jalepeno peppers.
He said he also knows of another vendor who plans to feature a beer that was inspired by candy called the Mars Bar Sweet Stout.
According to the page on the Mars New Year website, any proceeds will be used for future events and downtown revitalization.
Scott said society members are always happy to share their brews with the community.
“We're always looking for opportunities to do that,” he said. “We get good responses from people when we do.”
