St. John's Brewfest expands with 60 new beers never poured in Newfoundland

Organizers of Newfoundland and Labrador's biggestcraft beer festival are hoping to build on the province's growing taste for original brews by expanding the event this year.

St. John's Brewfest is set to take place on Friday April 20 and Saturday, April 21 at three attached barsin downtown St. John's. The event launched in 2016, and after taking a year off returns this year with 40 per cent more breweries taking part.

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The province's craft-beer culture has come a long way in the two years since the first Brewfest, somethingSteve Martin of NL Promotions saidis clear with the fact that the Saturday night event is already sold out.

"As the industry has grown, the festival has grownwith it," Martinsaid.

"All these microbreweries that are popping up everywhere just increaseseveryone's liking of craft beer, sowe're able to do events like this."

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This year at St. John's Brewfest, more than 100 different kinds of beer will be available, including60 that have never before been poured in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Martin said offering something new is key to attracting craft-beer aficionados, who thrive off sampling original brewsthat aren't available at thelocal liquor store.

"We have a brewery coming from Europe, we have some from the States and then the rest are from Alberta, Ontario, a great representation from the Maritime provinces and of course Newfoundland."

Food, music, mechanical bull

This year's event will fill Club One, the Sundanceand George Street Beer Market and there will be live music performances throughout the day, along with food service and even a mechanical bull.

Unlike the first festival in 2016 at the Bella Vista, this year's Brewfestwon't focus on giving out awards or crowning 2018's top beers.

Martin said organizers ditched the awards because they wanted to keep patrons focused on trying and learning about new craft beerinstead of filling out contest forms.

"We appreciate every brewery that takes part in the festival and it is impossible for everyone to try every beer. So the award portion just wasn't relevant anymore."