THIS WEEKEND: Local craft beer festival returns after 5-year hiatus

A Dayton-based craft beer festival is poised to return June 23 after a five-year hiatus to spotlight specialty beers provided by more than a dozen local and regional craft breweries.

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The Cask AleFest, which celebrates a more traditional method of storing and dispensing draught beer, will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 23 on East Second Street between Jefferson and St. Clair Streets in front of Mudlick Tap House in downtown Dayton.

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Joe Waizmann, founder and co-organizer of the event, said the festival’s lengthy hiatus was caused primarily by his stint as a co-founder and co-owner of Warped Wing Brewing Co., from which he departed in late 2017. This  year’s event will mark the seventh AleFest devoted to cask ales.

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“Since my earliest visits to the U.K. more than 20 years ago, I’ve been a huge fan of cask or real ale, and this passion is the basis of my desire to educate and share with others,” Waizmann said. “It’s quite gratifying.”

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Tickets are $40  and will be limited  to 300; they are available at Mudlick Tap House or online at www.AleFest.com.

Waizmann said 17 cask ales will be featured:

  • 50 West Brewing Company Punch You in the EyePA DIPA with Orange Peel
  • Braxton Brewing Company BlackBerry Smoothie Haven Hefeweizen with Blackberries, Blueberries, Banana, & Apple
  • Crooked Handle Brewing Company The Farm Saison with Lemon and Basil

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  • Dayton Beer Company The Java Man Cometh Stout with Mint & Cocoa Nibs
  • Fat Heads Brewery Unnamed Dry Hopped Strong Ale
  • Great Lakes Brewing Company Eliot Ness Vienna Lager with Cinnamon & Apple
  • Great Lakes Brewing Company Burning River Pale Ale with Lavender
  • Hairless Hare Brewery Blackberry Honey Kickback Kölsch
  • MadTree Brewing  Brown with Bourbon-and-Peach-Soaked Oak Chips
  • Maumee Bay Brewing Company Total Eclipse Breakfast Stout with Tiramisu
  • North High Brewing Cherry Life Golden Sparkling Ale

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  • Nowhere in Particular Promiscuous Ale Project Strawberry Banana Berliner Weiss
  • Platform Beer Company Orange Blossom Kettle Sour with Bourbon Soaked Oak Chips and Tart Sour Cherries
  • Toxic Brew Company Abby's Cure Tripel with Hibiscus & Press Cold Brewed Coffee
  • Warped Wing Brewing Company Gamma Bomb IPA with Passionfruit
  • Warped Wing Brewing Company Golden Glow with Lime Peel and Tequila-Soaked Wooden Spiral
  • Yellow Springs Brewery Boat Show IPA with Raspberries, a special tri-package feature with Boat Show IPA in cask, draught and can.

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