The Arizona Strong Beer Festival returns to a new venue

The new Bell Bank Park in east Mesa will host the return of the 21st annual Arizona Strong Beer Festival on Saturday, February 19th. The festival will kick-off the 11th Annual Arizona Beer Week organized by the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild. Over 500 craft beers will be tapped for the festival that goes from 1:00 – 4:30 p.m. with close to 10,000 people expected to attend.

“We can’t wait to get back to beer fests!” says Rob Fullmer, Executive Director of the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild. “It’s been a long two years for everyone and we are thrilled to be hosting the Arizona Strong Beer Festival at a new, state of the art location.”

More than 100 events are planned throughout Arizona during the 10 day celebration with the festival being the largest. Arizona Beer Week goes from February 17th-27th.

General Admission tickets are $60 with a limited number of VIP tickets available for $80. VIP tickets allow for early entry at 11:30 a.m., Friday wristband pick-up, Saturday express entry, a food voucher, VIP lounge access with private restrooms and a special edition SWAG bag. Super VIP tickets are available for $100 with all of the above plus commemorative glassware and a Sunday Brunch Brewers Reception. A complete list of brewers participating will be available at their website in late January and it’s also where you can purchase tickets. Bell Bank Park is at 1 Legacy Dr. Mesa 85212.

Strong Beer Festival tickets go on sale Black Friday

Once you wake up from your turkey coma on Black Friday make your way down to Arizona Craft Brewers Guild’s Tempe office as tickets for the Strong Beer Festival go on sale. Other locations around Arizona will also offer the best prices for the February 8th festival before they increase December 3rd.

“The only gift better than tickets to the Arizona Strong Beer Festival is tickets that come with a Festival t-shirt or hat,” says Rob Fullmer, Executive Director of the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild. “Locals can visit the Guild office on Black Friday for the best ticket prices in town plus Arizona Strong Beer Festival and Arizona Beer Week swag you won’t find anywhere else.”

This year’s festival marks its 20th anniversary and brewers will collaborate on special beers for the festival. The festival is part of the annual Arizona Beer Week from February 6th – 16th with over 200 events planned.

Strong Beer Festival tickets on sale

The Guild’s office at 201 E. Southern Ave. #109 will be selling tickets from 8 a.m. -1 p.m. starting at $40.  Discounted tickets, with no online fees, will be available at the following locations from Black Friday, Nov. 29 through Mon., Dec. 2: 8-bit Aleworks, 12 West Brewing Co., Arizona Wilderness, Bone Haus Brewing Co., Brewers Connections, Front Pourch Brewing Co., Growlers USA – High Street, Hungry Monk, Huss Brewing Co., Lumberyard Brewing Co., Oro Brewing Co., Tap & Bottle, and Throne Brewing Co.

General admission tickets are $40 then go up to $64.33 on Tues. Limited amounts of VIP tickets (in person only) are $70 then $85.22 next week. VIP tickets include a food voucher, access to VIP area, a private restroom and access to specialty beers. New this year is Super VIP tickets which are $90 then $106.51. Included are all the above plus Friday wristband pick up, express entry and entry to the Brewer’s reception on Sunday.

“You have to act fast if you want to score tickets to the best beer festival of the year, especially with this year’s added collaborations” says Fullmer. “Our VIP tickets typically sell out well before the new year.”

A complete line-up of brewers, entertainment and food will be available soon at http://arizonabeerweek.com/arizona-strong-beer-festival/. You can also purchase tickets at the link.

The festival will be at Steele Indian School Park at 300 E. Indian School Rd. in Phoenix from 1 – 5 p.m.