The Rolling Stones define rock ‘n’ roll. Tom Cruise is a well-known actor who has starred in several films Cory King of Side Project and Shaun Hill of Hill Farmstead are among the craft beer community’s leaders.
People from across the country flock to see Mick Jagger, Taylor Swift, and Jennifer Lawrence, with queues wrapping over city blocks. And that’s exactly what happens when the who’s who of craft brewers gather in one place for one spectacular festival.
That is the Shelton Brothers Festival’s force and wonder, my friends. If you have any interest or love for craft beer (and you must, since you are reading this! ), you should book your ticket and prepare to queue alongside the masses for your chance to mingle with the industry’s biggest names.
Are you still unsure? Here are five compelling reasons to visit Florida this autumn:
1. The Shelton Brothers are involved!
The Shelton Brothers’ love of craft beer prompted them to become beer importers. They aren’t your typical beer importers, though. The Shelton Brothers import beer from brewers who appreciate tradition, value, and the natural art of beer production, and they haven’t given up on their quest for the best in a beer glass. Many of the brewers they import only make 1,000 hl per year.
“We actively seek for non-manipulated beer,” the Shelton Brothers have stated, “usually looking to small breweries with artisans taking their desire for a natural, traditionally-made product seriously.”
No other beer importer has such exacting requirements and high standards. But it is for this reason that Shelton’s annual celebration is so worthwhile.
2. Because the Breweries You’ll Visit Are Worth It
You know you’re about to be honored by the presence of some of the craft beer community’s top influencers and emerging stars when the Shelton Brothers are involved.
This year’s festival will feature the following highly sought-after brewers from all around the world:
- Cantillon is a French word that means “little bird (Belgium)
- Hill Farmstead Brewery is a microbrewery located in Hill, Massachusetts (Greensboro, VT)
- Mikkeller is a well-known beer producer (Copenhagen, Denmark)
- Stave that’s crooked (Colorado)
- l (Copenhagen, Denmark)
- Artisan Ales from the Prairie (Oklahoma)
- 8 Connected devices (New Zealand)
- Long-lasting (Missouri)
The festival’s 2015 site, Florida, has allowed several of the state’s up-and-coming artists to participate. Florida has emerged as a hotspot for inventive brewers, so this is ideal timing.
Two Florida breweries, Cigar City and Coppertail, were named to Ratebeer.com’s top 100 breweries list in 2015. The Shelton Brothers Festival will host both of them.
There will be many more breweries at the gathering because it is a Shelton Brothers event. Here is a link to the complete list.
3. Because all of the best brewers, this side of Jupiter will be in one place at the same time.
The brewers, like the beer, are a big part of the show. And the Shelton Brothers Festival on the Road promises to deliver big-time this year. In Florida, the following brewers will be present:
- Van Roy, Jean (Cantillon)
- Shaun Hill is a professional football player from the United Kingdom (Hill Farmstead)
- Coutteau Urbain (Struise)
- Mikkel Borg Bjergs (Mikke Borg Bjergs) is a Norwegian architect (Mikkeler)
- King, Cory (Side Project)
You’ll get to meet each brewer and spend time in sunny Florida. People waited around the corner to speak with the brewers at last year’s Los Angeles festival.
Each brewer takes the time to tell their tales and share their knowledge of the brewing process. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn about the minds behind some of the best artisanal beer, cider, and mead on the market. Meeting these world-class brewers would take months and thousands of dollars for most people.
They’re still going to Florida on the 16th and 17th of October.
4. It’s about the beer, not just the brewers.
Festival-goers can get their hands on some of the rarest beers, thanks to the Shelton Brothers‘ unique relationship with brewers worldwide.
Consider it the United Nations of beer fests. International beers from Spain, Belgium, England, Quebec, Scotland, France, Brazil, France, Italy, New Zealand, and elsewhere will mingle with those from the United States (like Crooked Stave of Colorado and Florida breweries such as Funky Buddha and Green Bench).
Cantillon will also bring 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year Still Iambics (in bag-in-a-box formats) to the festival, allowing attendees to create custom blends.
5. Because of the location of this festival changes from year to year.
The Shelton Brothers Festival is an annual beer festival that travels around the country. It has its roots in the craft beer community from coast to coast.
The Brothers’ selection of St. Petersburg reflects their in-depth knowledge of the burgeoning craft beer scene. The craft beer scene in St. Petersburg and Tampa is growing, with more brewpubs and breweries springing up in the area.
What you should know before attending the festival
On the 16th and 17th of October, the festival will be held at The Coliseum in St. Petersburg, FL. The Coliseum is regarded as the best ballroom in the south, and it perfectly captures the look and feel of the Sunshine State. It’s the ideal spot for traveling beer lovers to set up shop for the weekend, with plenty of parking and within walking distance of St. Petersburg’s downtown and historic districts.
