Firkin Fest, An Autumn Extravaganza

Firkin Fest, An Autumn Extravaganza

Gideon Thompson

The Ashland Beacon

Since the late 1800s, beer has become a staple of everyday life in the United States, served in accompaniment with numerous dinners and made available for social gatherings ranging from weddings to professional sports events. Beer is produced globally with the intent to please participants with full bellies and an uplifting sensation. The earliest record of human civilization producing and consuming alcohol can be dated to almost 7,000 years BCE, making for a perceivably happy cave setting. Beer production consists of a base of water containing grains such as barley turned into a malt, hops—which are flowers happily harvested from the Humulus lupulus plant—and brewer’s yeast. Ingredients like spices may be added during the brewing process to give beer a festive twist for holidays, as with an amber ale or saison, at times made with cinnamon or nutmeg. There are more than 100 varieties of beer available in several forms such as lager, ale, or stout to suit any meal or celebration. From rich flavors to smooth, crisp blends, beer brewing is a craft that has brought joy to adults for centuries—and will continue to do so for many more.

In celebration of bountiful grain harvests and the brewing of beer comes a boasting lineal history of autumn festivals dedicated to brewing and sharing beer. Sharing and storing beer has been made an art through history, and with that art, numerous methods for storage. Wooden barrels and casks have been used in beer storage for centuries, and with the desire to transport beer regularly, firkins were produced sometime in the 1400s in the UK. Firkins are wooden storage containers often adorned with a handle for transport and filled with a quarter of a barrel, making for lighter and faster shipment while providing a smaller area for post-brewing methods. Brewing festivals throughout history have utilized the firkin, giving way to a modern revival of the helpful storage item.

With cooler weather and harvests of the summer stored away, October is the perfect time of year to host a festival acknowledging our ancestors and their annual beer-focused traditions. Visit Ashland KY has prepared a fall-time festival for beer drinkers everywhere in honor of craft brewers and drinkers alike. This year, Visit Ashland KY invites us to “Firkin Fest” and their 10th year of beer brewing revelry. Firkin Fest has been set for Saturday, October 4th Ashland's

Riverfront Park and will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tickets are available at https://events.beerfests.com/e/firkin-fest starting at $50.00 for VIP early entry, which includes earlier entry to the event and 8 five-ounce samples, allowing for an extra hour of tasting. General admission is priced at $30.00 and will rise to $40.00 on the day of the event; it includes 6 five-ounce samples. T-shirts are available as a token of the event and are being sold for $20.00, available online at the time of ticket purchase. The age requirement for entry to Firkin Fest is 21 years of age, in recognition of state and federal regulations. Identification must be presented at the gate before entering Firkin Fest, ensuring the age requirement has been met and allowing for smooth and safe operation of the festival. Firkin Fest will be hosting local brewmasters and tasting booths, as well as the inviting music of bands Moonlight Mile and the Shelby Lore Band.

For anyone desiring to spend the evening with a jovial crowd in honor of time-tested traditions and the craftsmanship of the beer-driven community, Firkin Fest awaits. Live music from local bands sets a nostalgic background for the scene and pairs perfectly with the beer-driven atmosphere, making for a magical event. A belly-filling, beer-driven adventure awaits us.