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Williamspint debuts local craft beers at festival

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Morgan Tramontana, of the Molly Pitcher Brewing Co., of Carlisle, right, hands a sample of one of their brews to Heather Kriner, of Cogan Station, as Kevin Easton, of Williamsport, looks on.

HUGHESVILLE — Beer lovers and connoisseurs came to the first Williamspint Craft Beer Festival Saturday at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds to enjoy live music and food vendors.

Fourteen Breweries throughout the region were in attendance along with five wineries and a meadery.

Bernard A. Oravec, publisher of the Sun-Gazette, said high numbers made the event’s first year a big hit. The Sun-Gazette is one of a number of sponsors for the festival.

“For a first event, we are really happy with the turnout,” he said. “The goal is to do a bigger event next year — maybe an overnight event with camping and activities.”

He also added he is happy with the diverse musical acts.

“We had an acoustic duo, a soul band and a large 10-piece orchestra,” Oravec said.

The bands have traveled from all over the east coast. Oravec said he’s trying to bring some new bands to the area for people to enjoy.

“We think we can get at least another 10 breweries. The ones we have, they’re from all over the eastern region, they’re not just local breweries. That’s something we’re real proud of. We want to bring — in addition to the locals — some new tastes from the east coast,” he said.

Brewers and attendees came to the event with diverse beer backgrounds, eager to serve and taste a number of beverages.

“We just really hope that this is going to just keep growing. It’s excellent,” said Bud Herr. “Different breweries will understand that they can come to a different area away from where their brewery is and introduce their products to a different crowd.”

Bud Herr, an Air Force veteran who served 17 years in Germany, said the new trend of craft beers is far more superior than beers have been for thousands of years in Germany.

“I think there’s a lot of room for people that are more local to be here. I’m glad to see a lot of breweries I’ve never seen before,” said Roxanne Herr, Bud Herr’s wife.

For PJ Williams, a brewer at Bullfrog Brewery, Williamspint offers the chance to bring all of the breweries together to see what each has to offer and keep the community tight.

“It’s great to be a part of our community and to interact with our customers and getting feedback, whether it’s good or bad,” said Rusty Williams, a brewer for New Trails Brewing Company.

Cliff Lindgren, of Lindgren Craft Brewing, a newcomer to the craft beer community, said he’s excited to be a part of the festival.

Lindgren is brewing outside of an old dairy farm, with plans to move to Duncannon, along the Appalachian Trail.

“We got our licence at the tail end of August,” he said. “We’re glad we got invited.”

But the music, food and friends are enough for Alesha Love who attended with her friends but was not drinking.

“I don’t really have to have a drink to have a good time, and I want to make sure they get home safely,” she said.

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