On Monday evening, beer enthusiasts from across Lehigh Valley made their way over to the Allentown Brew Works for the official start of Lehigh Valley Beer Week. As the first of a new annual event, Beer Week stands to celebrate craft beers through different tap takeovers, beer dinners, and sampling events.
Running February 11 – 17, Lehigh Valley Beer Week is modeled after those of Philadelphia and San Francisco; a number of bars and restaurants who agree to host various events throughout the week.
For the kickoff event, Mayor John Callahan of Bethlehem and Mayor Sal Panto of Easton stopped by the Brew Works to perform the official ribbon-cutting that opened the taps. Among one of the highlights was the tapping of the LVBW1 beer. Created by homebrewer Michael Sexton, this beer was the winner of the 'Brewer for a Day' competition, which had almost 40 entries. After the tapping, the mayors each received the first pint and then all the attendees of the event had a chance to sample the brew. Throughout the evening, I also had a chance to chat with various brewers from the Lehigh Valley, and even got a picture with the Beerman!
For the rest of the week, beer lovers can check out great events not only at both the Allentown and Bethlehem Brew Works locations, but also at 27 other venues throughout Lehigh Valley! I know I’ll be stopping by Roosevelt’s 21st for their ‘Rock the Bell’s with Bell’s Brewery’ night on Friday, February 15th!
With so many great participants, everyone is sure to find something that they like! Be sure to follow their Facebook and Twitter accounts for the most up-to-date information on the various happenings throughout the week.
Where are you planning on visiting for Lehigh Valley Beer Week?