Magic City Brewfest to mix education with entertainment

Magic City Brewfest is returning to Sloss Furnaces for its 11th year, and organizers are working to make sure attendees learn more about the beers they try this year. Currently, the festival has been postponed as of May 27, so Magic City Brewfest will not be taking place on June 8 and 9. The postponement is due to price increases imposed by the city of Birmingham for the rental of the Sloss Furnaces event venue, according to a postponement notice by Free the Hops. 

Free the Hops plans to hold a press conference the week before the festival was scheduled to determine the new location and date for Magic City Brewfest. Free the Hops is offering refunds for the tickets or for people to keep their tickets and stay tuned for the new date, according to the postponement notice. 

In addition to more than 200 beers on tap, Free the Hops is adding informational tents to its beer festival. At these tents, attendees can learn more about the different types of beers, flavor comparisons and the chemical cause for different tastes, said organizer Jay Bennett.

“We thought it would be a really good opportunity just for engaging people at Brewfest but also as an organization, that’s something we’re hoping to focus on more,” Bennett said. 

There will also be a home brewing demonstration, and attendees will have the opportunity to speak with brewery representatives at their brewery tents. 

The J. Clyde Cask Garden will return this year, which provides a chance for local breweries to get creative, creating small batch variations on new brews or with their flagship beers, Bennett said. Four Birmingham breweries are also partnering with breweries from Plzen, Czech Republic to create exclusive Brewfest beers.

Attendees can grab dinner from a variety of food trucks at the event, as well as a lounge area sponsored by Brewhops and vendors including Southern Wanderer clothing and Southern Growler.

Tickets for either June 9 or 10 are $40 in advance or $45 at the gate. For more information, go to magiccitybrewfest.com.