Learn the Craft Behind Craft Beer at the North Fork Craft Beer, BBQ & Wine Festival, August 11th

LINDENHURST, NY. August 10, 2007 — Craft beer is the fastest growing segment of the alcohol industry, and after trying a few choice brews it is easy to see why. The variety of beer styles, brewing techniques, and presentation methods available to craft brewers has redefined the idea of beer into something more reminiscent of wine. Beer is now being carefully paired with specific foods, not to mention the growing prevalence of its use in kitchen. The industry’s rapid growth has also been fueled by the creation of an enormous number of unique seasonal and regional brews, leading to the emergence of both the beer connoisseur and, as a result, the beer snob.

Many of these craft brews will be gathered for a tasting event, the North Fork Craft Beer, BBQ and Wine Festival, on August 11th in Jamesport, NY. The festival will also feature seminars on a wide variety of craft beer related topics. Speakers include industry experts, such as Bernie Kilkelly of Ale Street News, who will be discussing the growth of the craft beer scene on Long Island for the past ten years. Many brewery representatives will also be giving presentations, including Mike Vitale from Brooklyn Brewery and Celeste Beatty of the Harlem Brewing Company. Also planning to attend is Mark Burford, brewmaster of Long Island’s own Blue Point Brewing Company, explaining how he decides which beers to brew.

To discuss both the ingredients and styles of craft beers, as well as the emergence of the beer snob, is Samuel Merritt of Civilization of Beer, an organization attempting to “close the gap between wine studies and beer studies in the professional culinary community and return beer to its proper place at the American table.” Civilization of Beer is at the forefront of a recent trend of bringing craft beer into the kitchens of high profile and high quality restaurants.

The North Fork Craft Beer, BBQ and Wine Festival is also a part of that rapidly growing trend, introducing attendees to the diversity of tastes offered by craft beers and the methods that go into their creation. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to broaden your beer tastes and discover exactly what put the “craft” into your new favorite craft brews. Tickets are available online now at www.craftbeerfestival.com. Any additional questions, please contact Andy Calimano of Starfish Junction Productions at (631) 957-7035.