Do you love beer? Do you love food? Do you love music and games and crisp mountain air? If all of those are silly questions and yes, in fact, you do love all those things, then the High Country Beer Fest is the perfect end of summer event for you. Taking place on August 24, the 12th annual High Country Beer Festival looks to combine all of these favorite activities together into an incredible (and enjoyable) day. So if this is something you’re interested in making sure to keep reading for more info. 

What’s At The High Country Beer Fest?

The High Country Beer Festival is a celebration of local and regional beer and food. It looks to bring the best and brightest offerings directly to you. Plus you’ll be surrounded by others who enjoy the same kind of activities, food, and drink as you. There will be around a dozen local food vendors. Live music will play until around 8pm and there will be over 50 different brewers on site to offer up not only your favorites but some specialty beers.

Some Of The Breweries

Naturally, we can’t list all 50 breweries here. But you can find a full list of the breweries and where they are from on the HCBeerFest website (this list is constantly changing, so check back often). 

Some of the breweries you can stop by and check out include New Belgium (originally based out of Colorado but there is now an Asheville, NC location), New River Brewing, Southern Pines Brewing Company, Harpoon Brewery, Terrapin Beer Company, Deschutes Brewery, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Oskar Blues Brewery, Great Lakes Brewing Company, and Skytown Beer Company (just to name a few). 

Some of the Food

Of course, there’s nothing like a quality combination of food and beer. There will be around a dozen or so food vendors on site throughout the festival. You’ll find Boonetown BBQ, Appalachia Cookie Company, Hot Doggin’ It, Betty’s Biscuits, Snack Wagon, Blue Deer Cookies, Rollin South, All Thai’d Up Ice Cream, Everybody’s Loaded Biscuits, and The Cardinal Burger Wagon.

Fun Activities at

Beyond the food and the beer there are a number of seminars taking place during the festival. here you’ll learn more about beer, how it’s made, and how to best enjoy your favorite beverage. Some of the seminars focus on the scientific and biological elements of making beer, while others will focus on combining and pairing food with beer so you can better compliment flavors. 

In the mood for games? Why not grab a beer and enjoy activities like tailgating games, watercolors, you can make your own stickers, and take part in other arts and craft activities. 

There will also be live music throughout the day. The three main acts that will be taking the stage includes Crenshaw Pentecostal, Naked Gods, and Shay Martin Lovette. 

Ticketing Information

You can grab your High Country Beer Festival tickets directly from the HCBeerFest website. While you can also buy your tickets at the door it is less expensive to purchase tickets ahead of time. 

The General Admission tickets (GA) are $40 ahead of time and $60 at the gate. With this ticket you receive a free tasting glass and access to over 50 brewers. You’ll be able to sample as many beers as you’d like between 3 and 7pm, have beer and food pairing seminars, receive access to food trucks, can stop by the games tent, and can listen to live music until 8pm.

First, there are the VIP Tickets. These Very Important Person tickets allow you to enter the festival one hour before everyone else. You receive a special VIP tasting glass and, on top of what the general admission tickets receive, you have access to exclusive brewers, have first tastes of limited edition beers (these often go quickly), have shorter lines for the beer, plus a food voucher and free t-shirt. 

VIP tickets are $80 ahead of time and $100 at the door (if not sold out ahead of time).

If you’d like to enjoy the festival without drinking there is a Designated Drivers ticket. This ticket is $10 at the door at $15 ahead of time. There are non-alcoholic drinks for you to enjoy and plenty of food. However, you must be 21 or older and you are not allowed to drink. If you do you will be asked to leave.

(FYI you can also purchase all of your tickets in advance at Peabody’s if you’re in the Boone, North Carolina area).  

Money For Good Causes

All of the money from the beer festival goes towards worthy causes in the area. The money is separated and sent to different locations. There is a grants and scholarships program for fermentation science students and some money also goes towards helping local colleges (like Appalachian State) invest in new equipment so students can continue pursuing their goals of working in the beer industry. 

Money also goes to local charities. This year, the High Country Beer Fest will be donating money toward F.A.R.M Cafe. This is a pay-what-you-can kitchen that helps build strength within the community. This is designed to produce excellent meals from local sources for anyone who stops in. 

If you want to learn more about the programs and charities, make sure to stop on by the tents at the festival and talk with the staff on hand. 

Come On Out For The High Country Beer Festival

If you’re looking for a great way to spend a day with friends, food, entertainment, and of course beer, come on out to the High Country Beer Festival. Join us for the 12th annual High Country Beer Fest on August 24th, 2019. Get ready for a day packed full of as much fun as you might want. Even if you’re not drinking you can head in with the Designated Driver ticket. And if you want to tailgate ahead of time, make sure to pick up a tarp from Tarpestry before heading out. It’ll keep your spot dry while looking good, all at the same time.