Shore Craft to host inaugural Delaware beer festival March 24

Shore Craft Beer will host its first Delaware beer festival from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., Saturday, March 24. Beer at Bethany Beach will be co-hosted by Bethany Beach Ocean Suites hotel, where the event will take place.

The festival will include unlimited tastings of more than 20 craft beers from 12 local breweries, plus vendors and beautiful views of Bethany’s beach and Boardwalk. Live music will be provided by Nashville artist Jimmy Charles and his fiddler, who will open up for Josh Turner at the Ocean City Convention Center the night before.

“We are so excited to host this event,” said Bethany Beach Ocean Suites Activities Director Allyson Knight. “The region is seeing a lot of growth with the popularity of craft beer and the number of breweries in the areas, and this festival is an awesome way to showcase them.”

In addition to the Saturday festival, the Oceanova Spa at Bethany Beach Ocean Suites will be offering spa treatments made with craft beer ingredients all month long. The hotel’s restaurant, 99 Sea Level, will host a beer-pairing dinner on Friday night that includes six courses made by award-winning chef Danio Somoza, paired with local beers.

“Delaware isn’t quite known for being a home to craft beer, but I’m excited that we can be a link in introducing the two concepts of tourism at the Delaware beaches and craft beer,” Knight said.

General admission tickets are available, though festivalgoers from out of town are encouraged to book hotel packages through Bethany Beach Ocean Suites, where they’ll automatically be upgraded to VIP and can enjoy an extra hour of tastings.

General admission tickets are $35 and VIP tickets are now available for $50. Both include unlimited tastings and a commemorative pint glass. Tickets are limited. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.shorecraftbeerfest.com/beer-at-bethany. To purchase hotel packages, call 302-539-3200.

Founded to ensure that the Delaware shore becomes a top-10 craft beer destination nationally, Shore Craft Beer showcases Delmarva’s world-class beer and world-class beauty. The event focuses on breweries, craft beer, hotels that offer packages, bars, restaurants and general education, and highlights the local craft beer destinations.