Louisville’s food and beverage community has been garnering national attention and acclaim all over the place, and the folks at Tailspin Ale Fest Winter Warmer are right in the mix. The annual ale festival has raised over $50,000 for Dare to Care Food Bank in its first five years, ranked in the Top Ten for USA Today’s Reader’s Choice Awards the last two years, and returns for its sixth year at the Executive Aviation Center at Bowman Field on February 16th. VIP gates open at 2 p.m., and general entry is from 3 to 7 p.m.
Tickets are $50 plus fees or $75 plus fees for VIP, but there is a chance to win tickets at Drake’s, next Wednesday, January 23, at 6 p.m. when team Tailspin will be pouring Luau Krunkles from Terrapin and pairing it with $.75 wings. No purchase is necessary to enter the raffle. Drakes is one of eight “Get on the Bus, Gus” locations where attendees can catch a shuttle to the festival.
The Winter Warmer sells out every year and features over 75 breweries from across the country alongside planes, pin-up girls, and flyboys, but this year will be a bit different. The entire festival will be outside the WWII hangar due to fire marshall regulations, so attendees are encouraged to dress for the weather. The gathering offers as much fun as previous years, plus there will be a Cox’s cigar pavillion, a bourbon barrel bar, and a cider and sour bar. It won’t be hard to find local beers in the Kentucky Heritage section. There will also be a food truck lineup where guests can sate their hunger.
Furthermore, the festival will offer a photo booth, entertainment by 100% Poly, and a silent disco provided by two DJs (where attendees can tune in to a dance party via headphones), and raffles to support Dare to Care. It’s also possible to donate even more to Dare to Care by purchasing a Tailspin Ale Fest (paper) beer stein for $1 at Cox’s or Evergreen Liquors.
With so much to do and drink at the festival, designated drivers are an important part of the equation. They will receive free coffee from Heine Brothers at the event.
