COLLEGEVILLE PA – Hundreds of craft beer lovers converged Saturday (June 3, 2023), beneath the roof of a barn at the Montgomery County 4-H Center on Bridge Road, to sip, sip, sip themselves through hours of brewed bliss.
Not surprisingly, there were smiles (below) everywhere one looked.
The center was the site, from noon to 5 p.m., of the second annual Still Waters Brewfest. It gathered representatives of dozens of breweries, food vendors, and other organizations in a fund-raising effort that benefited the non-profit Skippack Historical Society (below). The brewfest name refers to a native word, reportedly sounding like “skippack,” that is said to mean “still waters.”
Besides their happy faces and animated discussions, those in the Collegeville crowd shared two other traits. All were over age 21, and all carried miniature beer mugs (above). Visitors received the sampling glassware as they displayed their entrance tickets, and strolled over to the center’s Marcho Family Show and Sale Barn.
That’s where they began the fun work of tasting almost everything from available taps.
The obvious delight with which they tackled the task pleased Kevin Kershner, who with his brother Basil operates Brothers Kershner Brewing Co. in the heart of nearby Skippack village. Brothers Kershner, and the Montco Makers campaign of the Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board, worked to sponsor and promote the event.
Although the skies grew cloudy as the afternoon progressed, Kershner said he hoped the size of the crowd might approach 500 people, as it did in 2022. “We’re looking to grow this year over year,” he said, envisioning even larger future turn-outs.
No matter their number, the drinkers in attendance enjoyed a wide variety of beers and other beverages from which to choose.
Participating companies included Animated Brewing, Brothers Kershner, Artillery Brewing, East Branch Brewing, Wrong Crowd Beer, Well Crafted Beer, Rebel Hill Brewing, Stolen Sun Craft Brewing and Roasting, Stable 12 Brewing, Ten 7 Brewing, von C Brewing, Midnight Oil Brewing, Logyard Brewing, McAllister Brewing, Cape May Brewing, Victory Brewing, Crooked Eye Brewery, Pilger Ruh Brewing, Suburban, Iron Hill Brewery, Moss Hill Brewing, Root Down Brewing, Conshohocken Brewing, Aldus Brewing, Spirochete Brewing, Farm and Cask, Wissahickon Brewing, Tannery Run Brew Works, McCall Collective, and Aristaeus Craft Brewing.
The brewers in attendance from Eastern Pennsylvania and a few selected from neighboring states “have carved their names in the craft beer community,” according to the brewfest website. Kershner acknowledged the excellence of the participants, and indicated he was proud of this year’s Still Waters line-up.
Non-alcoholic drinks were on hand too, and being offered to designated drivers. In recognition of their importance in keeping everyone else safe, their ticket prices were deeply discounted.
In addition to boosting the society’s research and documentation of the Skippack Valley’s rich history and sites, Kershner said the brewfest also played a role in presenting the 4-H Center itself.
Montgomery County 4-H has been known for decades in teaching youngsters about both agriculture and family values, Kirschner noted. Its directors, he said, have sought to expand functions on the Collegeville grounds in recent years to make more area residents aware of its work.
“In choosing to hold this event here,” the brewer said, “we can introduce others to the center’s great features.”
All photos by Travels With The Post
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