Raise a glass to good brews and a great cause

BrewFestSummer is a season filled with festivals, and one of our favorites is right around the corner. The 4th Annual Knoxville Brewfest will kick off at 4 p.m. this Saturday. The suds-filled evening offers the best brews, not to mention great eats from some of your favorite food vendors.

Brewfest will feature some of your favorite breweries and several of our wonderful suppliers. From national brewers such as The Boston Beer Company and Lagunitas Brewing Company to regional favorite Depot Street Brewing Co. and Nashville-based Blackstone Brewing Company, delicious beverages will flow in downtown Knoxville. You are sure to find many of your current favorites and discover fresh new brews to sip all summer long.

Not only is Knoxville Brewfest a fantastic reason to continue celebrating Knox Beer Week, but patrons can enjoy their favorite brews – more than 40 breweries are participating – while supporting a tremendous cause. All of the net proceeds of Knoxville Brewfest go to Cure Duchenne, an organization dedicated to research and treatment of Duchenne, a form of muscular dystrophy.

Duchenne is a devastating muscle disease in children. Because the Duchenne gene is found on the X-chromosome, it primarily affects boys; however, it occurs across all races and cultures. Sadly, most boys suffering from this condition do not live beyond their mid-20s. Nearly 20,000 boys are living with the disease in the United States, and more than 300,000 worldwide are afflicted with Duchenne.

Knoxville Brewfest tickets are available for presale on the event website, and $50 will allow you to enjoy all of the festivities and donate to this worthy cause. In past years, this event has sold out, so don’t hesitate to secure tickets now. In addition, Knoxville Brewfest is offering designated driver tickets that sell for $20 and allow the driver to enjoy nonalcoholic beverages and savor a beautiful evening in East Tennessee. Don’t forget – you must be 21 years of age or older to attend this event.

Knoxville is a special city, and we always have something fun to do on tap. Soak in the scenery as you overlook the Southern Railway Terminal on the Gay Street and Depot Avenue Viaduct and raise a toast to downtown, our suppliers and Cure Duchenne.

As always, drink responsibly, and enjoy Brewfest!