By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
CLAREMONT, N.H. — In what turns into a big friendly reunion, more than 1,000 people are expected hit the Visitor Center Green for the 10th annual Claremont Brewfest and 5K on Saturday, where they can sample a variety of beers and ciders from across New England.
The event is hosted by Claremont Kiwanis, and all starts with the 5K at 11:30 a.m. Then VIP hour runs from noon to 1 p.m., and last serve is at 4 p.m.
The 5K is in its ninth year and was first won by Tony and Judy DiPadova who were avid runners that put on the Pigskin 5K. The DiPadovas became the organizers of the Back to the Brewfest 5K, which will begin at 11:30 a.m. and take runners through a scenic and challenging course.
The VIP hour, which sold out in 90 minutes, starts at 12 p.m. attracts a couple hundred people who will have a chance to get first dibs on samples. Those who attend will get a sample glass and a pint-sized glass as a keepsake. They will also receive a ticket for the VIP raffle for a chance to win prizes from breweries and local businesses. Those in the VIP also get special brews and will be treated to hors d’oeuvres by the Courthouse Restaurant of Newport. Music will be provided by a local duet, Bob and Shane.
The general admission kicks off at 1 p.m., and Brewfest Committee Chair Mike Dewey said this is the exciting part of the event when the area fills up with people who can chat about beer, life and everything in between. He said that this is not just a local event, but people have planned vacations around making the Claremont Brewfest a stop in their journey. Dewey said he has family coming from as far as Ireland, who actually adjusted their flights to be there for it. He has also heard of travelers coming from the Midwest and beyond.
“It’s kind of like a class reunion for everybody,” Dewey said. “People are in under the tent getting samples, but everywhere you look you’ll see people standing and talking with each other. One of the things that people talk about with this event is the social aspect, that they get to see people they may not have seen in some time.
Dewey explained that the original Claremont Brewfest was put on by Kipp Ryan and John Hall in the early 2010s. They were both craft beer fans, and they decided to put on the inaugural event that proved to be a huge undertaking. They contacted the Claremont Kiwanis Club to see if they could take it over, and in 2014 they put on the event for the first time. Dewey said it was an outstanding turnout and a great success.
“We had a lot of people turnout and it was a busy day, and the club had never done anything so intensely busy,” Dewey said. “But they all saw that it was a great opportunity for us to put on an event that is good for the community and raises money for children in the Sullivan County area.”
Kiwanis is all about raising money for children, and after bringing in “a decent amount of money,” the club decided to make this a yearly event. The event held an event in 2020 when the world was under the grasp of the pandemic, and while it was a bit similar, they held strong. Breweries donated items like glasses and sweatshirts, as well as much bigger prizes, to be able to put on an event that got prizes to a lot of people.
This year’s event is the first time where it is just small breweries, all hailing from New England. He said this coincides perfectly with the mantra of the festival: “Drink local.” Dewey said that it is a hit among brewers, and just the other day he was told by one that this is the best brewfest that he has been to.
This year there are 37 breweries, but they also encourage ciders and alternatives to craft beer. For those who don’t drink, and also to encourage having a designated driver, there are non-alcoholic options, as well.
Last serve will be at 4 p.m., and this is a competitive event for the brewers, as well as the runners. According to the brewfest website, this is a “ballot and trophy affair” with an objective to get people together for fun and beer tasting, but also raise money for children and the local community.
Dewey pointed out that this is an event that goes well beyond the confines of the Visitor Center Green, as people who come into the city use its stores and gas stations. It is an economic driver smack in the middle of one of the most beautiful times of year in the country.
“This is always the third weekend of September,” Dewey said. “It’s in a spot surrounded by vegetation in a nice little setting. It’s quiet and you won’t hear traffic noises. It’s just perfect for our event.”
This is one of the three major fundraisers throughout the year for Kiwanis, with the others being bell ringing around the holidays and a springtime online auction.
For more information log onto claremontbrewfest.com/.
