Tap-In with Vintage Estate
BOARDMAN - Phill and Sandy Reda, owners of Vintage Estate Wine & Beer, say they hope that The Big Tap-In will be the largest craft beer festival between Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
Tickets are selling fast for the Saturday Event at Shepherd Event Center, 7469 South Ave., formerly Sam's Club.
The Redas will have owned Vintage Estate for two years come October. The store is home to more than 800 beers and 1,000 wines. Vintage Estate also has selections of single malt scotch, mead and craft beers on tap in a tasting lounge that also serves much-raved-about flatbread pizza.
What Vintage Estate doesn't have is televisions.
"We're going to keep it that way," Sandy Reda says. "It promotes camaraderie."
She describes the atmosphere of Vintage Estate as "very friendly."
The Redas say they're taking the spirit of Vintage Estate to The Big Tap-In.
"The core of the event is to support craft breweries - period," Phill Reda says. "They are putting their heart and soul into this and that's what we're about."
Sandy Reda says they got the idea for The Big Tap-In while attending the Steel City Big Pour in Pittsburgh. She says they thought, "We could do this." They began planning the event in October.
The Big Tap-In is also for a good cause. Money raised at the event will benefit the Hands on Volunteer Network of the Valley.
"When you give people a chance to come together, they do - and that's what I love about Youngstown," Phill Reda says.
The festival will host more than 40 breweries from around the globe. Breweries participate include Bear Republic, Cloverdale, Cali.; Bluegrass Brewing, Louisville, Ky.; Brew Kettle, Cleveland; Brewdog, Scotland; Buckeye, Lakewood; Dundee, Rochester, Ny.; Franziskaner, Germany; Great Lakes, Cleveland; Indigo, Cleveland; Leininkugal, Chippewa Falls, Wisc.; Magic Hat, Burlington, Va.; Ohio Brewing, Akron; Ommegang, Rochester, Ny.; Pyramid, Seattle; Rogue, Newport, Ore.; Rust Belt, Youngstown; Thirsty Dog, Akron; Spaten, Germany; Straub, St. Mary's, Pa.; Troegs, Harrisburg, Pa.; Victory, Downingtown, Pa. and more.
"The area was aching for something like this," Phill Reda says.
The Redas say not only will the breweries be represented, they say that many of the brewers will be in attendance to talk about their beers. The breweries will provide tastes of more than 100 different beers.
In addition to the to beer, The Big Tap-In will also host local food vendors like Aladdin's, Fun Flavored Fudge, Great Harvest Bread Co., Springfield Grille, Quaker Steak & Lube, The Youngstown Club, Coney Island, Brudders Wood Fire Grille & Bar, Stone Bridge Grille & Tavern, Steel Trolley Diner and The Royal Oaks.
Entertainment at The Big Tap-In includes Tod Cutshaw, Djembe Drummers, Larry Shankman's Band and the Al-Ray Polka Combo.
The Artists of the Rust Belt will also be at The Big Tap-In. Sandy Reda says they expect more than 50 Rust Belt Artists to exhibit and sell their wares.
On top of the entertainment, Sandy Reda says there will also be a home brew demonstration, teaching festival-goers how to make their own beer.
The Redas say the VIP session for The Big Tap-In sold out in two to three weeks. They also say it is a possibility that tickets will sell out before doors open at the event. Tickets for the general session from 2:30 to 6 p.m. are available for purchase on the Web site for the Big Tap-In or in cash at Vintage Estate.
Beer, food and entertainment is included in the $40 ticket price. The Redas say they are limiting the number of tickets to "make sure everyone has a great time." They say limiting the number of people in attendance will help give the event a high quality.
DD4Hire will be available at The Big Tap-In and nearby hotels Red Roof Inn and Fairfield Inn will offer attendees a special rate.
"We picked Shepherd because geographically it's an easy trip from Cleveland, Pittsburgh and geographically, there's like eight hotels within walking distance," Phill Reda says.
Sandy Reda says if The Big Tap-In goes well this year, they plan on doing it again next year.
Comments
Oh man, I hope I can go. It's amazing to see how far Vintage Estates has come. I really enjoy my time there, AND THE SELECTION!!!!! I usually only drink Lambic there, and they have a great variety.
I already have my ticket! This is going to be so fun! i love the vikings blood mead. (it is very powerful) and tastes like delicious beautiful bee juice!!!!!
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