Loyalhanna Brewfest returns with added vendor variety, 2 admission levels

Jun. 21—Loyalhanna Watershed Association's brewfest is back.

Dubbed Loyalhanna Brewfest 2.1, the event is set 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the association farm off West Main Street, just outside Ligonier Borough.

This is the second year for the association to present the evening of food, live music and tastings of beverages from area breweries and distilleries, after skipping last year because of restrictions related to the covid-19 pandemic. The 2019 event attracted more than 300 people.

"We have a lot of new vendors this year," said Susan Huba, executive director of the watershed association, with more than 20 slated to participate. "The goal of this is not just to raise funds for us, but to also highlight some of the new local breweries and distilleries.

"We had some really great feedback from the first one. The diversity of it is a big change. At the first event we had mainly breweries. This one seems to be equally balanced between breweries and distilleries."

New vendors include Bella Terra Vineyards, Blackbird Distillery, Rhinegeist Brewery and Tattiebogle CiderWorks.

Hard cider featured

Located in Mt. Pleasant Township, Tattiebogle produces hard cider using apple varieties, mostly from its own orchard, that predate Prohibition, according to owner Curt Henry.

Adopting the Gaelic folk name for scarecrow, in light of his family's Scottish roots, Henry founded the cidery in 2o17, reintroducing a beverage that was a staple during an earlier era in Western Pennsylvania.

Henry said he is the only producer making hard cider in Westmoreland, Fayette and Somerset counties.

Depending on the variety, Henry ages his cider from two months to a year. He adds carbonation and berries, spices and even hops for flavor, mostly sourced from Pennsylvania.

"People seem to like the cider," he said. "It's lighter than beer."

In addition to a blueberry-flavored cider, Henry offers A Ghost of Mango, combining tastes of mango and chili pepper with hard cider. "It's sweet up front with just a little bit of warmth after," he said.

At the Brewfest, he'll have several varieties on tap and in 64-ounce growlers.

Beverage purveyors returning to the event include Stateside Vodka, Invisible Man Brewing, Sobel's Obscure Brewery, Helltown Brewing and Great Lakes Brewing.

Festival foods include wood-fired pizza from Rosemary's Pizza of Derry along with baby back ribs, a barbecue sampler and pulled pork or chicken sandwiches from Big Black Grill.

Music trio entertains

Music will be provided by Pittsburgh-based Right Turn Clyde, a trio whose contemporary, alternative and classic rock covers are driven by an upright bass, instead of drums, and often include three male voices in harmony.

The group has gained attention with its name, which refers to rhythm guitarist Clyde Callicott of Mt. Lebanon as well as a line from the Clint Eastwood comedy film, "Any Which Way But Loose." Its energetic performances have earned it solid bookings for the rest of the year, Callicott said.

At the Brewfest, he said, "We're going to come out swinging with 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' and fly from that point on. We take ownership of our covers, and we have a lot of fun."

The event will be held rain or shine, with attendance limited to those 21 or older. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets for seating in the farm's lower field, where the Ligonier Country Market will be held Saturday morning.

All attendees who pay the $25 admission will receive unlimited beverage tastings and a commemorative pilsner glass courtesy of event sponsor Donna Tidwell of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services.

New this year, a reduced $10 admission offers access to the entertainment and food only.

Tickets are available online only at loyalhannabrewfest21.eventbrite.com. Brewfest T-shirts displaying the event's goal to "Save Water, Drink Beer" will be available for purchase.

All event proceeds benefit the Loyalhanna Watershed Association's outreach and recreation programming.

Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jeff at 724-836-6622, jhimler@triblive.com or via Twitter .