Craft beer lovers along the Eastern Shore have a date circled on their calendars this weekend as 99 Bottles of Beer on the Lawn returns to Southern Napa in Daphne. The annual festival, widely regarded as the only beer festival of its kind on the Eastern Shore, runs Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m.
Organizers say the event has grown steadily since it began, fueled by a rising local appetite for craft beer. Jim Cox of Southern Napa, which hosts the festival, said the crowd and the beer selection keep expanding each year as more people discover what small and independent breweries have to offer.
This year’s lineup includes two brewery debuts in South Alabama. Band of Brothers Brewing Co., a newcomer out of Tuscaloosa, will pour four beers exclusively on draft: Voodoo Mild, Monk on the Radio, White Widow IPA and Station One Saison. Because the brewery’s offerings aren’t yet available in bottles or cans locally, festivalgoers will have a rare chance to sample them on tap.
Also making its debut in the Lower Alabama market is Heretic Brewing Co., based in Fairfield, California. The brewery is led by Jamil Zainasheff, a well-known figure among homebrewers thanks to his books and podcasts on brewing technique. Heretic will bring three beers to the festival: Evil Cousin Double IPA, Petit Rouge and Chocolate Hazelnut Porter.
Beyond the out-of-state and out-of-town newcomers, the festival will also feature a trio of special collaborative brews from local media personalities working with Fairhope Brewing Company. Local 15 morning anchor Kelly Jones created KJ’s White Hot Chocolate Mocha Stout, 95KSJ Breakfast Club host Dan Brennan contributed Peachy’s Pale Ale, and FM Talk 1065’s Sean Sullivan will pour his Delta Rat IPA.
Festival organizers also rewarded early ticket buyers this year as an incentive to purchase in advance, a move Cox said was meant to recognize the people who commit to the event ahead of time rather than waiting to see how the weather looks.
Attendees can expect live music from Brett LaGrave throughout the afternoon, along with food from Will’s Farm Fresh Food Truck. A portion of the festival’s proceeds will benefit the Baldwin County Humane Society, a charity partner of Southern Napa since the shop opened in 2012.
The event is scheduled to go on rain or shine. Despite past years when weather threatened outdoor plans, organizers expressed confidence heading into the weekend that conditions would cooperate for what has become one of the Eastern Shore’s signature spring gatherings.