Located just 45 minutes Northwest of Atlanta, Suwanee, Georgia is a multi-award winning community that is ideal for your next getaway. With origins dating back to the Native Americans who originally settled the land, Suwannee was established and recognized by the United States Government in 1838. In 1871, the Southern Railroad laid track in the area and placed a depot right in Suwanee. This helped grow the town, but it wasn’t until nearly a century later with the advent of the Georgia highway system that the city began to gain notoriety and more residents. Today, Suwanee is a growing and vibrant community of over 16,000. It’s considered one of the top communities to live and raise a family in the United States (according to Money Magazine).
Suwanee is a picturesque and activity-filled destination that is perfect for your late winter/early spring vacation. This progressive community features friendly citizens, beautiful parks, and a fusion between old and modern amenities and attractions. You’ll find a good selection of boutique shops, unique restaurants and live entertainment to keep you occupied. The previously mentioned parks are well maintained and begging to be explored. Suwanee is also well known for its great community gatherings. A top event to check out in the late winter/early spring is the 21+ Suwanee American Craft Beer Festival.
Only entering into its third year, the Suwanee American Craft Beer Festival has established itself as one of the top events in the region. Thousands of people from the city, area, and the Southeast, make their way here for this great experience. Over one hundred breweries will be represented at the festival and will be featuring over 300 different beers to sample. You’ll also find a great selection of delicious foods to try as well as live entertainment, games and contests.. Gather your friends and get ready because the Suwanee American Craft Beer Festival is right around the corner. ResortsandLodges.com got the chance to interview Rachel Pillow, the Marketing Director for the Veugeler Design Group, to talk about the festival.
RAL: Tell me a little bit about the event.
RP: This is the sixth year of the Suwanee American Craft Beer Festival. This year we are expecting over 6,000 people in attendance. We do see a lot of couples and groups of friends at the festival, but everyone is over 21 years of age.
The Suwanee American Craft Beer Fest features over 300 craft beers from over 100 U.S. breweries. We have a large presence of local, Georgia breweries and even do a Georgia Brew Battle each year featuring 10 special beers created by 10 local breweries. Ticket-holders have access to unlimited beer samples, live entertainment, local vendors, games such as cornhole, contests and giveaways from our sponsors and vendors, delicious food and more!
RAL: Will there be any guest appearances at the festival?
RP: We’re excited to have Cousins Maine Lobster this year as a vendor. They got their notoriety and big break from being on Shark Tank. We usually have a few local Falcons or Braves players there as well. Plus, the Mayor of Suwanee is a big fan and makes an appearance.
RAL: What can attendees expect to find for local lodging?
RP: Our event is in Suwanee, which is about 30 miles north of Atlanta. There are definitely unique, mom and pop accommodations in surrounding areas, but the only Suwanee hotel that we run deals with is Comfort Inn & Suites. They offer a discount to anyone who mentions that they are attending Suwanee Beer Festival. We have also partnered with UBER to encourage safe rides and UBER is offering a free ride (up to $20 off) for first-time users with the promo code “rideSBF16".
RAL: What does this event mean to the community?
RP: This event is a big deal in our community. When we started six years ago, the only beer festivals in the area were all held within the city of Atlanta. Our festival has become known, across the State, as one of the most premier craft beer festivals in the Southeast. We do a lot to support the local community by showcasing local breweries, local vendors, and local businesses as sponsors.
RAL: Does the festival drive business to the local economy?
RP: Definitely! The restaurants and businesses around Suwanee Town Center Park have all told us that Suwanee Beer Fest is their best day of the entire year. Many local businesses provide free shuttle service to festival attendees and let people park in their parking lots. Last year, our presenting sponsor was The Fresh Market grocery store in Suwanee. As a sponsor of the event, they got the opportunity to be the first to sell several local Georgia beers in this market, and it drove tons of traffic to their store. They (like many of our vendors and sponsors) are committed to being involved in the Suwanee community and supporting local businesses. The winner of our 2015 Georgia Brew Battle was granted a huge display case in all seven of the metro Atlanta Fresh Market locations. The winner last year was Jekyll Brewing in Alpharetta, GA.
RAL: Does the festival support any causes in the community?
RP: This year we are supporting two local charities: Kingdom Kids and Cooper's Crew. Kingdom Kids grants wishes in Gwinnett and Forsyth Counties to children with terminal illnesses. Cooper’s Crew is a Suwanee-based organization that raises college scholarship funds for North Gwinnett High School students who have overcome unique hardships, as well as funds for Clear Cell Sarcoma and childhood cancer research.
RAL: Why should people come to the festival?
RP: We have won Best Festival in Gwinnett County for two years in a row now, and we’re sure will win again this year! We are committed to providing our festival attendees with a craft beer experience unlike any other. It isn’t just “drinking unlimited samples of over 300 beers”… although that is a definite perk. Festival attendees really get a sense of what it’s like to live and play in our community, and why the Georgia beer scene is booming!
For more information about the Suwanee American Craft Beer Festival, please visit their website.
Photo Courtsey of Karl Lamb