Great Arizona Beer Competition February 17, 2011

CRAFT BEER COMPETITION AND SAMPLING EVENT KICKS OFF
23rd ANNUAL GREAT ARIZONA BEER FESTIVAL
Opportunity for craft beer fans to observe judging, meet brewers and sample competing brews

WHAT:
Beer Competition & Sampling Event (Round 1) for the 23rd Annual Great Arizona Beer Festival presented by azcentral.com

WHEN:
Friday, February 18, 2011, check www.azbeer.com for start time and other details.

WHERE:
Taste of Tops
403 W University Dr
Tempe, Ariz., 85281

EVENT INFO:
This year, the Great Arizona Beer Festival presented by azcentral.com is conducting a nationally sanctioned beer competition. Organized and managed by DRAFT Magazine, the official beer magazine of the 23rd Annual Great Arizona Beer Festival, the event features nationally certified BJCP judges (www.bjcp.org), who will sample and rate competing craft beers in the festival’s certified competition. A finalist round of judging will take place on Feb. 25th at Sun Devil Liquors, which will also be open to the public to attend. Tickets for either event are $10 each, and include 6 beer samples, and a chance to win a variety of prizes. Guests must be 21 and over to attend.

All competing beers will be available to attendees for sampling at the 23rd Annual Great Arizona Beer Festival presented by azcentral.com on March 5, 2011 at Tempe Beach Park from 2 to 6 p.m.

Dedicated to the enjoyment of fine craft and micro-brewed beers, the Great Arizona Beer Festival is the largest beer festival in the southwest, both in terms of number of brewers attending and selection of craft beers on tap, with over 200 brews available for sampling. Now in its 23rd year, the festival also holds the distinction of being the longest-running beer festival in Arizona.

The festival also features a variety of great food, live entertainment and games. This year’s musical entertainment showcases local favorites The Crown Kings.

The VIP Experience presented by Phoenix Magazine, features casino-style gaming including blackjack, poker, roulette and craps, with opportunities to win and bid on auction/raffle prizes
using casino “winnings.” All proceeds benefit Sun Sounds of Arizona. Additional VIP perks include an exclusive lounge area, catered food, access to award-winning brewers, VIP seating with shade, separate restrooms, free event t-shirt and gift bag.

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Great Arizona Beer Festival

Designated Drivers enjoy access to the private Designated Driver Pavilion, featuring non-alcoholic beverages, food and entertainment specifically for those who support our beer-drinkers with a safe ride home.

Casino Arizona is the Safe Ride Home Sponsor of the festival, ensuring opportunities for everyone to make it home safely, whether by taxi, designated driver or the nearby Valley METRO Light Rail. KDKB 93.3 FM is the official FM Radio Station, DRAFT magazine is the official beer judge, Alphagraphics is the official printer, GoMobile is the official mobile web provider, and accommodations are provided by Fiesta Resort and Conference Center.

The Great Arizona Beer Festival is also the only major beer festival in Arizona that is entirely a charitable event. All of the funds raised go to support the work of Sun Sounds of Arizona, which provides blind and other print-impaired listeners throughout the state access to newspapers, magazines and best-selling books by broadcasting these materials daily via radio, phone and internet, with the help of 500 volunteer readers. This is the primary fundraising event for Sun Sounds and is made possible through the donations of participating brewers, sponsors and the work of a network of volunteers.

TICKETS:
Tickets for the beer judging events on Feb. 18th and 25th are $10 each, and include up to 6 beer samples and opportunities to win a variety of prizes. Tickets for the 23rd Annual Great Arizona Beer Festival on March 5 are $40 in advance and $50 at the gate for general admission, including up to 24 different beer samples, or $80 in advance/$90 at the gate for VIP admission. VIP tickets include entry into the “VIP Experience,” including all the above listed amenities and VIP’s may enter an hour before the festival starts. Designated drivers receive entry to the festival for only $20 (or $30 in VIP), and have a special reserved lounge area, featuring complimentary soft drinks and a variety of amenities. All guests must be 21 or over to enter.

Tickets are available on the festival website at www.azbeer.com/tempe and also on Facebook and at participating pubs and retail outlets.

PUBLIC
CONTACT:
For more information visit www.azbeer.com/tempe or call 480-774-8300.

Follow the Great Arizona Beer Festival on Twitter at GreatAZBeerFest, on Facebook, MySpace, Digg and on our YouTube channel GreatAZBeerFestival.