Fresh Fest is being refreshed.
The nation’s first Black beer bash is now Barrel & Flow Fest.
The rebranded party will take place Sept. 10-12 at SouthSide Works with live art, music, DJs, podcasts, brewing and cooking tutorials and insight from beer-savvy speakers from around the world. There also will be an online component called Digi Flow, so folks can raise a glass in the safety and comfort of their own homes. Tickets go on sale April 1. No fooling!
“We are enthusiastically rebranding as Barrel & Flow to fully embrace and uplift artists, musicians, chefs and brewers,” Co-founder Day Bracey said in a press release. “We are more than just beer and want to continue to utilize the brewing industry to connect opportunity, accessibility and artistry in ways that empower the Black community.”
Billed as one of the most inclusive beer fests in the country, Barrel & Flow taps into Black culture by pairing breweries with Black-owned businesses and artists, who collaborate on everything from brews and beer labels to food pairings.
Applications are being accepted online for vendors, brewers, collaborators and performers. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
The Steel City’s craft beer scene is becoming more of a melting pot, thanks to this event — which is heading into its fourth year — and to organizations such as the Pittsburgh Brewery and Taproom Diversity Council. The group formed last October to give underrepresented groups a voice in the industry.
