Fonthill Castle, operated by the Bucks County Historical Society, is once again hosting its annual Fonthill Castle Beer Fest fundraising event in-person on Saturday, Aug. 14, from 2 to 5 p.m., in Doylestown.
The Beer Fest kicks off with a VIP reception at 1 p.m. Doors open for all guests at 2 p.m.
The afternoon welcomes beer enthusiasts over the age of 21 back to the spacious outdoor grounds of the castle, providing plenty of room for attendees to mingle outside and enjoy the one-of-a-kind parklike setting while sampling a variety of local craft brews.
This year’s event features an expanded footprint around the castle grounds, with an enhanced VIP experience ticket.
Outdoor guest tents provided by Bucks Mont Party Rentals will house a variety of local breweries, including Bucks County Brewery, Evil Genius Beer Company, Free Will Brewing Co., Geronimo Brewing, Great Barn Brewery, Mad Princes Brewing, Newtown Brewing Company, Red Lion Brewery and Workhorse Brewing Co., with more breweries being added everyday.
Doylestown’s Chambers 19 Bistro & Bar will serve a menu of light bites as event attendees enjoy the musical talents of Billy & Miles from Where’s Pete Band.
“We are so happy to be able to host this wonderful fundraising event for Fonthill Castle again this year,” said Heather Cevasco, chair of the board of trustees of the Bucks County Historical Society. “It has never been more important to come out and support local cultural institutions and what better way to do so than at an outdoor beer festival on the grounds of a castle in the heart of Bucks County?”
A commemorative beer-tasting glass for VIP and General Admission tickets will serve as the perfect keepsake for attendees who will be supporting Fonthill Castle’s preservation and educational initiatives through the purchase of their tickets.
Tickets for the event are $150 for VIP; $70 General Admission; $60 for BCHS Member General Admission; and $25 for Designated Drivers.
VIP guests enjoy exclusive access to Fonthill Castle’s historic Terrace Pavilion, as well as the VIP Tasting Tent with seating areas created by Bucks County Gardens and the modern, air-conditioned Fonthill Castle Welcome Center. Each VIP guest receives an exclusively-curated selection of specialty beers to sample, additional selections of catered cuisine from Chambers 19 Bistro & Bar, and sweet treats from Pierre’s Chocolates.
This year’s VIP tasting experience is sponsored by B&B Beverages. It features a mix of classic old-world European styles from renowned breweries alongside a selection of innovative new-world beers from across America. VIP guests can experience the delicate nuance of traditional styles such as German Dunkleweisse or Belgian Gueuze, as well as new-age American craft concoctions, including Milkshake IPAs, Smoothie Sours and Pastry Stouts.
“B&B Beverages is proud to support Fonthill Castle, along with craft beer culture, the arts and education in our community,” said Andy Jarin, of B&B Beverages. “We are really looking forward to this year’s Fonthill Castle Beer Fest.”
Hydration stations will be located throughout the event with plenty of water and a selection of non-alcoholic beverages provided by Simply Fresh by McCaffrey’s.
Bucks County Transport is providing free DART bus services to all attendees who show their event wristband. The 3-stop loop between Fonthill Castle and the center of Doylestown allows attendees to enjoy the festival, as well as shopping and dining options. The DART bus runs every 20 minutes between 3:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. and the stops are Fonthill Castle, the corner of S. Main Street and W. State Street (in front of Starbucks), and the corner of W. State Street and Hamilton Street.
There will be free parking on the grounds of Fonthill Castle. All drivers, including Uber/Lyft/taxis/personal vehicles, will need to use the Swamp Road/Route 313 entrance to the property. Fonthill Castle is located at 525 E. Court Street in Doylestown.
Valid ID is required by law. No one under 21 will be admitted to the event. No outside alcoholic beverages are permitted. Designated Driver ticket holders are not permitted to consume any alcohol while at the event.
Tickets are available at mercermuseum.org/beerfest
