COOPERSTOWN, NY — This August, beer fans can break out their long-forgotten mixed tapes, windbreakers, and “Pulp Fiction” references for their pilgrimage to Cooperstown. That’s because “Belgium Comes to Cooperstown,” Brewery Ommegang’s beer, music, food, and all-things-fun fest is returning August 7 and 8 with a “90s” theme. The annual festival offers beer enthusiasts the opportunity to taste hard-to-find Belgian ales from across the pond and Belgian-style ales from all over North America – and this year a chance to do so dressed in Umbros and a No Fear tee-shirt and singing along to Vanilla Ice and the Spice Girls. Tickets go on sale to the public April 1.
This year’s 90s theme will pervade the festival while more than 100 breweries will be on hand pouring more than 300 unique beers for the 3,000 attendees. In addition to great beer, BCTC promises gourmet food vendors, live music, on-site camping, fireworks, and much more.
“We are very excited about bringing the 90s back to life at BCTC this year, especially since so many of our BCTC goers were in their teens and twenties that decade ,” said Tara Aitchison, Retails and Events Manager at Brewery Ommegang. “We’re hoping to see fans rocking 90s apparel and boyband hair while their enjoying all the beer and fun that BCTC has to offer.”
Festivities begin on Friday at 6pm with a multi-course beer-pairing dinner for VIP ticket holders. The festival grounds open at noon on Saturday for patrons holding camping tickets. Tasting begins at 2:30 pm for VIP ticket holders and 3 pm for general admission. Tasting ends at 7 pm. There will be live music from 3 pm until midnight. On Sunday morning, breakfast will be served from 8 am until noon. The brewery will be closed to the public on Friday and Saturday, August 7 and 8, but will reopen for regular service on Sunday, August 9.
VIP tickets cost $275 and include the five-course beer pairing dinner, two nights of camping on the brewery grounds, and additional access to the beer tasting on Saturday afternoon. General admission tickets for Saturday’s tasting event cost $110 and general admission with camping on Saturday night costs $125.
Tickets go on sale April 1 at noon at Ommegang.com and Etix.com and are available until they sell out. Please note that VIP tickets have sold out in under a minute for the last four years and historically, all tickets sell out within a day of the event going on sale. For more information, email events@ommegang.com or call (607) 544-1800 ext. 813.
About:
Brewery Ommegang opened in 1997 to craft-brew fine Belgian-style ales. Ommegang brews seven ales year-round, as well as an extensive and imaginative range of seasonal and specialty ales. The beers have won a national following by connoisseurs of fine beer and are distributed in 43 states and internationally. Ommegang is located on a 136-acre farmstead in Cooperstown, New York and offers free daily tours and inexpensive tastings as well as a 100-seat café, a well-stocked brewery store, and an annual calendar of public events. Ommegang is open every day of the year except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. For more information, contact info@ommegang.com, call 1-800-544-1809, or visit www.ommegang.com. Ommegang is a member of the Duvel family of fine beers. Follow Ommegang on Twitter: @BreweryOmmegang, Facebook.com/Ommegang, and Instagram: @BreweryOmmegang