The 11th annual Rising Pint Brewfest took place at the Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford on May 14. Brands from more than 50 craft breweries were on tap for guests, along with eats from popular food truck vendors including Big Bad Wolf, Chompers, The Big Cheese, Hop Häus, Randy’s Wooster Street Pizza Shop, Big Enzo’s BBQ and Plan B Burger Bar. Bands Booyah and Live Bait played live music during the event’s two sessions. The sold-out event was created by longtime friends Brett Hollander, Hartford Distributors, and Heather Schold, Greystone Event Management, out of a mutual love of craft beer, music and giving back. Proceeds benefited The Reach Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by Mark and Wendy Wilson in 2000 that helps children in need through programs, advocacy and more, including its annual “Shop with a Cop” holiday toy efforts.
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- The 11th annual Rising Pint Brewfest took place at the Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford on May 14.
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- Tim DeGennaro, City Steam Brewery.
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- Christopher Sanzeni and Kevin Arronson, Broken Symmetry Gastro Brewery.
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- Joe Berube, Wormtown Brewery.
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- Fabiola Gonzalez and Andrew Russell, Heineken 0.0 and Dos Equis Ranch Water Hard Seltzer.
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- Michael Vieira and Michael Beaudoin, Thimble Island Brewing Company.
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- Morgan Guerra and James Bunker, Still Hill Brewery.
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- Jess Rice and Tim Phelps, Two Roads Brewing Company.
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- Colin Johnson, The Boston Beer Company, highlighting Dogfish Head Distilling Co. Culinary Crafted Cocktails in Strawberry & Honeyberry Vodka Lemonade and Blueberry Shrub Vodka Soda flavors.
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- Kelly Jones, Keenan Pilon and Nick Bush, New England Brewing Co.
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- Sarah O’Donnell, Sales Manager, Zero Gravity Craft Brewery.
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- John Abercrombie, Dan Nieves, Sean Juliano and Carly Lasnar, Founders Brewing Co.
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- Rebecca Ryder and Bryan Tuller, Thomas Hooker Brewery.
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- James Onofrio, Jon Kot, Lauren Lyngholm and Tyler Jones, Black Hog Brewing Co.
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- Jhmyle Crocker, Diana Reyes and Tom Landon, Cool Cat Wine Spritzers.
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- Samantha D’Agostino, Fishers Island Lemonade.
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- Brienna Marino and Jamie Moraniec, Firefly Hollow Brewing Co.
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- Sam Schulten and Art Williams, Fifth State Distillery, highlighting Fifth State Barrel Strength Whiskey and Fifth State CT Maple Flavored Whiskey.
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- Tim Raymond and Ed Cavallaro, Captain Lawrence Brewing Company.
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- Joe Orsini and Liz Castro, Lawson’s Finest Liquids.
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- Beth Pisarsky, Goose Island Beer Company.
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- Kayla Porricelli, The Boston Beer Company, highlighting Samuel Adams Wicked Hazy New England IPA and Samuel Adams Summer Ale.
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- Brenden Conlin, Stony Creek Brewery, highlighting Stony Creek Brewery Save the Sound Light Lager.
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- Geoff Hansen, Steve Turpak and Mark Imbriglio, Long Trail Brewing Co.
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- Larry Golia and Mike Ligon, Counter Weight Brewing.
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- Megan Owen and Jon Ladd, Back East Brewing.
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- Live Bait – A Tribute to Phish – performing during the Rising Pint Brewfest.
