CANTON, Miss.–Many more Mississippians are digging craft beer these days and now it’s being used as a tool to help recruit business. Canton’s first Craft Beer Festival is set for Saturday at 4 p.m. on Canton’s historic square. Not only will local businesses be hosting you, if you come, but the business community will be hosting people who want to locate a business in the city.
Chip Matthews operated Mama Mia restaurant, and organized the festival.
“We’ve got 35 businesses coming to town to look at renting or buying a building, so we decided we’d come up with a way to get people here to look at them, so we decided to throw a beer festival.”
Matthews said over 60 breweries will be represented, with over 100 beers you can sample. He said that includes all the breweries in Mississippi.
Drinking craft beer, for some, is like tasting fine wine. Matthews said it’s not like popping open a Bud.
“Ever since the legislature passed new laws for the beer, it has become the groundswell. At one time there were only 30 or 40 flavors in Mississippi. Now there’s like 180 flavors.”
He said one thing that’s so attractive about craft beer is how many flavors there are.
“It gives you variety and variety is the spice of life.”
He said part of the festival will be a home brew contest, put together in connection with Raise Your Pints.
You’ll be able to sample beer in businesses around the square and a ticket will get you and arm band and all the beer you want. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.
