COLUMBUS, Ohio– Hundreds of people packed into Rhinegeist Brewery for Rare Beer Fest, where forty different breweries from across the United States were able to showcase their beer.

“Every time we put on an event like this we’re like, man, I hope people come. We did sell out both sessions this year, we’re super excited about it,” says Chris Shields, Rhinegiest Director of Education.

The rare beer fest is in its third year, and Shields said it’s always one of their favorite events because they get a chance to give back.

“Being able to show some love back to the community that’s been so supportive to us and use our connection and our contacts to bring in some of these breweries that are a little bit harder to get a little rarer. Bring in some special beers, and not only have those in the building here for us but to share with everybody that comes out. ”

In 2018 Ohio ranked fourth in the nation in craft beer production, and nearly one point four million barrels of beer were produced in the buckeye state. People in Ohio love craft beer.

“Over half the craft breweries in the U.S. are less than four years old, which is kind of wild to think. But it just means there’s so much excitement, so many new things happening, really everybody is embracing this movement, this community nature. Every neighborhood is starting to get its own brewery, and that’s amazing.”

For smaller breweries, like Dayton product Branch and Bone Artisan Ales, the festival is a great chance to get some exposure.

“We don’t send a lot of beer down to Cincinnati, so this is a great opportunity to kind of rub elbows, and see some other people who have kind of inspired us for what we do for our company. And it exposes us to a group of people that really don’t have an opportunity to see our beer because it doesn’t really leave Dayton proper very much, except for events like this,” says Trevor Sutherland, Director of Sales for Branch and Bone Ales in Dayton.

Sutherland said, being around many other successful breweries help them grow in the long run.

“It’s that rising tide lifts all ships kind of thing. If you go to someone that you really respect, and they give you some high marks and really like what you’re doing, you can kind of put that as a feather in your cap, if you will. And you can take their feedback. People that have been doing it a lot longer than a year and a half have a lot of insight.

The common thought is that beer competitors don’t like each other, but shields said that’s not the case at all. Often they lean on each other in times of need.

“I’m just as likely to be sitting behind the bar at another one of the great breweries in town as I am here. Other breweries in town are our first phone call when a piece of equipment breaks down, or a delivery is maybe late. Everybody kind of has each other’s backs, and that’s why it’s really fun to be a part of this industry. We get to be excited about what everybody else is doing. And showcasing that at an event like this is really fun. It lets the general public who doesn’t really see as much of that collaboration and cooperation on a day-to-day basis; it allows them to get a little glimpse of that and see us having fun.

The Rare Beer Fest, a shining example of the craft beer community coming together to support each other.