Bob von Seggern was having a grand time at his first-ever Brewed IN the Fort Craft Beer Festival at Fort Wayneapps Headwaters Park Saturday, talking to visitors about the hops he grows at his Columbia City farm.
His farm is called root 9, and von Seggern, originally a corn and soybean farmer, started growing hops after searching for a crop that would provide a greater return on investment. The 4-acre farm started operating in 2016, and now supplies hops to several Fort Wayne area breweries.
appThis is awesome,app von Seggern said of the festival, grinning. appWeappve got people coming by, weappre always talking. So many people donappt know what hop is.app
Valparaiso residents Mike and Cassie Riley attend Brewed IN the Fort regularly. A home-brewer, von Seggernapps table was particularly interesting, Mike Riley said, adding that he might be contacting root 9 for some hops in the future.
But the couple return to the festival each year because they enjoy the mix of old favorites and new experiences, Cassie Riley said, adding that she enjoys the festivalapps selection of wines and ciders, while Mike said he always has to stop by Bargersville, Indiana-based Tax Man Brewing Co.
The couple often makes the festival the centerpiece to a weekend getaway in Fort Wayne, she said.
appItapps nice to get away for a weekend,app she said. appWe rent a house on VRBO and just walk.app
Among their more memorable new experiences this year was a strawberry milkshake india pale ale, and a surprisingly good sour beer.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the festival, said Josh Volz, director of marketing and design for Mad Anthony Brewing Co., which hosts the event every year. The event started out in the Mad Anthonyapps parking lot and grew from there, eventually coming to feature brewers from across the state.
appYou get to know these brewers as kind of a family so itapps nice to see everybody in one spot,app Volz said, adding that itapps also not just all brewers this year.
The 2024 festival also featured wineries, distilleries, meaderies and cideries, Volz said. In all 35 vendors, including root 9, participated in this yearapps festival. There were about 800 presale tickets sold, Volz said. Between presale and tickets sold at the door, the festival expected to draw around 1,000 attendees Saturday afternoon, he added.
Brewers in each state or region have their own flair and traditions that make their beer unique, Volz said.
Indiana isnappt any different.
appIndiana has that real, homegrown blue collar real work approach to beer, bringing in really solid fundamental flavors,app he said. appYou have breweries doing the more traditional stuff, and then you have the other breweries doing really off the wall things too. I think itapps a really nice mix.app
