What could make a Bacon & Brewfest better? More bacon. More brews. More room to
move.
Also for the event’s second year, more entertainment.
“Last year, we just kind of relied on (95.3 The Bear’s) radio station music,” said Leslee
Howard, live event manager for Town Square Media of Tuscaloosa, which puts on the
B&B. “We’re ramping up our live entertainment with (the University of Alabama)
Department of Theatre and Dance doing a few songs and Kenny Heard, who’s a jack-ofall-
trades, playing a little bit of everything.”
Performances will come from UA’s Summertide production of “Ring of Fire,” the Johnny
Cash musical, some faculty and staff, and 19 new musical-theater students, said Jamie
Schor, marketing and public relations manager for the department.
“It’s a way to show the amazing talent here,” Schor said. “It’s a way of putting your efforts
in a whole different light for people, more community-engaged, more down-home.”
Last year’s inaugural B&B had 13 breweries; for 2015, there are 20, plus a gluten-free
tent.
“We went with more bacon and more beer; everybody’s going to be happier if there’s
more,” Howard said. “Of those 20, each is bringing anywhere from two to four beers.
“As far as the bacon dishes, I think we added about five more from last year.”
It’s also moving from last year’s slot at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater to the open field at
Tuscaloosa Regional Airport, before you get to the terminal building. Last year’s event
drew about 500; Howard said current ticket sales indicate the crowd should grow to
about 700 to 900 this year.
“We’d love to see it grow bigger and bigger, maybe make it a two-day thing eventually,
add more bands, more elements, maybe home brewers and home cooks,” she said. “The
sky’s kinda the limit as long as the community continues to support it.”
All attendees get a Bacon & Brewfest mug with which to sample. Breweries involved
include Tuscaloosa’s Druid City Brewing Company, Black Warrior Brewing Company and
Band of Brothers Brewing Co.; Birmingham’s Cahaba and Ghost Train; Huntsville’s
Rocket Republic and The Brew Stooges; Fairhope’s Fairhope Brewing Company;
Gadsden’s Back Forty; various regional breweries and a handful from lands far away,
including Seattle’s Red Hook, San Diego’s Ballast Point, Chicago’s Goose Island, St. Louis’
Shock Top and Lakewood, N.Y.’s Southern Tier.
Food vendors on hand include Tuscaloosa’s Brothers Express Pizza Cafe, the Avenue Pub,
Sweet Home Food Bar, Another Broken Egg, Mellow Mushroom, T-Town Cafe, Anthony’s
Italian Kitchen, Innisfree Irish Pub, Glory Bound Gyro Co. and Kango Jack’s SnowBalls;
Northport’s Southern Ale House, the Levee Bar & Grill, Billy’s Sports Grill and Clark’s
Sports Pub and Grille; Duncanville’s Houndstooth Bar-B-Q; and Buhl’s Taste-Buds.
Tickets are $35 or $10 for designated driver/bacon-only tickets for those who don’t wish
to sample the beers.