Jacksonville Breweries Collaborate for Springfield Neighborhood Sesquicentennial in 2019

January 5, 2019: Jacksonville's oldest existing neighborhood celebrates is Sesquicentennial in 2019, and what better way to ring in the year than by brewing a special beer!

In commemoration of Springfield's milestone achievement as a community, the Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council (SPAR) will host special events throughout the year. With two breweries already dotting the landscape along Main Street, and a third on the way very soon, it only seemed fitting that the occasion called for its own beer. 


On January 4, Springfield breweries Main & Six Brewing, Hyperion Brewing, and soon-to-open Strings Sports Brewery teamed up with Aardwolf Brewing and Intuition Brewing to brew the "SesQ Saison," a Belgian style Brett Saison with an effervescent and complex flavor profile with citrus and spice, SPAR said in a statement. Aardwolf Brewing hosted the brew session. 

Breweries collaborate at Aardwolf Brewing for Sesquicentennial beer.
(photo: SPAR Council)

"Springfield is Jacksonville's original neighborhood, and we're looking forward to honoring that with this beer," said Kelly Rich, SPAR Executive Director. "We have a wonderful craft brewery scene in Jacksonville, and this beer embodies the collaborative spirit that I love about our urban core neighborhoods. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with Champion Brands and our local breweries on this anniversary beer." 

David Rigdon, Chain Sales Manager of Champion Brands, was on hand for the brewing activities, and posed the question of what might be the "best way to share this story of a century and a half of culture" with the city of Jacksonville. His answer: "over a pint of great beer collaborated by their local breweries, of course!" Rigdon added, "Springfield is a great community that has been an integral part of North Florida for the last 150 years and continues to thrive." 

The beer will be featured at a release party at Crispy's Springfield Gallery, 1735 N. Main St., on February 6 20 (edited 1/15/2019), from 6-8pm. It will also be available at "pop-up events" throughout Northeast Florida during the year. 

Springfield 150 Banners (photo: SPAR Council)

One of the additional ways SPAR is promoting Springfield is through the banner program along Main Street. The banners are available for sponsorship at $70 each. Following the Sesquicentennial, donors will be able to keep the banners. 

SPAR's mission is to "ensure Historic Springfield is a preferred place to live and do business by leading programs that drive the preservation, revitalization, and balanced growth of our community." The Council has "facilitated positive change" in the historic district since 1974. One of the most celebrated events in Jacksonville is PorchFest, which takes place in Springfield in early November of each year. 

The participating breweries in the Sesquicentennial beer collaboration are:
Main & Six Brewing Company, which celebrated its one-year anniversary in November 2018, 1636 N. Main St.; Hyperion Brewing Company, 1740 N. Main St.; Strings Sports Brewery, soon to open at 1850 N. Main St., in a 1938 building originally used as a service station; Intuition Ale Works, 929 E. Bay St.; and Aardwolf Brewing, 1461 Hendricks Ave., in the San Marco area. 

Congratulations to Springfield on 150 years. And, in case you didn't "do the math," Springfield was established in 1869. 

Hey, what a story! Be on the lookout for more events and celebrations around the Springfield area during 2019. What's that about partying like it's 1869? Or, 150 years old? Cheers to Springfield and the collaboration of Jacksonville breweries. 

Til next time,

Linda
Linda Johnson, Certified Cicerone®
www.brewnymph.com


(Springfield 150 graphic by SPAR Council)

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