Riverside Craft Beer Fest, Jax: From Hazy to Dark to Clear

New beer release from a fest first-timer:
Blume Bier Lager from Bog Brewing, St. Augustine
(all photos: Linda Johnson)

February 26, 2019: That headline could be a weather forecast (and, actually, that's how the day went), but in the end, the 6th Annual Riverside Craft Beer Fest presented by Riverside Rotary in Jacksonville was all about the beer forecast ... and charity! 

The Riverside Craft Beer Fest took place on Saturday, February 23, once again at the Riverside Arts Market under the Fuller-Warren Bridge. Skies were hazy and overcast while crews set up for the late afternoon event, with a 3pm start for the VIP entry. Behind the scenes, tents and tables went up, ice buckets were filled, beer delivered, jockey boxes prepped, and brewery swag was displayed before the clock ticked to 3pm.

Colorful brewery tents lined up in rows and set-up before the fest

Happy and eager volunteers checked in and received their new bright orange event shirts. 

Anyone thirsty? Almost time for a beer! 

2019 Riverside Craft Beer Festival, Jacksonville: Map Your Course February 23

Entry at the 2018 Riverside Craft Beer Festival
under the Bridge (photo: Linda Johnson)

January 11, 2018: The 6th Annual Riverside Craft Beer Festival presented by Riverside Rotary returns to the Riverside Arts Market under the Fuller-Warren Bridge in Jacksonville on Saturday, February 23, 2019. For craft beer enthusiasts, the "RCBF" has become a mainstay on the beerfest calendar and has experienced growth and an evolution of sorts since it began (and, yes, that's based on personal experience as a volunteer and "beergeek in attendance" each year!).

J'Ville on Jacksonville: Engine 15 J'Ville Lager
on the Jacksonville skyline, as seen from
Riverside Craft Beer Fest 2018 (photo: Linda Johnson)

Get ready to map your course through six geographical sections and sample beers from Florida, regional, national and international breweries. Last year, the RCBF introduced a new layout with breweries grouped according to geographical location. That format made the journey through the beer easy to manage and remember. Found a beer that was particularly noteworthy? No problem to find it again! The regional layout will return this year, said Callie Hugo, RCBF Committee Member and Liaison for Riverside Rotary and Community Hospice & Palliative Care in an interview. Of course, a number of local Jacksonville breweries will have a strong presence in the Florida section, along with many other favorite breweries across the state. In addition, attendees will enjoy beers from breweries located in the Southeast, Northeast, Midwest, West Coast and International. The current brewery list includes just under 100 breweries. 

Riverside Craft Beer Fest: Picture Perfect in Downtown Jacksonville

J'Ville on Jacksonville: Engine 15 Brewing J'Ville Lager with
Downtown Jacksonville in the background at Riverside Craft Beer Fest

With the downtown Jacksonville skyline looming in the background, the Fuller-Warren Bridge providing shade along the St. Johns River, and the amazing blue sky overhead, beers flowed on a picture-perfect day at the Riverside Arts Market for the Fifth Annual Riverside Craft Beer Festival, presented by Rotary Club of Riverside, on Saturday, February 24.* 


Planning for this year's fest began around 50 weeks ago, said Fest Chair Chris Croft in an earlier interview with this site. Once again, fest proceeds benefit Community Peds Care, a local pediatric hospice program. 

Reminder: Riverside Craft Beer Fest Brings Florida Beerfest Season to Jax: Two New Breweries Offer Sneak Peeks

2017 Riverside Craft Beer Fest
(photo by Linda Johnson)

February 22, 2018:  Last year Main & Six Brewing and Hyperion Brewing were the new kids on the river, being the up-and-coming Jax breweries at the time. Both opened during 2017, and this time around, they'll be pouring beer as operating breweries. On Saturday, Legacy Ale Works and Fishweir Brewing, with plans to open in 2018, take their places as breweries-in-the-works offering sneak peeks of their beers. 

It's the first major beerfest of the year in Jax. 
(Repost from January 10, 2018):

The 5th Annual Riverside Craft Beer Festival, presented by Rotary Club of Riverside (Jacksonville), is set for its return under the Fuller-Warren Bridge at Riverside Arts Market on February 24. 

With over 70 breweries participating, and more than 150 different craft beers flowing, attendees will find just about any type of beer. Just add in music and food trucks, along with a great charitable cause, and it's all fun on the river!

Flowing on the River: Riverside Craft Beer Festival Returns to Jacksonville, February 24

2017 Riverside Craft Beer Fest
(photo by Linda Johnson)

[Ed. Note: 2/3/2018: Article has been edited to add new brewery-in-planning Fishweir Brewing below.]
January 10, 2018:  The 5th Annual Riverside Craft Beer Festival, presented by Rotary Club of Riverside (Jacksonville), is set for its return under the Fuller-Warren Bridge at Riverside Arts Market on February 24. 

With over 70 breweries participating, and more than 150 different craft beers flowing, attendees will find just about any type of beer. Just add in music and food trucks, along with a great charitable cause, and it's all fun on the river!

Beer Flowed Along the River at Riverside Craft Beer Fest, Jax

Jacksonville's Riverside Arts Market hosted the Fourth Annual Riverside Craft Beer Festival last Saturday, and it was a spectacular day for beer and music under the Fuller-Warren Bridge. The family- and dog-friendly event took place under a crisp blue sky with the St. Johns River and downtown Jax providing a magnificent backdrop. Once again, the Riverside Rotary Club presented the beer fest, with proceeds benefitting Community Peds Care and Riverside Rotary Foundation (see preview story).

Riverside Craft Beer Fest: Beer Over the River and Under the Bridge, Saturday, February 25

Just a friendly reminder to everyone in the North Florida area: the Fourth Annual Riverside Craft Beer Festival presented by Rotary Club of Riverside returns to the Riverside Arts Market in Jacksonville under the Fuller-Warren Bridge on Saturday, February 25. See my earlier preview story for the lowdown on the Who, What, Where, When, How and Why, which is stuff you probably already know by now. (But, I don't think we really need to ask "why" -- it's a beerfest, for one thing, and it's for a good cause, after all!) General fest hours are 4-7pm, with a one-hour early VIP entry beginning at 3pm. Tickets (unlimited beer sampling) are still available online, and a limited number of additional VIP tickets have recently been released. Otherwise, tickets may be purchased at the gate on Saturday.

A Tale of Two Weekends...And, Two Florida Beerfests

If you follow this blog and/or related social media sites, you know that I have a penchant for craft beer (yeah, it's true). And, what better way to get to know new breweries and new beers and enjoy already-known favorites than by attending beerfests! At the beginning of 2016, I posted a get-your-tastebuds-ready story about "Beerfest Season" in Florida. Well, here's the end of February, we're two months in, and it's been quite the whirlwind of beerfests! I've been to a few already (see prior posts). (You can also take a look at the "What Did You Miss" page on this site for a recap; and, ahem, plan better for next year.)