When the weather is just a bit too chilly for enjoying the Spring kickoff to Sweetwater Happy Hours, our favorite local brewery has concocted a new way to enjoy the “almost there” days of March.

The solution? It’s called Sweetwater Brew Your Cask Off and the name couldn’t do it more justice. Imagine the Sweetwater experience times 10,000 in the form of a beer festival where hundreds of Atlanta establishments (and amateurs I might add) submit their entries for a full blown beer “cask” competition.

What do the attendees get for the measly $35 entry fee? A small sample glass, unlimited access to all beer tastings over 4 hours and of course, the power to vote. The beer you’ll get here is literally one of a kind - because none of them are made elsewhere. While that can be a good and a bad thing (there’s only so much one can take of smokey suds and wait, is that pine tree I just tasted?), it doesn’t hurt to try them all. You already paid for it. My cohorts and I found the naming conventions quite entertaining and loved seeing what our favorite Atlanta bars had come up with. If you get sick of all the competitive attempts, go inside to fill up your sample glass with Sweetwater’s own brews - which flow like water just as they do normally. And certainly take the edge off any unfiltered bad taste in your mouth.

Location wise, the beer festival is held in the same location as the brewery but expands into the parking lot so that live bands can perform comfortably. This year, due to the rain showers, Sweetwater did a great job of encompassing the majority of walking paths outside. Also, food vendors are plenty to curb the appetite (think Ormsby’s, Mellow Mushroom and yes, I saw someone carrying Indian samosas around).

My one complaint? Word seems to have gotten out from last year, so the crowds entering, navigating and even filtering out towards the end were quite overwhelming. But to take the positive route, I was proud to see that Atlanta and Sweetwater still strongly support the art of craft beer. After all, that complex porter or IPA you may have tasted could make its way to a liquor store or a bar near you. Or maybe enter yourself next year if you’ve got the street cred?

Overall, a worthwhile addition to the year’s string of festivals, so set a reminder for next year!