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Craft beer, wine festival helps solve winter blues

Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski Robyn Isgan of Bedford samples KingView Mead during the Taste of the Alleghenies Kegs ‘N’ Corks at the Jaffa Shrine Center on Friday evening.

The first annual “Kegs ‘N’ Corks” craft beer and wine festival at the Jaffa Shrine was sold out, with 250 ticket buyers sampling products from Pennsylvania breweries, wineries and distilleries.

The official tasting list included about 20 vendors and a check list of more than 60 beers, wines and even mead and vodka.

The event, sponsored by Nittany Beverage, also included food and live music. It was all part of the Mirror’s Taste of the Alleghenies weekend filled with culinary events.

Recent Penn State Altoona graduate Dylan Leazier said he was having fun meeting people at the Friday night “Kegs ‘N’ Corks” event.

“It’s an awesome showcase of the different types of beers and wines, and it’s a great atmosphere,” he said.

Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski Stephani Smithbower of Cresson samples a vintage wine from Briar Valley Vineyard & Winery in Bedford during the Taste of the Alleghenies Kegs ‘N’ Corks at the Jaffa Shrine Center on Friday.

Michele Skarada typically has been to the Jaffa Shrine with her kids to see the circus, she said. But there were no kids around on Friday night at the Jaffa. Scott Whetstine of Tyrone beside her chimed in: “I think it’s a great atmosphere, and the music is great,” he said.

The event was a cure for the winter doldrums, said many of the people attending.

“It’s fun. It’s good to have something like this in the middle of the winter. It’s nice to get out and see people,” Brenda Glunt of Duncansville said.

The vendors hailed from Altoona, State College, DuBois, Belleville, Bedford, Pittsburgh and other Pennsylvania cities.

“It think it’s a great opportunity for people to come together during the winter and try different beers and wines from all these places,” Jessica Hancock of Altoona said.

State College craft beer wholesaler Nittany Beverage gave out samples of Sierra Nevada beers, a brand that owner Tom Katancik said was “our horse in Blair County.”

“It’s a blast here,” he said at the Jaffa.

Railroad City Brewing Company owner Matt Winrick danced along with the live music as he filled

up samples of “Doldrums IPA.”

“Having this indoor event in the winter is really nice,” he said.

Sarah and Jeff Barr took the opportunity to attend the event as a date night. Sarah enjoyed a variety of drinks that were new to her.

“I’m getting into trying things that I probably never would have before,” Sarah said.

Event organizers saw the first Kegs ‘N’ Corks event as an obvious success.

The $30 tickets to the event sold out in the first week of sales, so more were added — and those sold out too, said Brittany Funcheon, specialist with the Mirror.

Mirror Staff Writer Russ O’Reilly is at 946-7435.

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