Exeter Powder Keg Beer and Chili Fest 2023: What you need to know before you go
EXETER — The 11th annual Powder Keg Beer and Chili Festival is back this weekend, taking place along scenic Swasey Parkway on Saturday, Oct. 7, from noon to 4 p.m.
The largest beer festival in New England will feature beers, ciders and hard seltzers from local and international breweries. From Czar’s Brewery and Sawbelly Brewing in Exeter to Brouwerij St. Bernardus out of Belgium and Caledonian House Brewery from Scotland, visitors will get to sample unique beers from around the world.
The festival is underwritten by Northeast Credit Union and presented by the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce and Exeter Parks and Recreation.
“The Powder Keg Beer Festival is a great opportunity to highlight and support our community,” said Jen Wheeler, president of the Exeter Chamber. “We look forward to welcoming new and returning attendees to this year’s festival.”
The festival, which is family-friendly, includes unlimited beer and chili samples (while supply lasts) from vendors, entertainment by '90s alternative rock band Matty & The Penders, artisan tents, local food trucks, a kid’s zone and more.
A major change this year is the festival will not be broken up into two sessions like last year but instead there's one four-hour session.
“We did a survey last year, and everybody from both the vendor side and the participant side all wanted to go back to one session,” said Greg Bisson, director of Parks and Recreation. “It was more that people didn’t want to feel rushed and that vendors felt more comfortable serving people and that it created a nice zone for them to pace themselves.”
How much are tickets?
There are three different types of tickets visitors can purchase.
For $60, the VIP admission allows visitors to enter the festival an hour early at noon and includes a commemorative tasting cup for festival use. The general admission is $45, which grants entrance at 1 p.m. and also includes a commemorative tasting cup. For $10, the chili-only ticket is geared toward the designated driver or visitors aged 6 to 20.
Tickets are available online and will be $10 extra if purchased the day of the event until sold out. As of Thursday, Oct. 5, all 500 tickets for the VIP admission are sold out. General admission and chili-only tickets can still be purchased here.
What breweries will be in attendance?
Whether you are a fan of Lager, IPAs, Pilsner or Stout, chances are there will be a variety of each (and more) at the festival. From Concord Craft Brewing Company’s Märzen to Belgium-based Brouwerij St. Bernardus, known for its Abt 12, the Powder Keg Beer and Chili Festival will have more than 200 unlimited samples for visitors.
Other participating breweries include Deciduous Brewing Company, Hobbs Brewing Co., Whym Craft Pub & Brewery, Omnium Brewing, To Share Brewing Company, Northwoods Brewing Company, Blaze Brewing Co., Von Trapp Brewing, Samuel Adams, Founders Brewing Co., Jiant and more.
View the complete list here.
What restaurants are participating in the chili cook-off
Visitors will also get a chance to try out unlimited chili from nine different restaurants, each of which will be transporting 35 to 40 gallons of their unique chili to Swasey Parkway and will be vying for the $500 “People's Choice Award” prize for the best chili.
The participating restaurants are Omnium Brewery, Sawbelly Brewing, Stark Brewing Company, Sea Dog Brewing Company, Topwater Brewing Company, WHYM Craft Brew Pub & Brewery, Thirsty Moose Taphouse, Railpenny Tavern and Smuttynose Brewing Company.
What other food vendors will be at the festival?
From classic burgers from Lexie’s to Puerto Rican delicacies from Cafe El Camino, the festival will also offer a variety of food vendors for different palates. Other vendors include Chubb’s Fried Dough, Seacoast Pretzels and Stark Brewing Company Food Truck.
Food vendors are not included in the unlimited beer and chili samples.
Who will be selling their wares at the festival?
A number of artisan vendors will be selling their wares at the festival. From hot sauces made from locally grown peppers from Cousin Dean’s to handcrafted jewelry from Joy & James, the vendors showcased offer visitors unique, often homemade, products.
Other vendors include Dragonfly Artful Designs, Marc Fournier Art, Naked Hot Sauces, Pogo’s Peppers, Third Shift Fabrication, Things Drunk People Say and Tuck Life.
Who will be performing?
Fresh off their performance at the BrewFest in the Orchard a week earlier, Matty and the Penders, a '90s alternative rock band, will again provide the musical entertainment, featuring former Exeter police deputy chief Mike Munck on bass.
What time is the 9th annual Duck Race?
What started as a tiny race of rubber ducks on the Exeter River during Fall Fest has become a race of people-sized ducks down Swasey Parkway just outside of the Powder Keg Beer and Chili Festival.
The duck race works just like a raffle system, where visitors can purchase rubber ducks to be entered into the race. The first prize will be $1,007 in cash, $250 for second place, and 50 tickets for the Chase the Ace Drawing on Oct. 10 for third place.
A single duck can be purchased for $5, a Quack Pack (5 ducks) for $20, a Quaker’s Dozen (15 ducks) for $50, a Flock of Ducks (35 ducks) for $100 and a Raft of Ducks (100 ducks) for $250. The race will take place at 3 p.m. Proceeds go to the Community Children’s Fund.
You can purchase the rubber ducks here.
Is there a rain date?
The Powder Keg Beer & Chili Festival is a rain or shine event.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Exeter Powder Keg Beer and Chili Fest 2023: What you need to know
