Your Guide to Augusta’s Craft Beer Festival Scene

The augusta ga beer festival scene has exploded in recent years, changing Augusta into a craft beer lover’s paradise. Augusta now hosts multiple beer festivals throughout the year, each offering unique experiences from intimate brewery tastings to massive outdoor celebrations.

Quick Festival Overview:

• Augusta Craft Beer Festival – May 2025 at SRP Park (30+ breweries, 100+ beers)
• Augusta Beerfest – August 2025 at Bell Auditorium (100+ selections)
• Ticket Range – $21-$101 depending on experience level
• Age Requirement – 21+ only for sampling, designated driver tickets available

Augusta’s beer festival growth mirrors the city’s craft brewing renaissance. When Savannah River Brewing Company opened in 2017, it became Augusta’s first brewery in nearly 90 years. Now the area boasts multiple breweries and what organizers call “the largest outdoor beer festival in the CSRA.”

The festivals benefit local causes too. The Augusta Craft Beer Festival supports the Augusta Sports Council, while venues like SRP Park provide a unique ballpark atmosphere that sets these events apart from typical festival grounds.

Whether you’re a craft beer newcomer or a hop head seeking rare pours, Augusta’s festival scene offers something for everyone – from $21 designated driver tickets to $101 VIP experiences with exclusive samples and early entry.

2025 Augusta GA Beer Festival Lineup & Dates

Augusta’s augusta ga beer festival scene is heating up in 2025. From spring kickoffs to late summer celebrations, there’s something brewing for every craft beer lover.

The festival calendar starts strong with the Augusta Craft Beer Festival on April 27, 2025, running from 1-5 PM at SRP Park. This spring celebration brings together over 30 breweries in what organizers call “the largest outdoor beer festival in the CSRA.”

Come August, the 11th Annual Augusta Beerfest takes over Bell Auditorium on August 23, 2025, from 3-6 PM. This indoor festival offers over 100 beer selections with climate-controlled comfort – perfect for beating the Georgia summer heat.

Why the Augusta GA Beer Festival at SRP Park Is a Must-Sip

The Augusta Craft Beer Festival at SRP Park combines craft beer culture with the unique atmosphere of a professional ballpark. You’re sampling exceptional brews while overlooking the same field where the Augusta GreenJackets play ball.

What makes this festival special is the 30+ brewery lineup featuring over 100 different beers. Each brewery sends representatives who are passionate about their craft, turning every pour into a mini-education session.

The SRP Park venue brings stadium-quality facilities to the festival experience – professional restrooms, ample seating areas, and infrastructure that handles large crowds comfortably.

Tickets & Perks for the Augusta GA Beer Festival

General Admission runs $56 in advance (or $61 at the gate) and includes your souvenir tasting glass, unlimited sampling, and access to all the live music and games.

The VIP experience at $101 includes early entry at noon – a full hour before the crowds arrive. Those five exclusive beer samples aren’t available to anyone else, and your $25 food voucher plus limited-edition festival T-shirt make it a complete package.

Designated driver friends get tickets for just $21 advance ($26 day-of) and include food vouchers and bottomless sodas.

Pro tip: VIP tickets disappear fast, so grab yours early if you want that premium experience.

Augusta Craft Beer Festival Snapshot

Circle April 27, 2025 on your calendar and plan for an afternoon at SRP Park in North Augusta, SC. The 1-5 PM timeframe gives you four solid hours to explore every brewery booth, catch the live music, and soak up that ballpark atmosphere.

This festival supports the Augusta Sports Council, which works to bring major sporting events to our region. Ready to secure your spot? Head over to the Augusta Craft Beer Festival website for tickets and updates.

Augusta Beerfest at Bell Auditorium

The 11th Annual Augusta Beerfest brings a different flavor to Augusta’s beer scene. On August 23, 2025, Bell Auditorium transforms into craft beer heaven from 3-6 PM (VIP folks get in at 2 PM).

This indoor festival showcases over 100 beers in a climate-controlled environment with professional concert venue lighting and sound. The organizers provide designated-driver perks including free tickets available at the SRP Box Office, plus military discounts for active-duty service members.

Check out all the details at the 11th Annual Augusta Beerfest page.

Ticket Types, Pricing Hacks & VIP Secrets

Here’s our insider guide to getting the most value from your augusta ga beer festival experience.

The biggest money-saving tip? Early bird tickets save you $5-10 per person. Military folks get discounts at select events with valid ID, and following festival social media sometimes reveals flash sales.

General Admission tickets ($46-$61) include unlimited samples from 30+ breweries, your souvenir tasting glass, plus access to live music and lawn games.

VIP tickets ($101) get you early entry at noon, five exclusive beer pours not available to general admission, a $25 food voucher, and a limited-edition festival T-shirt. Perfect for serious beer enthusiasts.

Designated Driver tickets ($21-$26) include food vouchers, bottomless soda, and full access to entertainment – minus the tasting glass.

After the festivals, many folks head to places like JB’s Tap Yard at Tip Top Taps to continue the craft beer conversation. For more pairing ideas, check out our guide on beer and food near me.

Early Bird vs Day-of Pricing

Early bird pricing isn’t just about saving money – it’s about securing your spot. The augusta ga beer festival VIP experiences regularly sell out weeks in advance.

Buy tickets online to skip day-of price increases and potential sellouts. Mobile tickets move faster than box office lines, but screenshot them as backup since cell service gets spotty with festival crowds.

What the VIP Experience Really Includes

Early entry at noon means first access to limited releases before they run out. The five exclusive pours often include experimental beers you won’t find anywhere else. Your $25 food voucher works at most vendors, and the collectible T-shirts are high-quality keepsakes.

VIP tickets make sense for serious craft beer enthusiasts who want rare pours and the full experience. If you’re casual about beer variety, general admission offers excellent value with plenty of sampling opportunities.

Beyond the Pours: Music, Games & Ballpark Atmosphere

Augusta’s beer festivals create complete entertainment experiences that go far beyond just sampling great craft beer. The organizers understand that the best augusta ga beer festival memories happen when amazing brews meet live music, friendly competition, and that special community vibe.

The live music lineup features local and regional bands that keep the energy flowing throughout each event. At SRP Park, you’ll enjoy professional ballpark sound systems, while Bell Auditorium offers concert-quality acoustics.

Between music sets, you’ll find cornhole tournaments and brewery trivia contests. SRP Park’s ballpark atmosphere truly sets these festivals apart – you’re sampling hoppy IPAs while gazing across a professional baseball diamond, with stadium seating available and covered areas providing shade.

Family Policies & 21+ Rules

All Augusta beer festivals are 21+ events for anyone planning to sample beer, with clear ID checkpoints at entry and wristbands that identify your ticket type.

Designated driver tickets come with real benefits – food vouchers, unlimited soft drinks and water, plus full access to all music and entertainment. This creates a safe environment where friend groups can enjoy the festival together, regardless of who’s driving home.

Special Features to Bookmark

Each brewery brings a representative who’s genuinely excited to educate attendees about their brewing techniques and ingredient choices. The Augusta Craft Beer Festival benefits the Augusta Sports Council, supporting local economic development. Many festivals also include charity raffles and fundraising activities.

These events serve as important networking hubs for the local craft beer community, often sparking collaborations and new brewing projects.

Logistics: Parking, Transport & Brewery Participation

Getting to Augusta’s beer festivals should be the easy part of your day.

For SRP Park festivals, the ballpark area offers multiple parking decks within easy walking distance, plus convenient Riverside Village garages. There’s free shuttle service from select locations and clearly marked rideshare zones for Uber and Lyft pickups.

Bell Auditorium events put you in downtown Augusta with several downtown parking decks nearby, plus street parking. Many downtown hotels are within walking distance – perfect for weekend trips.

Our biggest tip: plan your ride home before your first sip. Rideshare prices surge during festival hours, so splitting a larger ride or designated driver often works out cheaper and more reliable.

For updates on transportation and other festival news, check our News & Events page.

How Breweries & Vendors Can Get Involved

The augusta ga beer festival scene is always looking for great breweries and food vendors. Breweries typically need to apply 2-3 months ahead of each festival. The organizers require each brewery to send a representative to educate festival-goers about their craft.

The marketing boost these festivals provide is significant. Between social media promotion, festival websites, and word-of-mouth from engaged beer enthusiasts, participating breweries often see lasting benefits.

Food vendors find these events rewarding because craft beer fans tend to be adventurous eaters too. The Augusta Craft Beer Festival now regularly features 30+ breweries and often sells out, creating excellent exposure opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions about Augusta Beer Fests

We hear these questions all the time at JB’s Tap Yard at Tip Top Taps, so let’s address the most common concerns about Augusta’s beer festivals.

What’s included with my tasting wristband?

Your general admission wristband includes unlimited sampling from all participating breweries (typically 30+ breweries offering 100+ beer selections), a souvenir tasting glass, access to live music and games, and entry to all festival areas during operating hours.

VIP wristbands add early entry (usually one hour before general admission), exclusive beer samples not available to general attendees, food/merchandise vouchers, and collectible festival merchandise.

Is the festival cash-less or card-friendly?

Most Augusta beer festivals operate with a mix of payment options. Your admission ticket covers all beer sampling, but you’ll need payment for:

• Food vendors (most accept cards and cash)
• Merchandise booths
• Additional beverages for designated drivers
• Parking fees at some locations

We recommend bringing both cash and cards, as some smaller vendors may prefer cash while others are card-only.

Where can I view the full brewery list?

Brewery lineups are typically announced 4-6 weeks before each festival on the official websites and social media channels. The lists often include:

• Local Augusta-area breweries
• Regional Georgia and South Carolina breweries
• Select national craft breweries
• Special guest breweries featuring limited releases

Follow the festival social media accounts for real-time updates, as brewery lineups can change due to scheduling or availability issues.

Additional Common Questions:

Weather Policies: Most festivals are rain-or-shine events. SRP Park offers some covered areas, while Bell Auditorium is fully indoor.

Re-entry: Generally not permitted once you leave the festival grounds.

Food Restrictions: Outside food typically not allowed, but designated driver tickets often include food vouchers.

Parking Duration: Plan for 4-6 hours total including arrival, festival time, and departure.

Conclusion

Augusta’s craft beer scene has transformed from “Beer Purgatory” into something special. Today’s augusta ga beer festival events showcase incredible change – bringing together community spirit, amazing craft beer, and genuine Southern hospitality.

Whether you choose the spring Augusta Craft Beer Festival at SRP Park with its unique ballpark atmosphere, or the climate-controlled comfort of Augusta Beerfest at Bell Auditorium, you’re experiencing something special. These festivals support local causes like the Augusta Sports Council and celebrate how far our city’s craft culture has evolved.

At JB’s Tap Yard at Tip Top Taps, we see how these festivals strengthen Augusta’s beer community. Our backyard-style taproom on Broad Street becomes a natural gathering spot for festival-goers who want to continue the conversation. You can bring your own food, enjoy our rotating selection of craft beers from around the world, and share stories about which brewery booth had the best surprise.

The growth has been remarkable. Festival attendance keeps climbing, more breweries participate each year, and the VIP experiences are becoming truly special events. When you buy a ticket, you’re not just getting access to 100+ beer samples – you’re investing in Augusta’s continued craft beer renaissance.

For year-round craft beer exploration beyond festival season, we’d love to welcome you to JB’s Tap Yard. And when you’re planning your craft beer trips around Augusta, our guide to Craft Beer Close To Me can help you find even more local gems.

The hoppy days are definitely ahead – we’ll see you at the festivals!