Get craft beer, hot chicken at Taste of the South

People don’t drink craft beer to get hammered. They drink it because craft beer is by its very nature unique and interesting. It’s to be sipped and sampled; not chugged and guzzled.

Beer lovers will be able to sample lagers, stouts, porters, pilsners and IPAs from more than 35 craft breweries from around the South at Just Tap’d’s second annual Taste of the South Craft Beer and Food Festival in downtown Macon on Saturday afternoon.

“The brewery a craft beer comes from is a micro-brewery, which means they only produce a certain amount of barrels every year,” said Kaitlynn Jones, who works at Just Tap’d and is festival director. “If you can keep the quantity down, the beer is much better. It’s more flavorful, and it’s much more sought after because it’s harder to get.”

Each brewery will offer four varieties, two in Rosa Parks Square and two just across the street inside Just Tap’d. The festival is free to all ages, and tasting tickets for visitors ages 21 and older start at $35. The tasting tickets include a free beer mug and unlimited 4-ounce tasting pours.

True beer enthusiasts can purchase a $55 VIP tasting ticket for early access to the festival and exclusive access to rare beers from four breweries.

Visitors can wash down all that beer with Nashville-style hot chicken tenders by Robinson Home Chef Kevin McCauley.

“Hot chicken and craft beers have just taken off and pair really well together,” Jones said. “They are delicious, but they are super hot — so if you’re afraid of those peppers, it’s probably not your thing.”

Gourmet popsicles from King of Pops out of Atlanta will cool down the taste buds, and Just Tap’d also will be serving boiled peanuts and pulled pork sliders.

Visitors can work off calories at a corn hole tournament and with live rock and blues music from Chip Holton and Dirty Blonde.

A portion of the festival’s proceeds will go to Folds of Honor Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides educational support to spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled soldiers.

Jones said veterans’ issues are important to Just Tap’d.

“We are a veteran-owned business,” Jones said. “Jeff Cressen, who owns (Just Tap’d) is in the military stationed at Robins Air Force Base. We support the military and Folds of Honor reached out to us.”

Pre-sale tickets have more than doubled from the same time last year, and Jones said more festival attendees is good for all of downtown.

“People in the city and the surrounding counties have a great time,” Jones said. “And my job at Just Tap’d is to host those festivals and events and have more people come downtown. While they are here they might just walk down the street and see a business they might have never been to before.”

If visitors miss any of the festival’s craft beers, they can join the Just Tap’d after party from 6-10 p.m., which will include more live music from Holton on the patio.

This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 5:28 PM with the headline "Get craft beer, hot chicken at Taste of the South."