Leadership Jefferson City’s annual Battle of the Brews is a much-anticipated fundraising event that pits commercial and home brewers against one another in the ultimate sudsy smackdown. Who will take the top spot? You be the judge—literally.
By Natalie-Elizabeth Tan
Since its inception nine years ago, Battle of the Brews has become a must-attend event for beer enthusiasts around Missouri. The 2024 edition is set to take place on Aug. 24 at the Jaycees Cole County Fairgrounds in Jefferson City.
This year’s event, organized by Leadership Jefferson City, will raise funds for two local organizations: the Special Learning Center and The Sneaker Project. The Special Learning Center provides education and therapy for children with developmental needs, while The Sneaker Project supports children in need with new footwear.
What began as a small gathering of local brewers has grown significantly, now featuring around 20 commercial and home brewers. These brewers mostly hail from the mid-Missouri area, although some of them are from as far away as Springfield.
“Once they start participating in it, they like to return and be repeat brewers for us,” says Justin Parker, Marketing and Sponsorship Committee Chair of the Jefferson City Leadership Class of 2024. “We actually have several that have competed for several years, and we have one home brewer who has won Best Home Brew for two or three years in a row.”
At the event, attendees spend the day visiting tents set up by brewers to showcase their concoctions. Sample all the beers you please, then vote for your favorites across categories such as Best Home Brew and Most Unique Brew. To pair with your pint, food trucks from a variety of vendors including Pizza Kwik, Cajun Catfish House, and Lehmen BBQ will be serving up delish grub to keep everyone well-fed.
There also will be plenty of entertainment—in the form of live music as well as attendee antics. Murphy’s Ford and The Havin Brothers will perform, while attendees have the chance to participate in a stein holding competition in which participants see who can hold out a filled stein for the longest period of time. (Even if you just watch, won’t it be entertaining to see competitors struggle to keep their stein up for as long as possible?)
By attending Battle of the Brews, you’re not just enjoying great beer and entertainment—you’re also making a difference. Every sip and vote helps support the Special Learning Center and The Sneaker Project, two incredible organizations dedicated to helping children in our community.
All photos courtesy of Leadership Jefferson City
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