New Hampshire beer festivals are about more than just craft beer — they’re a celebration of community, the great outdoors and embracing the season. From the Canadian border to southern New Hampshire and the coast and mountains in between, these gatherings are where families, friends and beer enthusiasts come together to create memories against the backdrop of New Hampshire’s stunning scenery.
In preparation for New Hampshire Magazine’s annual October issue (aka the Beer Issue), photographer and writer Kendal Bush visited many of New Hampshire’s beer festivals in 2023 to find out what truly makes them so special.
Cindy Smith’s crew coordinate their favorite beer-themed t-shirts and pretzel necklaces for their trip to the festival.
Gate City Brewfest
On a late Saturday in August, Nashua’s historic Holman Stadium transforms into a bustling hub of craft beer during the Gate City Brew Fest. The carnival-like festival attracts about 2,000 guests and close to 50 craft breweries, each showcasing their best brews to a crowd eager to learn and sample new and favorite flavors. Guests of all ages come to enjoy the beverages, vendors, and live music. In addition to the annual corn hole tournament, there is a bouncy house, face-painting, and games for children.
Enjoying all the festival has to offer, Cindy Smith appreciates that she can try a variety of new beers without having to commit to buying an entire pack.
“We did an Uber today so we could relax, have fun, be safe, and celebrate my brother’s birthday,” Cindy said at last year’s brew fest as her friend Ton, clad in a “Beer runs are my Cardio” T-shirt, interjected, “This is my favorite festival!”
While many folks come to enjoy all the flavors of the festival, responsibility with alcohol isn’t overlooked with the majority of festival-goers. The growing selection of nonalcoholic beers and nonalcoholic hop-infused beverages are a welcome option for non-drinkers and designated drivers like Caitlyn Mastero-Marino, a nearby resident and five-year veteran of the festival. Her husband, Tyler, gave some insight into why they keep coming back, “The attraction for a beer festival is the endless amount of beers that are offered. It’s never-ending. There’s no shortage of beer here; you go from one to the next,” he said. “It’s a great time.”
Entrepreneur Alex Adamowski has made a business of selling his pretzel necklaces at festivals around New England.
For the avid beer-drinking festival-goer, snacks are a must, and it seems as if the pretzel necklace is by far the most popular wearable snack accessory worn by imbibing beer aficionados. Simple in design, the pretzel necklace provides a generous serving of a handy snack strung up on a ribbon like beads on a string. The bite-size pretzels also act as a bit of a palate cleanser to reset the taste buds for the next hoppy beverage sample.
Entrepreneur Alex Adamowski has made a business of selling the fair favorites and travels throughout New England with his father, Ken, who loves returning to the festival at Holman Stadium every year.
“This is one of the best,” Ken said. “It’s consistent, and the people are very welcoming.”
Ken and his wife helped Alex start Phygit Foods over five years ago as a way to help their son have a meaningful job work experience. Alex, the purveyor of pretzels, makes all of the necklaces himself, and when he isn’t busy working, he spends time training as a powerlifter for the Special Olympics.