Store to hold beer-tasting benefit

Those with a palate for unique beers can sample several during a benefit Thursday at a Martinez organic grocery store.

//

Between 15 and 20 domestic, imported and microbrewed beers will be available from 7-9 p.m. at Earth Fare at 368 Furys Ferry Road. All proceeds will benefit the Savannah Riverkeeper, which is Earth Fare's "Friend of the Month."

"To me, Savannah Riverkeeper is such a great fit for this sort of thing," said Melanie Neal Smith, Earth Fare's marketing coordinator. "They're such a really good group of people, and they're so laid back."

The outdoor event will feature food and live music in a "picnic atmosphere." In addition to microbrewed beers, Smith said, organic and all-natural beers will be offered.

"We're going to have some tents out there," she said. "We're going to pop open some coolers for the beer."

Beers will include Sweetwater 420, Hummer and Blue; Rogue-Mocha Porter and Dead Guy Ale; Lambic, Kriek and Framboise; Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Wheat; Stella Artois; Boulder Beer; Dog Fish Head; and others.

"It's going to be a mixture of so many different things (and) so many unique, different kinds of beers," she said. "I'm always looking for something that's going to make a big splash in the community to get the word out for the organization and, of course, Earth Fare."

Earth Fare has held two wine-tasting events benefiting the Greater Augusta Arts Council and American Lung Association-Southeast Region.

All beers featured at the event will be available at the store.

Tickets cost $10 and should be bought in advance at Earth Fare or at www.savannahriverkeeper.org.