Craft Beverage Festival
Celebrate craft beverage producers in 2025 at our Craft Beverage Festival Saturday, Nov. 8 at Grafton Winery The Vineyards in Grafton. The Craft Beverage Festival is the perfect time to discover the craftsmanship that goes in to each and every signature pour. This year, local restaurants will showcase great dishes, alongside local makers. This event highlights the best the area has to offer in the craft beverage -- and food -- world. So grab your friends -- and a drink -- and have a great time!
Purchase Tickets Here!
Craft Beverage Festival, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, at Grafton Winery, the Vineyards from Noon to 4 p.m.!
Tickets are available now. Click here to secure your place.
Tickets are $30 in advance for those who want to enjoy the full experience. Designated Driver tickets are $15 per person.
Tickets at the door will be $35 per person.
Photos & Flowers
Make this year's Craft Beverage Fest one to remember!
Get a photo at the NEW Instagrammable moment photo booth at the festival with you and your friends. While getting your selfie, be sure to pick up a micro-bouquet of flowers from PersnicketybyJenFarley.
Jen will also have Persnickety swag and a stand alone flower bar for additional purchases!
Craft Beverage Participants
What you can expect to sample:
Schlafly: 3 samples including Pumpkin, Oktoberfest, Kolsch. Non Alcoholic: Pale Ale
Grafton Winery: 6 samples including Raspberry Seltzer, Peach Bubbly, Dry Vignoles, Vignoles, Vidal Blanc and Holiday Crapple.
Old Bakery Beer Company: 5 samples including Octoberfest, Carrot Cake Brown Ale, Spooky Scary (imperial stout with peanut butter), Sunshower cocktail, Herbarium Sparkling Teas (Lavender, Lemongrass and Ginger Roselle).
Earth Candy: 12 total samples: Autumn Spice Nectar; Strawberry Fields Nectar; Sweet & Hot Pepper Nectar; Lemon-Lavendar-Thyme Nectar; Spiced Orange Nectar; Spiced Oranges; Picalilly; Giardiniera; Pickled Grape Tomatoes; Candied Jalapenos; Pickled Beets; Preserved Lemons.
Old Herald Brewery & Distillery: 3 to 4 samples including Horseradish Vodka; Smoke Suit Whiskey (cherry wood smoke bourbon); barrel aged beers.
Bluestem Vodka: 2 samples including Bluestem Vodka and Bluestem Gin
Historic Red Rooster Brew Werks: 4 samples including Lakehouse Lager - classic American lager; Merica Stout - American-style stout; Chavah Wheat - blood orange and raspberry wheat beer; Odin's EYE-PA - West Coast IPA.
Eckert's Country Store & Farm: 2 samples including two hard cider flavors -- apple and peach
Duke Bakery: 4 samples including Root Beer, Koko-Kreme, Dukola and Strawberry.
Local Restaurant Participants
Food pairings include:
Blackbird Bakery: Savory Scones (bleu cheese, caramelized onions and bacon) and Cretzel Bites (homemade crosissant dough pretzel and topped with coarse pretzel salt) with beer cheese sauce made from Old Bakery Beer lager.
Bella Milano*: Cannoli Dip with Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips; Italian Sushi
Grafton Winery: Bruschetta & Meat; Cheese Skewers
Mother Road Fudge & Candy Shop: Freeze dried candy; Fudge
Bluff City Grill*: Crab Stew; White Chicken Chili
Byrdie's Food Truck at FLOCK Food Truck Park & Bar*: Fly South (Braised Brisket, jalapeno, red onion smashed avocado, sriracha mayo, cilantro crema & cotija cheese); Fly East (Grilled Chicken, spring mix, cilantro, tomato, radish, red onion, feta cheese & curry aioli)
Eckert's Country Store & Farm* - Apple Cider Donuts
* New to the Festival!
Confluence Craft Competition
Sip local and show your support!
The Confluence Cocktail & Mocktail Contest, hosted by Earth Candy and the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau, showcases creative drinks crafted with local ingredients. Try these exciting and creative drinks at participating restaurants throughout October. Then vote for your favorites online.
The top three contenders will face off LIVE at the Craft Beverage Festival at Grafton Winery The Vineyards on Nov. 8. Come for the drinks, stay for the fun. The winning pour will receive a basket of local ingredients and a blog on the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau website.
Sign Up: Aug. 15-Sept. 1 HERE
Open Voting: Oct. 1 - 21. VOTE HERE
Top 3 at Craft Beverage Fest: Saturday, Nov. 8. Buy your tickets HERE
If you have questions, please reach out to Josh at Earth Candy.
And the Nominees Are ...
Check out these creative and fun cocktails vying for the title of Confluence Cocktail/Mocktail Champ!
Visit each business, try these cocktail nominees and then vote for your favorite! The top three vote getters will vie for top honors in person during the Craft Beverage Festival!
Old Bakery Beer: SunShower Rum Fizz -- created using Ardent Spirits Silver Rum, Ginger Lemongrass Honey Syrup, Aquafaba and Lemon.
Peel Wood Fired Pizza: Island Spice -- crafted with Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva, Captain Morgan, Orange Juice, Autumn Spice Nectar, Oz Lime Juice, Maple Syrup and Orange Bitters.
1818 Chophouse: Spice Merchant -- a blend of Michter's Rye, Lemongrass, Cinnamon, Clove, Fresh Lime, House-Made Vanilla Tincture.
Bella Milano: Autumn Exposition Recipe -- created with Reposado Tequila, Grand Marnier, Earth Candy Spiced Orange Nectar, Stalk of Lemongrass, orange slices, Ginger Beer, Dried Oranges and Candied Ginger on top!
The Speakeasy in Granite City: Ladle by Ladle -- crafted with Roasted Tomato and Rosemary Soup Base, Parmesan Vodka, shaken and Garnished with Rosemary Olive Oil and a Rosemary Sprig.