'Folks will have a GREAT time at this festival'

While walking by Donkey Coffee recently, I had the chance to talk to Brandon Thompson, a longtime key organizer of Ohio Brew Week.

We talked about Ohio’s longest running — the nation’s longest too — brew festival and which local beer was best when the topic of conversation turned to the volunteers who make it all happen. Without the volunteers, the taps for the festival’s success would run dry as quickly as a beer keg after a long hot day.

Thompson suggested that the Athens News connect with Stephanie Hayes, who has been volunteering six to seven years for OBW. At Brew Fest, Hayes and her friend Lisa Heinz host a Tuesday night crafting night at West End Ciderhouse.

“I help set up for the Brew BQ on Friday and I pour beer on Saturday,” Hayes said.

Hayes said she volunteers for several reasons.

“I love beer.”“I have been taking the week of OBW off work for almost 10 years now so why not volunteer?”“It’s one of those festivals that bring a ton of visitors to Athens so we get to show off our lovely corner of the state.”“It’s really hot during the festival and the more volunteers there are, the faster and easier some of this work goes.”

Hayes’ “day job” is being a shipping clerk at StewMac — that’s the cool building beside Miller’s Chicken on the West Side. StewMac is the world’s largest e-tailer of specialty tools and parts to customers active in the repair, modification and construction of guitars and similar fretted musical instruments.

“I’m required to be able to lift at least 50 pounds at my job, so helping to put up the big tent at the Brew BQ in the middle of a July day isn’t that much of a stretch for me,” she said.

Every hero has an origin back story, whether it is being bitten by a radioactive spider or being blasted into space by Kryptonian parents before their home planet succumbed to global warming or too much fracking and blew up like the Death Star.

Hayes said Athens is very special to her — she came to Athens in the mid-1980s and has only really left for about six months since graduating from Ohio University. She earned two degrees from OU, one of them being in the Fine Arts “which uniquely qualifies me to work in a warehouse.”

For folks who’ve been to OBW and those who are first-timers — it is freaking awesome! You have craft beer, tunes, community, maybe a chance to hold a pet snake like a boa constrictor, taste great food and just embrace what’s special about Athens.

“Ohio Brew Week is special because it lasts for (technically) just over nine days. It gives everyone — visitors, residents and vendors — time to explore and appreciate the beauty and hospitality that Athens County has to offer and there is something to do every single day of the event. You can meet the brewers, try SO MANY different flavors of beer and not feel too rushed,” Hayes said.

By the way — happy belated birthday to Hayes who turned 56 on Monday. Please offer a toast to her with a mug of Mystic Mama, which is among Jackie O’s amazing award-winning brews.

“Confession: one of the reasons I love Brew Week is because like many Athenians; I celebrate my ‘Birthday Week’ and what better week to celebrate than Brew Week?!” Hayes said.

There’s no denying that memories are made during OBW, whether it’s trying a new beer or meeting folks, be it old friends or making new ones.

“A couple years ago, a few girlfriends and I got together early in the week for Happy Hour bar Hopping. It was a lot of fun hanging out with old friends, trying new beers,” Hayes said.

Athens has always been an inclusive place known for its hospitality and friendly vibes which is why OBW is such a success.

“I think folks have a GREAT time at this festival and that’s why it keeps getting bigger and better every year,” Hayes said. “It’s become a midsummer meetup for Bobcats and a great, affordable getaway for many in our region. I feel it’s a great representative of summer time in Athens. With each passing year, we get another one or two festivals and it just keeps getting more fun.”