Behind the Beer Fest — Blake & Lindsay Benedict on craft beer, community, and a cause close to home

Blake Benedict, owner and head brewer at Reserve Artisan Ales, and Lindsay Benedict, marketing director, join Galesburg's Morning News ahead of the 4th Annual G-ALES-Burg Beer Fest — this Saturday, April 11, at The Vault at Reserve Artisan Ales in downtown Galesburg. The Benedicts talk about how the event has grown from 235 attendees in year one to a projected 600-plus this year, the personal story behind the Vascular Anomalies Alliance, and what makes G-ALES-Burg Beer Fest different from other craft beer festivals. Topics covered in this interview: What to expect at the 4th Annual G-ALES-Burg Beer Fest 30-plus regional breweries — how they're selected and who's pouring Beer variety — light lagers, sours, barrel-aged stouts, wine, cider, mead, and whiskey Barrel-aged beer releases at the event, including a bourbon barrel stout collaboration Ticket availability update — VIP and early admission sold out The story behind the Vascular Anomalies Alliance and why it matters to the Benedict family $30,000 raised in three years — and the goal to do more Why G-ALES-Burg Beer Fest keeps growing when other beer fests are struggling The 300-cup beer pong setup and Saturday's big-ticket raffle   Related: 4th Annual G-ALES-Burg Beer Fest is Saturday — and the story behind it goes deeper than craft beer 📺 Click here to watch on YouTube