Press Releases

August 25, 2004, Contact: Sara Murphy, (508) 853-6015 ext. 26, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Higgins Armory Museum Presents Festival of Ale

New Hours and Location Allow for Even More Fun!

(WORCESTER, Mass., August 25, 2004) - What could be better than a blend of ale, armored knights and the Higgins Armory Museum? The yearly Festival of Ale will be held on Saturday, September 18 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Museum’s Great Hall. Advance tickets (at a discounted rate of $13 for members or $15 for non-members) are available at the Museum, or regular admission ($20 per person) can be purchased at the door the night of the festival.

This year’s festival is packed with presentations, demonstrations (including medieval combat and brewing techniques), a raffle, and, of course, beer tastings. Local breweries including The Concorde Brewery, Strange Brew, Wachusett Ale, Nashoba Valley Spirits and Paper City Brewing Co. will pour samplings of their current offerings. Home Brew Emporium representatives will be on hand to answer questions about brewing at home and Higgins Armory Museum Senior Interpreter Dianne Berg will chronicle the history of ale in a “Beer Through Time” presentation.

“Beer and ale were really a staple drink in many cultures during medieval and Renaissance times when the water wasn’t safe for drinking,” said Ms. Berg. “Of course the alcoholic content would have been much lower then, but today it would be quite a sight to see a young child drinking a pint”.

Overwhelming attendance in 2003 prompted the change in hours (previous festivals were held from 12 noon to 4 p.m.), venue change (from the Quest Gallery to the Museum’s largest space, the Great Hall) and the addition of the King’s Café (which will have hot dogs, sausages and other pub-style fare available for purchase).

Admission is $15 per person in advance ($13 for Museum Members) or $20 per person at the door, and includes admission into the festival, a Higgins pub glass, all presentations and 10 taste-testing tickets (additional tickets available for purchase). Advance tickets can be purchased at the Museum during regular operating hours or by contacting Sara at (508) 853-6015 ext. 26 or smurphy@higgins.org.