5 reasons to check out the Cincy Brew Ha-Ha

Cincy Brew Ha-Ha, the largest craft beer and stand-up comedy festival in America, is celebrating its fifth anniversary this weekend. Patrons can choose from over 80 comedians on four stages while sampling from over 110 craft beers, ciders and wines. While the lineup of beer and comedy changes every year, here are five reasons to attend this year’s festival.

1. Hometown beers

This year, the Cincy Brew Ha-Ha has decided to focus much more on local breweries than they have in the past, so Christian Moerlein, Rhinegeist, Taft Ale House, 50 West, Woodburn, Tap and Screw, Queen City, Rivertown, Mt. Carmel, and Sam Adams will all be highly represented.

2. Kevin Heffernan and Steve Lamme

Kevin Heffernan ad Steve Lamme are members of the Broken Lizard comedy troupe, who are best known for their 2002 sleeper hit film, “Super Troopers.” Heffernan and Lamme’s performance at Cincy Brew Ha-Ha coincides with news that “Super Troopers 2” has wrapped production and will be released in spring 2018. Heffernan and Lamme will headline the Aug. 24 lineup, taking the Pabst Main Stage at 10:15 p.m.

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3. A Tale of Two Seasons

“We still have a lot of summer beers, the lighter wheat and fruit beers. But we’re also getting close to fall, so we’ll also have a lot of pumpkin beers and even heavier winter beers. Late August allows us the luxury of featuring beers from both categories,” said Cincy Brew Ha-Ha organizer Michael Fillhart.

Indeed, some of the fall offerings include Oktoberfest beers from Sam Adams and Great Lakes and Jack-O Traveler Pumpkin Shandy, while some of the lingering summer beers include Queen City’s Bengale Bee Honey Orange Wheat, Nellie’s Keylime Caribbean Ale from Taft’s Ale House, and Purple Haze by Abita & Ace Cider.

4. Brooks Wheelan

Brooks Wheelan was a cast member of “Saturday Night Live” for the 2013-14 season. He was featured prominently on “Weekend Update” and did notable impressions of Rand Paul, Harry Styles, Matthew McConaughey and Slash. Since then, he has been doing stand-up comedy nationwide, pausing occasionally to appear on “Conan” or to film a Comedy Central special. Wheelan will headline the Aug. 26 lineup, taking the Pabst Main Stage at 9:55 p.m.

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5. Bryan Callen

This actor/comedian/podcaster is best known as the vulgar wedding chapel owner in the hit movie, “The Hangover.” He was one of the original cast members of “MadTV” in the mid-90s, and has appeared on “How I Met Your Mother,” “Entourage,” “Suddenly Susan,” “NewsRadio” and scores of other TV shows. Callen will headline the Aug. 25 lineup, taking the Pabst Main Stage at 9:30 p.m.


Want To Go?

WHAT: Cincy Brew Ha-Ha Festival

WHERE: Sawyer Point, 705 E. Pete Rose Way, Cincinnati

WHEN: Aug. 24-26, 5:30 p.m.

COST: $5 (beer wristband), beer tickets are $1. 1 beer ticket gets you a sample size beer and 5 beer tickets get you a full beer serving. No charge for the comedy shows.

MORE INFO: www.cincybrewhaha.com