News > Interviews > Garth Ellms

Saratoga.com sits down for a 10 Questions interview with Garth Ellms, Owner of Ellms Family Farm, and Host of Saratoga BrewFest. Saratoga BrewFest runs from 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm on June 18th. For four hours sample local, regional, and national craft brews and enjoy live music!

BrewFest is next Saturday, are you out on the farm getting set up yet?

Brewfest is Saturday June 18th and we have been on the farm since April getting the place looking good! We are out every day mowing and building, and new this year, a small scale HOPS farm!

Samples include local, regional, and national craft brews. What is the farthest that a brewery will travel to come show off their goods at BrewFest?

I believe this year our Belgian beers get the award for furthest traveled. We added a Belgian beer tent which will be open for the first two hours of the event and will be sure to please!

It looks like VIPs will get hooked up, what's for lunch?

VIP's are getting gift bags this year which is new as well as a full day of food catered by The Charlton Tavern. The speakers are sure to please as they will pair rare beers to The Charlton Taverns menu. We have also added live entertainment to this portion of the event by Just Nate. Of course the VIP ticket will include what every VIP deserves: private entrance, free bottled water all day, private restrooms, and a private seating area in the shade!!

Is parking going to be a hassle? Are any rides provided?

Parking is easy as we are a farm and can always expand our parking lot if needed! New this year, our responsible ticket holders now have the option of taking our shuttles, which can be booked on www.saratogabrewfest.com. We offer designated driver tickets as well.

We also invite people to leave a car here and take a cab home, which will be readily available. Everyone who left a vehicle last year came back the next day to find a gift on their car thanking them for being responsible!

Will there be souvenirs, gift bags or vendors, or is it all about quenching your thirst?

All of the above, our VIP ticket holders receive a gift bag which includes a collection of items from our sponsors. Every ticket holder will be receiving a keychain from our newest sponsor www.scanmycode.com and it will have a very interesting twist to it so make sure you get one!

We have some interesting vendors signed up for this years event including a local cheese maker who will be making a beer cheese to sample.We will also have two merchandise tents this year which will include hats, t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, sweatshirts, and different styles of beer glasses!

Do you make your own beer when there aren't 40+ breweries in your backyard letting you sample everything?

Not yet! We have just planted about 50 hop rhizomes and should be in full production by next season!

What is your all-time favorite beverage?

Tough question, I would have to say either Bud Light or a good gin and tonic! My partner in this is the big beer geek and he brings all his knowledge to the event which really makes this a great time. I am more involved with facilities and planning as well as hunting down sponsors!

What will you do if it rains?

Dance, sing, and drink! We have over 10,000 square feet of indoor space thanks to Allerdice Rent All who is making sure this event happend, rain or shine. We thought it would be more fun if it rained because it puts people in a care-free mood, but Debbie at Allerdice is like our mother when it comes to this and is making us get 5 tents including their new 50' X 100' - that is going to be awesome!

A portion of the proceeds will support Saratoga P.L.A.N., tell us a little bit about the land trust?

As a land trust, they protect land in the Saratoga region through purchases and donations of land and conservation easements, to protect important natural resources and open spaces. They have protected over 3,247 acres of farmland, forestland, natural areas, trail corridors, and historic sites in the Saratoga region and have over 1,000 acres of projects now in the works. It is truly a great organization.

This is a 21 and over event, does Ellms Family Farm have anything coming up for the whole family?

On September 24th the Ellms Family Farm opens back up, inviting families onto the farm to experience a wonderful family adventure either through our corn maze or jumping on our bouncing pillow. We will also have animals and a Hope Along Rodeo new this year!

Learn more about Saratoga BrewFest 2011»