WORDS / JULIA TRUPP

Six more weeks of winter wasn’t bad news for one craft beer festival. Fossil Cove’s Frost Fest returned for a third year of frothy fun in close-to-freezing temperatures, back again for its second round at the Washington County Fairgrounds on Saturday, Feb. 3.

Like in years past, the Frost Fest mascot, the yeti, led a group bike ride on a dinosaur-skeleton-bicycle along the Razorback Greenway, complete with three brewery stops for a rest and a beer, according to the Fossil Cove website.

Last year 39 breweries were in attendance. This year the count went up to 42, which included almost every Arkansas brewery, and breweries from eight other states across the country.

Fossil Cove Brewing Co. partnered with Fayetteville-based nonprofit Apple Seeds Inc. Apple Seeds’ mission is to inspire healthy living through garden-based education, according to the Frost Fest press release. This is the third year Apple Seeds and Fossil Cove have partnered with Frost Fest, and they will continue to be involved next year.

“Fossil Cove has done a wonderful job putting it together and executing one of the most sought-after events in Fayetteville,” said Anthony Euculano, Whole Foods bartender and second-time festival attendee.

The event’s entertainment didn’t only include beer and its fans, but also local bands Yokohama Drifters, Cadillac Jackson and Sad Daddy jammed all day, Chad Maupin of Big Bot Design conducted a live-art demonstration inside the large tent in the middle of the fairgrounds.

Beaver Tails, Andouille Cajun + Creole, The JBGB, and plenty of other good eats had food trucks lining the edges of the festival. There was even a tent where passersby could purchase and indulge in varieties of cheese curds and sausage.

“Frost Fest was a great showcase of our state’s craft beer scene, as well as others in the region,” Eucalano said. “I love seeing our craft beer scene flourish in my home state!”

Frost Fest 2018 Participating Breweries

  • Anthem Brewing Co. — Oklahoma City
  • Apple Blossom Brewing Co. – Fayetteville
  • Bentonville Brewing Co. – Bentonville
  • Bike Rack Brewing Co. – Bentonville
  • Black Apple Crossing – Springdale
  • Blue Canoe – Little Rock
  • Bubba Brew’s — Bonnerdale
  • Central Standard Brewing — Wichita, Kansas
  • Cinder Block — Kansas City, Missouri
  • Columbus House Brewery – Fayetteville
  • Core Brewing & Distilling — Springdale
  • Crane Brewing – Raytown, Missouri
  • Dead Armadillo Craft Brewing — Tulsa, Oklahoma
  • Diamond Bear Brewing Co – North Little Rock
  • Earthbound Beer — St. Louis, Missouri
  • Flyway Brewing Co. – North Little Rock
  • Fossil Cove Brewing Co. – Fayetteville
  • High Cotton Brewing Co. — Memphis, Tennessee
  • Independence Brewing Co. — Austin, Texas
  • JJ’s Brewing — Fayetteville
  • Lagunitas Brewing Co. – Lagunitas, California
  • Lazy Magnolia Brewing Co. – Kiln, Mississippi
  • Leaky Roof Meadery — Buffalo, Missouri
  • Lost 40 Brewing – Little Rock
  • Marshall Brewing Company – Tulsa, Oklahoma
  • Mother’s Brewing Co., Springfield, Missouri
  • Narrow Gauge Brewing Co. — Florissant, Missouri
  • New Province Brewing Co. – Rogers
  • Oak Highlands Brewing — Dallas, Texas
  • Ozark Beer Company – Rogers
  • Saddlebock Brewery – Springdale
  • Schlafly – St. Louis, Missouri
  • Springfield Brewing Company – Springfield, Missouri
  • Stone’s Throw Brewing — Little Rock
  • Urban Chestnut — St. Louis, Missouri
  • West Mountain Brewery – Fayetteville
  • Wichita Brewing Co. — Wichita, Kansas
  • Wiseacre Brewing Co. – Memphis, Tennessee
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