Changes on tap at festival

Kirk Baird

Friday, June 7, 2002 | 10:20 a.m.

What: Sixth annual Las Vegas International Beer Festival.

When: 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.

Where: Bruce Trent Park, at Vegas Drive and North Rampart Boulevard.

Admission: $25 (in advance); $28 (at gate).

Information: 807-3371.

There have been some changes to the Las Vegas International Beer Festival.

In its sixth consecutive year, the event is now a single-day event instead of two days, and the tickets are limited to 3,000 patrons. Last year, 5,000 people attended the event.

The festival is Saturday at Bruce Trent Park.

Alex Shelton, a partner with Nevada Sports Network (NSN), an event and sports-broadcasting management group that sponsors the festival, summed the changes up quickly.

"It's become a larger party. That's really the best way to put it," he said. "The event is a party, but it serves a purpose in that the beer industry gets people to try their product so that a person who goes to the stores and sees a $6 six-pack of beer, they can justify why they'll pay that price instead of $3.99 for a six-pack of Coors."

Similar to previous festivals, this year's event will feature 100 types of beers from 25 vendors.

"It starts from home-brew, which is the most exotic -- people try some really crazy stuff with herbs and flavors at home," Shelton said. "And it gravitates toward the big, international buys: the Fullers from England, Paulner from Germany, Tinkkov from Russia, Deumonde from Quebec, Change from Thailand and Ichiban from Japan, among others.

"It will also provide the opportunity for someone to talk with a brew master and learn how it's done."

The festival also features local and out-of-state breweries, although, Shelton said, NSN was particular about which companies were allowed to participate.

"We've done really well with the microbreweries out of New Mexico, Arizona and Southern California," he said. "We're really looking at products that are very good stuff, which our local distributors, frankly, haven't taken a look at bringing into the market."

In addition to the exotic suds, the Elvis/Led Zeppelin coverband Dread Zeppelin will make its usual appearance, as well as festival newcomers, hard-rock act Onesidezero.

"Onesidezero is going to be huge band," Shelton opined. "They're really waiting to explode. Bringing them in with Dread Zeppelin will add a little more excitement to the show."