How many beers do you think you can sample in three hours?

If you’re not sure, you can find out at Fayetteville Foam Fest, set for Saturday, May 5 at the Washington County Fairgrounds.

Organizer Brandon Karn told us he plans to have nearly 200 beers available for tasting at the inaugural festival.

“We have four distributers on board, and probably another, all bringing beers to try from all over the world,” Karn said. “And that’s not counting the local brewers that are showing up.”

Locals from Tanglewood Branch Beer Company, West Mountain Brewing Company, Hog Haus, Fossil Cove Brewing, and Core Brewing are also planning to bring their locally-brewed beers, Karn said.

Andy Coates, brewmaster for West Mountain Brewing Company said he plans to bring four of his creations. “We’re doing a chocolate stout, an IPA, and probably a rye beer,” he said. “I’m not sure what the fourth will be yet.”

Karn said for $30, participants will get a mug and an opportunity to sample as many of the beers as their stomachs can hold from 6 to 9 p.m.

The idea is to allow people to taste beers they wouldn’t normally try.

“Most people aren’t going to spend $12 on a six-pack of something they’re not sure they’ll like,” Karn said. “At the festival, they’ll be able to try a lot of different stuff, even some beers you can’t normally get in Arkansas.”

The festival will also feature food from Hammontree’s Grilled Cheese, Mellow Mushroom, and Hog Haus, and live music by Odis Elevator & The Flights, Tiffany Christopher, Durham, and Bill Dollar & Loose Change.

The event coincides with another first-year festival, the Northwest Arkansas Cheese Dip Classic, also scheduled for May 5 at the fairgrounds, leading organizers to dub the occasion Fayetteville Sip & Dip.

Dipping is from 2 to 6 p.m. and costs $10. Sipping is from 6 to 9 p.m. and is $30. A ticket to both events costs $35.

Karn said about 2,000 tickets will be sold, and pre-sale tickets will be available starting April 2 at Mellow Mushroom, Hammontree’s, Hog Haus, West Mountain Brewing Company, Jammin’ Java, and Brewskies.

All proceeds will benefit Feed Fayetteville, an organization which seeks to alleviate hunger by cultivating a local, sustainable food network.