HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- There have never been more Straight to Ale beers available in one place and one time.

STA's Highway to Ale brewfest is sort of like a one-night Netflix for that four-year-old Huntsville brewery's output. Instead of having to wait for all the different beer styles STA produces to be released episodically over the course of a year or so, local suds enthusiasts can try whichever they want "on-demand" during Highway to Ale, set for 6 – 10 p.m. Aug. 9 at the Straight to Ale brewery (3200 Leeman Ferry Road).

Typically 10 STA beers are pouring in their taproom. The brewery's sales manager Rich Partain says they're planning to offer 37 or so at Highway to Ale.

"Primarily the idea was to expose as many people as possible to the giant portfolio that we have," Partain says. STA has previously hosted brewfests spotlighting the work of local homebrewers. But Highway to Ale will be their first featuring all-Straight to Ale beers.

Get 'em while you can

Only 250 tickets ($10) will be sold via STAHighwayToAle.brownpapertickets.com and at the STA taproom. Over 100 have already been sold since tickets went on sale July 11. Admission includes a 10-ounce commemorative glass. During Highway to Ale, you can purchase $1 drink tickets to exchange for four-ounce (one ticket) or eight-ounce (two tickets) pours.

Seasonals, occasionals and obscurities

In addition to STA flagship beers like Monkeynaut India Pale Ale, Lily Flagg Milk Stout and Brother Joseph's Dubbel and seasonals such as He Ain't Heffe Hefeweizen and Laika Russian Imperial Stout, at Highway to Ale you'll find annual releases like Unobtanium Old Ale and Gorillanaut Imperial IPA.

"Unobtanium is absolutely amazing," Partain says. "It's already an amazing beer with a lot of depth, but then we age it in Maker's Mark barrels for six months, so that's going to impart some bourbon flavor, some vanilla and oak and just make it over-the-top complex. It's a wonderful sipping beer. The Gorillanaut is the hoppiest beer I've ever had – but it's definitely not a one-note beer."

Highway to Ale will also boast STA "occasionals" including the recent International Space Saison Rum.

"Saison is a really delicate style and it plays really well with aging I think because it's easier to impart flavors from the wood and spirits that were in a cask to a beer like that," Partain says. "You've got this subtle, almost tropical citrus going on from the saison itself and then you've got this nice, warm rum presence with this sort of sweet sugarcane things going on and then a little dose of oak and vanilla. It's just absolutely fantastic."

There will also be creative experimental one-offs at Highway to Ale, such as the Velvet Evil, another English old ale of which variants are infused with coffee, raspberry and chocolate tones.

Industrial revolution

The original inspiration for Highway to Ale? "Something I've found travelling around to our five-state footprint and seeing the distributors is I'll ask them, 'What do you think about the beer?'" Partain says. "And they'll say, 'Well, I don't know. I've never tried it,' and I was always kind of incredulous that so many guys that are selling our beer have never had the opportunity to actually try the beer. [Laughs.]

"And part of that is we ship the beer out to these guys and they're just hustling and selling it and working their butts off, and they want to sell everything that they get, you know?" Partain says. "So I wanted to give those guys a chance to come here and try everything we've got."

As such, the same day as Highway to Ale STA will be hosting an early, industry-only trade show 3 – 6 p.m.

Somewhere, Bon Scott is smiling

Partain and wife Carie Partain designed Highway to Ale to have a "festival-like atmosphere." Food vendors include Drake's and the On-On Tacos food truck. Local chocolatier Pizzelle's Confections will be on hand, and some STA beer and chocolate pairings are in the works. Brew-centric vendors on-hand will include eco-friendly Chattanooga glassware maker DecoPrint as well as beer-jug ventures Eco Growler and Southern Growler.

Local blues-rock singer/guitarist Mike Slaten will provide live music during Highway to Ale. Surely, given the brewfest's title, Slaten will work a cover AC/DC's 1979 classic "Highway to Hell" into his set. At least once.

"In addition to beers in the taproom," Partain says, "We'll set-up a couple of tents in the biergarten as well as the existing satellite bar out there, with three or four taps going on each of those. We're going to have both bars in the taproom going. We we'll have a satellite station with bombers and cans for people to try."

Highway to Ale is for ages 21 and up only. Attendees are encouraged to car-pool – and utilize designated drivers – and auxiliary parking will be available at the Municipal Ice Complex across the street from Straight to Ale. For those craft-beer zealots travelling from out of town to attend, the Huntsville Marriott at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center is offering a discounted rate for the weekend.

Brews-ing pace

STA's 14-person crew is going to be "doing a lot of brewing," leading up to Highway to Ale, Partain says. "We only literally came up with the idea to do this a month ago. Six weeks is not a lot of time to put together a festival even if it's at your own venue."

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