Relief Engine Company’s Beerfest 12 on tap at the Community House

Moorestown Relief Engine Company’s Beerfest 12 will be held at the Community House on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 5:30 p.m. Tickets for the township’s only beer festival will include unlimited beer tastings from more than 20 local breweries, some of which have been involved with the event since its inception.

“It’s shaping up to be a really fun year,” said committee chair Kevin Middleton.

Relief Beerfest is always held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, so it’s a good time for everyone to catch up with friends and family visiting for the holidays, Middleton said. For the past 12 years, the partnership between the Community House and the Relief Engine Fire Company has grown into something built on trust and support, and Middleton praised the House’s staff for always helping with the popular event.

“They always make sure that we are ready to go and set up in the morning and at night when we’re cleaning up, they are there to ensure that everything is kosher,” Middleton said. “There’s been no bad blood there since we started with them, and we continue to hope that partnership stays like that.”

NEXT, a party music and rock tribute band from South Jersey, will be the entertainment for the evening. Attendees will be treated to a fully catered dinner buffet and gourmet appetizers. Tickets can be purchased individually or in packs of two or four.

Members of Relief Engine Company, a volunteer fire and rescue company assigned to Moorestown’s Station 312, get together the first Monday of every month to discuss different topics including fundraising. Years ago, Middleton presented the idea to the group to hold the Beerfest as a fundraiser for the fire department, and he got great feedback. After putting the logistics together, the Relief Engine Company moved forward with the event and the very first year, it was a sold-out success.

“It seems to be a staple in the community,” Middleton said. “People come back year after year, and we have at least, one-third, if not more, of our returning guests. As you walk around, you’ll see that our firefighters know people in the community and they’ll have conversations with them. Not just the firefighters, but you’ll see other people in the community all talking, and it’s just a cool experience to see everyone get together. People have great energy about it and it’s right around the holidays, and people kind of feel that.”

Moorestown Relief Engine Company 312 is always looking for new members. Anyone interested in learning more about the department or joining will have plenty of opportunities to chat with volunteer firefighters at Relief Beerfest 12. For the past nine years, the Relief Engine Company has had a new member join just from Beerfest alone, except for one year.

“It’s just as simple as going up town and filling out an application, and all of a sudden you’re a part of this great group of guys,” Middleton said. “We help each other – it could be something as simple as someone getting ready to move and the next thing you know, somebody sends out a group text, and there’s 20 guys at your door… Everyone helps each other and lends a hand.”

Tickets for Relief Beerfest 12 are still available at www.ticketsignup.io/TicketEvent/ReliefBeerfest12.