Brats, Brews Healthy Choice

Brandon Karn's 15-year-old nephew Austin Dixon was diagnosed a few years ago with Type 1 diabetes.

Karn wanted to raise money for the local Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund and the Banded Suffering Epic Cycling Challenge, a road race that was created to honor Austin, who is a competitive junior cyclist. Karn organizes other beer festivals in the area, so he decided to create Brews & Brats to raise money for the charities.

Brews & Brats will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Fayetteville Town Center. Ticket price varies. For $10, guests will receive one bratwurst and gourmet toppings of their choice, according to brewsandbrats.com. A $35 ticket is good for a souvenir sampling mug and access to the craft beer sampling area, and a $40 VIP ticket grants guests access to the craft beer sampling area, a sampling mug and one bratwurst with toppings, according to the website.

The craft beer sampling experience will feature more than 30 breweries, including local and national companies, Karn said. Some of the beers offered will be seasonal or Christmas beers and others will be brewery standards. Each brewery will be giving samples of at least two or three beers. He added that some of the bratwursts will be cooked in craft beer.

Karn encourages people to come to the event to support local charities, enjoy craft beer and good food and hang out with the local community.

-- Ashley Batchelor

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