Ryan Thompson is a lifelong Hall County resident and part owner of two local businesses: Pro Touch Landscapes and Tap IT Gainesville Growlers. Ryan is the proud father of two (Knowles and Carden) and married to House Dressing Interiors owner Elizabeth Thompson.
Tap IT Gainesville Growlers opened it’s doors two years ago and is owned by Brad Sample, Zack Thompson and Ryan Thompson.
Ryan is a believer that small businesses are the anchor of any community and is celebrating that this weekend with a craft beer festival at Tap IT called NOVEMBEER Fest.
NOVEMBEER Fest is set for 2 to 8 p.m. this Saturday at Tap IT (located at 1850 Thompson Bridge Road) and will have 20 Georgia and North Carolina breweries represented including Creature Comforts, Terrapin and Southern Brewing from Athens along with Monday Night Brewing and Reformation, also from Georgia and many more. Two food trucks will be onsite (Cousin’s Maine and Brooke Lyn’s Own Sticks & Cones) and live music will be provided by local musicians Brandon Reeves to open and Bill Hardman and Friends will close out the day. The beer festival will benefit Little Heroes of North Georgia Children’s Tumor Foundation.
We recently caught up with Ryan to find out more about the NOVEMBEER Fest and craft beer.
Question:Â What can craft beer lovers expect this Saturday at NOVEMBEER Fest?
Answer: “Attendees are going to get to sample all they can handle of almost 80 different craft beers, listen to live music from Blues player Brandon Reeves opening and Bill Hardman’s six peice band that is sure to blow your socks off. Representatives from the 20 breweries will be on hand to explain all of the beers and hand out swag.”
Q:Â What are you loving about the craft beer industry at the moment?
A:Â “I love the fact that craft beer is for everyone from 21 to 90. People from all walks of life come in our store and are happy to be there and enjoying a frosty beverage. I tend to stick with the lighter IPA’s and sours and there are tons of them hitting the market.”
Q: What is a piece of advice that you would give a crowd of people? Â
A: “You’ll never finish what you don’t start!” (quote credit to the late Buddy Browne, Ryan’s father-in-law’s favorite saying.)
For more information on tickets to NOVEMBEER Fest click here.
The Faces of Hall County is a community project showcasing the amazing personalities that make up our diverse community.
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