Rollin’ on the River Beer Fest Hits Jeffersonville June 8

May 28

The inaugural Rollin’ on the River Beer Fest is set for June 8 at the Howard Steamboat Museum in Jeffersonville.

Produced by Antz Marching LLC and Pearl Street Taphouse, the festival will be held at the Howard Steamboat Museum, overlooking the Ohio River. At least 65 Brewers will be present to showcase the local and regional craft beer Industry. In addition, wine and several Pre-mixed cocktails will be available for consumption. Additionally, there will also be a complimentary Jefferson’s Bourbon Tasting.

The festival also offers attendees the chance to learn about the history of steamboats while live music and food trucks round out the festival.

The Howard Steamboat Museum, or the Howard National Steamboat Museum, is in Jeffersonville, Indiana, across from Louisville, Kentucky. Based in the old Howard home, it features items related to steamboat history. The home was built in 1890 by Edmonds J. Howard, who inherited the family shipyard from his father James Howard, who founded the Howard Shipyards, both in what was then Port Fulton, Indiana.

It cost $100,000 to build the 22-room, 3-floor Late Victorian style red brick structure. Still within the museum are chandeliers, carvings, arches, and a grand staircase that reflect the wealth Edmonds Howard had. As the Howards prided themselves on their hulls, a large collection of the half-breadths is displayed on the property. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 as the Howard Home. Over the course of ownership of the Howard Shipyards, 3,000 ships were launched in what to its day is the largest inland shipyard in the United States. The Howard Shipyard was eventually made into Jeffboat. On March 17, 1971, a fire broke out in the museum; the museum reopened the next year.

VIP tickets are sold out, but general admission tickets are still available for $55. Tickets are available now at https://rollinontheriverfest.com and at the Pearl Street Taphouse. The festival is 2-7 p.m. The Howard Steamboat Museum is located at 1101 E. Market St. in Jeffersonville.