The Cape Fear Craft Beer Alliance (CFCBA) has announed that Cape Fear Craft Beer Week, presented by Untappd Marketplace, is scheduled to take place March 22-31.
 
CFCBA president Jeremy Tomlinson describes Cape Fear Craft Beer Week as a celebration of the Cape Fear region’s thriving craft beer culture, showcasing breweries, bottle shops, and restaurants, while attracting craft beer tourism to the area.
 
“We're very excited to announce that Untappd Marketplace will join Cape Fear Beer Week as our 2019 presenting sponsor,” Tomlinson said in a news release announcing the sponsorship. “Untappd is the most post popular beer-focused social media app in the world and they made Wilmington their home in 2016. Over the past several years, Untappd has positively grown its presence locally. Their employees drink beer at our bars and breweries, and their software benefits many of our businesses.”
 
Highlights of the week include the Ultimate Brewing Championship (UBC) presented by ABS Commercial of Raleigh, set to be held March 22 at the Hannah Block Community Arts Center.
 
The friendly, wrestling-themed competition invites Cape Fear craft brewers to showcase their creativity by using specific, unusual ingredients to create a custom beer in the style of their choosing.  The winner will be determined by people’s choice in a blind tasting.

Eighteen local breweries are set to compete, with beers utilizing 36 different ingredients. Bill’s Brewing Food Truck will also be on-site and tickets are $26.
 
Cape Fear Craft & Cuisine, presented by Cheney Brothers Inc., and held at Airlie Gardens on Saturday, March 30, will showcase food and beer pairings from restaurants and breweries across the region.

Twenty-eight area chefs and brewers will be on hand to discuss their pairings with ticket holders on the banks of Bradley Creek. Tickets are $85 and tickets for both events are available online.  
 
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