I am a craft beer fanatic who used to work for a company just a few blocks away from the Howard Steamboat Museum—which I drove past five days a week going to and from my job for a little over a decade. The museum is a beautiful, picture-perfect location that’s rich in history and has wonderful views of the Ohio River. But at no point during my commute did I ever pass it and think, “You know, that would be a perfect spot to have a few craft beers.”
Thankfully, Todd Antz – the former owner of Keg Liquors and founder of what was my personal favorite Kentuckiana craft beer festival, the now-defunct Fest of Ale – and the people at Pearl Street Taphouse had more vision than I did, as they’ve brought the two very separate worlds of steamboats and craft beer together in a unique annual fundraiser.
Presented by Pearl Street Taphouse and the cleverly named Antz Marching, LLC , the 2nd annual Rollin’ on the River Craft Beer Festival takes place at the Howard Steamboat Museum (1101 E Market St, Jeffersonville, IN) on Saturday, June 7th, from 3 to 7 p.m. (2 p.m. entry for VIP ticket holders), with proceeds going to benefit the museum.
Here you can expect well over 150 different craft beers from more than 60 different breweries around the country, and a few international ones as well, including sponsors Great Lakes Brewing Co., local favorites Butchertown Brewing, Quaff On! Brewing Co., Germany’s Krombacher, and Founders Brewing Co., among many others.
If craft beer isn’t really your thing, or if you just want to mix it up a little, there will also be a great selection of national and international wines, spirits, mixers, cocktails, ciders, and seltzers on hand to enjoy, such as Hard Truth Distilling Co., Ash & Elm Cider Co., Wein-Bauer, Inc. Imports, and others.
Attendees will also enjoy live music from “Louisville’s finest slice of fuzz pop, rock & roll, with heaps of soul,” the Runaway Souls, as well as local food vendors, games, swag, giveaways, and raffles.
Related
Gravely Brewing Co. Moving Taproom To NuLu This Summer
Located just blocks from downtown Jeffersonville with plenty of shade and room to roam, the grounds of the Howard Steamboat Museum have proven to be the ideal location for a craft beer festival!
Housed inside a Richardsonian Romanesque-style mansion built in 1894 that was once the home of the famous Howard steamboat-building family of Jeffersonville, the Howard Steamboat Museum is now a 501(c)(3) non-profit, mostly self-supporting organization taking no regularly scheduled funding from any federal, state, or local entity. It is sustained by the generosity of visitors, members, fundraising events, and rentals of the repurposed historic Carriage House.
Tickets are $60 for general admission and $75 for VIP and are available in person at Pearl Street Taphouse (407 Pearl Street, Jeffersonville, IN) and online through the festival website. Designated drivers are admitted free, no ticket necessary; just mention that you are a designated driver when checking into the event.
General admission gets you a souvenir tasting glass and unlimited samples from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
VIPs get the same perks as GA, but entry an hour earlier at 2 p.m. and access to the Carriage House, which includes indoor plumbing, air conditioning, dedicated indoor tables and chairs, as well as fast access to the Pearl Street Taphouse Food Service. VIP is strictly limited to 200 tickets, so you’ll have full run of the grounds with no crowds or lines for a full hour! But these tickets will sell out in advance, so act fast!
For more information, tickets, and a full list of participating breweries and beers available, visit rollinontheriverfest.com.
Related Stories
Gravely Brewing Co. Moving Taproom To NuLu This Summer
The Big Stomp Music Festival Unveils 2025 Lineups Featuring Murder By Death, The Record Company, And Immersive Mental Wellness Experiences
This article appears in May 23 – Jun 5, 2025.
