(Courtesy Sierra Nevada Brewing)
Beer festivals come in all shapes and sizes, but Sierra Nevada Brewing’s newest event looks like it’s aiming for something a little different.
Founded in 1980 by Ken Grossman, Sierra Nevada remains one of the largest independent craft breweries in the United States. They’re also fiercely adventurous.
And now the iconic craft brewery has announced the launch of The Hazy Hideaway, a two-day music, arts, and beer festival set to take over its Mills River, North Carolina brewery on August 21 and 22, 2026. Inspired to capture the vibe of the brewery’s popular Hazy Little Thing IPA, the event is designed to blend live music, local art, and craft beer into a weekend-long experience.
Yep, it’s a beer rave.
The lineup leans heavily into indie and alternative sounds, with Friday’s headliner set by Phantogram and Saturday’s festivities topped by Toro y Moi. Other performers scheduled to appear throughout the weekend include Poolside, Magic City Hippies, Mon Rovîa, Jonah Kagan, Bay Ledges, The Get Right Band, Hannah Kaminer, Random Animals, and several other regional and emerging artists.
Beyond the music, attendees will find plenty to explore around the brewery grounds.
A vendor village will showcase handmade goods from North Carolina artisans, while a live muralist will create artwork throughout the festival. Guests can also unwind in a vinyl listening lounge complete with handcrafted coffee, adding another layer to the festival’s relaxed atmosphere.
But beer remain will remain at the center of the experience. Sierra Nevada’s taproom will feature a special festival menu, and local food trucks will be on hand throughout the weekend. Organizers are also promising a few unexpected surprises along the way.
The festival’s name, The Hazy Hideaway is a homage to Hazy Little Thing, the brewery’s flagship hazy IPA. And according to Sierra Nevada Chief Brewer and second-generation owner Brian Grossman, the event was built to mirror around the same qualities.
The timing is no accident either.
The festival arrives just after National Hazy IPA Day, an annual celebration created by Sierra Nevada in 2023 that takes place on the third Thursday of August. While hazy IPAs have become one of craft beer’s defining styles over the past decade, Hazy Little Thing has remained one of the category’s most recognizable brands.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.americancraftbeer.com ’
