Craft Beers, Brats, Bands on Tap Saturday at Canton's Preservation Park

Craft beer aficionados will have plenty to sample Saturday at Preservation Park in Canton.

Brew, Brats and Bands, an annual fundraiser for the Canton Historical Society, comes to the Cady Boyer Barn from 6-9 p.m. Saturday at Canton's Preservation Park, 500 N. Ridge Road. The event features a sizable selection of beer samples from microbreweries, as well as live music and brats with all the fixings.

Gregg King of Canton Leisure Services said the event so far is a hot ticket.

"Presale tickets have done very, very well," King said. "Probably better this year than ever."

In addition to a who's-who of Michigan and U.S. craft breweries including Bell's (Comstock, MI), Jolly Pumpkin (Dexter), New Holland (Holland), Frankenmuth and Atwater (Detroit), Plymouth's own Liberty Street Brewing Company, a sponsor for the event, will feature prominently.

Joe Walters, owner of Liberty Street Brewing Company, said this is his brewery's second year at the barn, and attendees will be treated to Punkin' Pie Ale, a seasonal favorite from the brewery.

"The Punkin' Pie is probably going to be the highlight from us," Walters said. "Everybody's going to expect that one. That's been selling quite a bit lately."

Walters said the beer, which boasts spices giving a hint of a pumpkin pie flavor, was recently picked up for statewide distribution — and promptly sold out. Walters said Liberty Street also will provide samples of Red Glare Amber Ale, Steamy Windows California Common Ale and Starkweather Stout. 

It's the chance to sample these different beers that has King excited.

"It's always neat," he said. "I like getting the stuff that I can't get at the store."

King said the event originated as a fundraiser for improvements to the barn in 2010. That and the subsequent year's event, King said, were big successes.

"It's kind of taken on a life of its own," he said. He said he expects the event to become an annual fixture in Canton.

"This is too fun of an event to not go on, and it's an event that can really help people out," he said. 

Tickets are $25 and available from the Canton Historical Society. Designated driver tickets are available for $10.