Kings Island debuting park-only beers, beer festival

Even Kings Island is getting into craft beer.

The Mason theme park has introduced three new park-themed beers this year, and it will host a beer festival in June.

The beers – Banshee Brew, Beast Bock and Diamondback Ale, one for each of the park's signature attractions – are brewed and branded specifically for Kings Island. (Don Helbig, public relations area manager for the park, said they're being brewed by a vendor with whom Kings Island has a relationship, though he wasn't able to share the name.) Banshee Brew is available in the Festhaus; Diamondback Ale at the Reds Hall of Fame Grille; and Beast Bock at the LaRosa's Pizza location in Rivertown, near the entrance to the Beast.

Helbig said adding branded beer is part of continuing efforts to create an only-at-the-park experience for visitors.

"When you come to Kings Island, you're not just drinking another craft beer," he said. "It's something that you have to come here to get.

"We want the dining experience to be as memorable as the attractions," he added.

As for the event, the Banshee Brew Festival will take place from June 12-13 and will feature more than 20 breweries from Cincinnati and the region. (A list should be finalized within the next couple of weeks, Helbig said.) Food and live entertainment will be offered. Ticket prices are also still to be determined, though there will be separate prices for season pass holders, Helbig said.

"We're always looking for events that provide a unique experience for our guests," Helbig said of the impetus for the event. "The Banshee Brew Festival fits in very well with an amusement park setting."

The park still operates the Christian Moerlein Bier Garten, which it added for the 2013 season. The full-service bar serves German fare and appetizers, with Christian Moerlein beer on draft.