Look for the man in the kilt Saturday, Untapped’s latest sponsor

If you spot a guy wearing a kilt as you head into Uptown Untapped Saturday evening, say hello and ask for a free Hangover Kit. And if you want to know about Epic Beer Trips to Great Britain, the guy in the kilt can fill you in on that, too.

The guy in the kilt – an authentic one, mind you, from Scottland – will be Kurt Sima, or “Captain Kurt” of the company he founded, Epic Beer Trips.

Sima grew up in Westerville, graduating from Westerville South High School in 1977. Following an accomplished career in marketing and media consulting, he founded Epic Beer Trips in 2020, “to combine three things he enjoys: traveling the globe, drinking beer and having fun,” according to the company’s website, EpicBeerTrips.com.

The business organizes small-group beer tours of cool cities in Europe, and Sima’s business recently signed on as a sponsor of Uptown Westerville Inc.’s 2023 Uptown Untapped, the Westerville craft brew festival set for Saturday, Aug. 12.

As part of the sponsorship, Sima and his small marketing team will distribute 1,000 “Hangover Kits” to patrons as they enter Uptown Untapped on Saturday. The kits essentially are a packet of Alka Seltzer with an Epic Beer Trips business card attached, promoting their upcoming 2024 tours of Ireland, Scotland and England.

An Uptown that hosts an annual craft brew festival is quite different from the dry town Sima remembers growing up, living in the Annehurst neighborhood.

“It’s amazing to see what’s been done with Uptown,” he said, with restaurants, craft breweries and a vibrant entertainment scene. He said he’s impressed with the historic district transforming over the last several years into a destination for residents and visitors, and pleased to help support it through becoming an Uptown Untapped sponsor.

“It’s exciting to be involved,” Sima said.

Untapped recap

Uptown Untapped will run from 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, along the first block of East Main Street. Enter from State Street, adjacent to the Old Bag of Nails Pub, 24 N. State. An early admission tasting hour will be held from 5-6 p.m. (requires separate purchase).

For 2023, Untapped will feature craft beers from 15 local breweries, live music from LDNL (Lt. Dan’s New Legs) and Radio Tramps, food from Uptown eateries, entertainment and games. Gluten-free and nonalcoholic drink choices will be available for those not into to hopping it up!

The event is for those over the age of 21, only. All participants must show ID to enter. No exceptions. Event will be held Rain or Shine.

Read more event details and find ticket information here.

Thank you to our sponsors

Thank you to our Uptown Untapped sponsors. We would be high and dry without them!

Our 2023 sponsors are: Amish Originals, Epic Beer Trips, Heartland Bank, J.C. Manny Co., Middlefield Banking Co. and Megan Lee Designs.

About Uptown Untapped

Uptown Untapped is hosted by Uptown Westerville Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that works to build public and private partnerships to sustain the economic vitality and historic charm of Uptown Westerville.

Uptown Untapped was created to celebrate the rich history of our community as well as to serve as Uptown Westerville Inc.’s banner event and main source of revenue.

Profits from Uptown Untapped go toward Uptown Westerville improvements, historic preservation and beautification efforts, and community-building events.

CAPTIONS:

(Above) Kurt Sima of Epic Beer Trips with his daughter Emmalee, in a photo taken at the BrewDog DogHouse Hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland.

(Below) The EPT “Hangover Kits.”