The Greater Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce held its third annual Brew Fest on Point Sebago’s beach during last Sunday’s sunny afternoon. The event lasted six hours, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and served more than 200 people.

“The event is a real success,” said Kai Adams, Vice President and Brewmaster for Sebago Brewing Company, which took first place at the event for Best Beer. “It has a great setup, and is very well run this year.”

Adams is happy to show off one of the company’s newest products, Run About Red Ale. The woman on the label is a friend of Adams’s mother, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease. For every case of Run About Red Ale sold, $1 will be donated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s.

The resort’s sandy beach is a new venue for brew fest. With more breweries than in the past – a total of 18 participated this year, the chamber sought out a larger site.

“There have been a lot of growing pains over the last three years,” said Mike McClellan, the executive director of the chamber of commerce. “But as you can see, the event is getting much more organized.”

Along with the breweries and their beers, the festival also offered attendees food from five local businesses as well as the Bridgton Lions Club, which offered the traditional hot dog and french fries on the sunny autumn day. For those with a wider pallet, there was also pulled pork piled high on a bulkie roll, served by Bray’s Brew Pub from Naples.

With grilled food, ales, lagers, and even some wine in hand, the crowd passed through the brew tent and out to the circling caravan of merchant vendors selling items from turquoise and silver jewelry to artistic sketches of New England’s landscape, to beer-themed accessories.

Each attendee paid $22 at the gate, or $18 in advance. Upon arrival, each was given nine blue tickets and one red ticket. The tickets were exchanged for beer or wine with the participating merchants. The red ticket was not only for exchange, but for a vote. After using one’s blue tickets, an individual voted for his or her favorite beverage by exchanging the red ticket for one last taste of it.

Coming in second for Best Beer was Woodchuck, which is brewed in the Green Mountain town of Middlebury, Vt. In third place was Shipyard, Maine’s largest microbrewery located on Newbury Street in Portland.

Awards were also given out for best decorated sipping station. The Blackhorse Tavern, from Bridgton, took first place. Bray’s Brew Pub, of Naples was awarded second, and Casco Bay Brewery came in third.

Blacksmiths Winery, from Casco, won for best wine.

“He didn’t want us to have the category, but I told him I like seeing our plaque on his wall,” said McClellan laughing. Blacksmiths was the only winery representing its category.

Steve Linne, owner and winemaker at Blacksmiths, does not need an award for his wine, he said. But he says he does appreciate it. He approached the chamber several years ago about the idea of a brew fest, and says he is very pleased to see it come to fruition.