Meet the Yeast Priests

While you’re at the Art of Beer, say hey to Beaumont’s first craft beer advocacy group the Yeast Preasts. Local beer-lover Jeffrey Wheeler — one of the event’s organizers — is one of the group’s founders, and he’s planning to bring more craft beer to Beaumont than you can shake a drunk stick at.

What started as a beer and wine pairing at Wheeler’s house has grown into a powerful local advocacy group that is bringing more selection to local bars and events.

Wheeler said the group has a number of big events coming up, including the tapping of a cask of Saint Arnold Brewing Company’s Elissa IPA at the Oct. 13 Merchant Soiree at

Art of Beer co-organizer and Yeast Priests co-founder Jeffrey Wheeler enjoys a sampling of a fall craft beer during a tasting at Del Papa. Valentino Mauricio/cat5

Goodfella’s. The group is also working with Miller Liquor to create a “Yeast Priests-approved” tag to tip shoppers off to great new craft beer.

And better yet, the Yeast Priests are planning a craft beer pub crawl downtown in November. Trust us, we’ll have more information about that when it’s time. Because that is awesome.