Hard Truth Harvest Festival 2026: Dark Roast Rye Release

The Brown County, Indiana distillery’s fall celebration returns Saturday, Sept. 26, with live music, festival games, and the final Master Distiller’s Reserve release of 2026.

NASHVILLE, IN — September 8, 2026 — Hard Truth Distilling Co. is bringing back its Harvest Festival for a third year on Saturday, September 26, turning its Brown County campus into a full fall celebration complete with live music, local vendors, seasonal food, and the release of its newest limited whiskey, Master Distiller’s Reserve Dark Roast Rye.

Hard Truth Operations Development Director Chris Curtin said the festival is meant to be an event for the whole crew, with the distillery campus decked out for fall and plenty to keep every guest entertained.

Every ticketed guest receives a pumpkin to decorate, and the terrace will host games including pumpkin bowling and inflatable ax throwing. Musical acts Sydney Adams and Michelle Robinson headline the main stage, The Amazing Dennis Experience brings two magic shows to the terraces, and Master Distiller Bryan Smith will host a Meet the Makers session tied to the Dark Roast Rye release.

Dark Roast Rye rounds out Hard Truth’s 2026 Master Distiller’s Reserve lineup, blending two of the distillery’s popular limited rye mash bills — Caramel Malt and Chocolate Malt. It debuts exclusively on the Hard Truth campus at Harvest Festival before wider distribution rolls out in the following weeks.

VIP ticket holders get access to a dedicated VIP tent with a cigar lounge and bar, two included drinks, whiskey samples, an exclusive Meet the Makers session with Smith, and featured pours from Desnuda Tequila.

Curtin said the event has been refined over three years into a more engaging experience than ever, adding the team is looking forward to welcoming everyone back.

Event Details
Date/Time: Saturday, Sept. 26, 3–9 p.m.

Tickets:

General Admission (19+): $20 ($15 early-bird through Sept. 11) — event access + pumpkin
General Admission (18 and under): Free — event access + pumpkin
VIP Admission (21+): $60 ($50 early-bird through Sept. 11) — event access, pumpkin, VIP tent with dedicated bar, two included drinks, cigar bar, whiskey samples, exclusive Meet the Makers, Desnuda Tequila experiences