The beards and the brews are coming back and they’re bring home the bacon.

The Austin Holiday Inn is sizzling, brewing and growing its way toward the second Brew, Beards & B.S., a craft beer tasting, a beard/mustache competition and a bacon tasting, on March 12.

“It should be a hell of a party,” said organizer Ben Ankeny, the Holiday Inn’s director of catering at the Holiday Inn.

And the $25 event is growing after a successful first year. The craft beer and bacon-tasting will run from 4 to 6 p.m., and Ankeny is aiming to get 10 breweries and he already has eight. Ankeny said they got good feedback and a good response from the breweries last year.

“The breweries loved it,” he said.

At the 2015 event, about 30 to 40 brews — mostly Minnesota beers — were available for sampling by the more than 130 people in attendance.

Awards and the beard contest will be from 6 to 8 p.m., followed by a performance by Minneapolis band 4onthefloor at 9 p.m. All festivities will be in the conference center of the Holiday Inn.

Along with awards for best beard and mustache, Ankeny plans to add more fun, goofy awards like best haircut and more.

Ankeny said he learned a lot from organizing the first Brew, Beards & B.S.

“I learned it was a good time,” he said. “I learned people enjoyed it.”

But he’ll also be doing some things differently.

Bacon was up for sale last year, but will be included in the ticket price this year. This year, bacon will be included in the ticket price, and Ankeny is working to get bacon from several area businesses to sample.

Some people also expressed interest in having more food available this year, so organizers plan to add some food to the pre-function area outside the event center.

And with all the food, brews and beards, Ankeny said a key part of the event is simply having fun and chatting.

“The focal point is to have a good time,” Ankeny said.

Last year’s beard contest and brew sipping got good reviews from those attending. People like Catherine Haslag and Shawn Martin, both of Austin, said they enjoyed the opportunity to try craft beers from about seven breweries, including many flavors not normally available in Austin.

“I think stuff like this is exactly what Austin needs,” Martin said.

For more, visit www.facebook.com/Brew-Beard-Bullsit-674584726000869/?fref=ts.

Breweries signed up so far

Fulton Brew

Forager Brew

F-Town Brew

Indeed Brewing

Northgate Brewing

Brau Brothers

612 Brew

Bauhaus Brew Labs

Brew, Beards & B.S.

 When: March 12. 4 to 6 p.m. craft beer and bacon sampling, 6 to 8 p.m. awards, 9 p.m. 4onthefloor performance.

Where: Holiday Inn & Conference Center, 1701 Fourth St. NW in Austin

Cost: $25.