Somerville’s Ball Square Fine Wines gets crowded during tastings. Its 5th Annual Craft Brewers Fest was Monday. Pictured is a 2009 event. (Photo: Ball Square Fine Wines)

Monday night saw lines out the door for the 5th Annual Craft Brewers Fest at Ball Square Fine Wines & Liquors in Somerville, and for good reason. With 45 local samplings, there was something for everyone, from the crisp, summery Golden Ale out of Mayflower Brewery in Plymouth to the serious, oak-infused notes of the bourbon-barrel aged Descendant courtesy of Mystic Brewery in Chelsea.

Each brewer was happy to refill glasses and tell the story of what you were drinking. Tasters learned about the locally grown grains from Hadley that go into Brewmaster Jack’s Total Eclipse porter, and the exclusivity of the 15 cases of Fontini that Idle Hands whipped up specifically for the Craft Brewers Fest.

Handling with finesse what could easily have been chaos were support manager Jonathan Vargas ushering newcomers to less crowded tables and owner and spirits buyer Chris Lianos handing out glasses and admonishing everyone to try the complimentary pastries made by his wife.