The Maine Lakes Brew Fest, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Point Sebago Resort in Casco, will feature 26 brewers and even more beers.
The event, which will be held rain or shine, is described as the region’s biggest party, and will include 16 food vendors and musical entertainment in addition to the beer, cider and wine being served.
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Billi Lynn Burke — who also goes by the name Mrs. Tux – said there are a number of changes this year. For starters, there are three huge tents, so if the weather gets bad, everyone will be able to stay dry. In addition, the festival has improved the sound, so people will be able to hear the music no matter which tent they are in.
Music will be provided by Mr. Tux, who also is the master of ceremonies, and Random Order from Raymond. The Disclaimers, who also appeared last year, will be closing the show.
“We have beer, wine and cider,” Burke said. “The cider has been very popular for the past couple of years, and it is going to go under the wine category in the People’s Choice voting.”
Gates will be opening at 10:30 a.m., but the brewers will not begin serving until 11 a.m. Burke said the early opening is designed to reduce lines. The taps will stop flowing at 4 p.m.
Tickets to the brew fest are $25 if you order them online at mainelakesbrewfest.com and $30 if you pay at the gate. With that, you get 10 tickets good for 4-ounce glasses of beer or 2-ounce glasses of wine.
That might create a problem, given that there are 26 brewers on hand, and most will have more than one offering. It is going to take some strategy in making the choices.
One of my choices will be in the Samuel Adams Beer Lovers Choice contest — the annual contest that has resulted in such beers as Noble Pils coming to the Samuel Adams lineup.
The two choices this year are Oaked Ale and Maple Pecan Porter. I expect I am going to prefer the Oaked Ale, but I will want to try both.
I am going to have to try some Shag Rock out of Rockland, because I have had only two of their beers — and I think one of them might have had a problem in the brewing. I will have some Oak Pond out of Skowhegan, because their beers are tough to find.
Sebago Brewing Co. is a sponsor, so it probably will have one of its specialty brews. And Bray’s, which is one of the food vendors, is likely to have something special on tap as well.
I have been a fan of Otter Creek from Vermont, so I will see what they have, and probably will have one.
That is seven out of the 10 right there, and I haven’t even had a chance to see if any of my regular brewers have brought something special with them.
The rule again is not to waste a ticket on anything I have had before.
NARRAGANSETT BEER has been holding its Neighbor Day Celebration Series since Aug. 30, and it comes to a conclusion on Friday in Portland.
The tour is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. at the Great Lost Bear, 540 Forest Ave., and end at Mama’s Crowbar, 189 Congress St. Stops in between will include Brian Boru, 54 Center St.; Nosh, 551 Congress St.; and the Thirsty Pig, 37 Exchange St.
Other stops and exact times will be announced on Twitter@GansettBeer. Each bar stop will feature games, giveaways — including T-shirts and coozies – and goodwill rounds of beer by the ‘Gansett team.
PUMPKINHEAD ALE fans can help support the ballet from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Portland Ballet Studios, 517 Forest Ave.
“Pumpkinhead & Primas,” sponsored in part by Shipyard Brewing, will include a sneak preview of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” which the ballet will be performing in two shows Oct. 15 at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center, 471 Stroudwater St.
In addition to the ballet preview, Friday’s event will include bar games, Shipyard Pumpkinhead, and beer and ballet trivia. Admission is a suggested donation of $10. For details, call 772-9671 or visit portlandballet.org.
Staff Writer Tom Atwell can be contacted at 791-6362 or at: tatwell@pressherald.com
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