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Last year’s OKBio BrewFest, an annual fundraiser that features local breweries, was such a success that it has moved into a ballpark.
“We are excited about the new venue,” said Scott Meacham, president and CEO of OKBio and i2E. “It means we will have plenty of parking and plenty of space, and it means we can make this a bigger event every year.”
This year, vendors include 14 breweries, distilleries and wineries. Many are return visitors, including Roughtail Brewing Company of Midwest City. Co-owner Blaine Stansell said Roughtail will be pouring four beers, including its new Pumpkin Latte Stout.
“It’s 3.2 offering,” Stansell said of the percent of alcohol in the brew, “but the body is still excellent. Very similar to Guinness, in fact. We added lactose to beef up the body, and the vanilla beans and chocolate really add to the flavor.”
In addition to the Pumpkin Latte Stout, Roughtail will also pour IPA, Polar Night and 12th Round.
Black Mesa Brewing Company, fresh off its gold medal win at the World Beer Cup, also will be pouring a few beers. Brad Stumph, co-owner of Black Mesa, said it will offer Black Mesa Blonde, Alexander Supertramp Doppelbock and the Double ESB Endless Skyway Bitter.
Many of the breweries — COOP Ale Works, Choc Beer Company and Anthem Brewing Company — are familiar to fans of local beer, but a few names are not as well-known around the metro. Elk Valley Brewing Co., also of Midwest City, just got approval for its first labels in spring. BrewFest will be a chance for Oklahoma City beer lovers to get out and meet brewmaster John Elkins.
Two of the state’s distilleries, Prairie Wolf Spirits and Scissortail Distillery, also will be at the event, as will representatives from beer enthusiast groups like Yeastie Boys and Red Earth Brewers.
There will be a lot of beer, discovery and tasting happening on Nov. 6, but the underlying goal of the festival is to raise the public profile of biosciences across the state.
“The idea is to raise awareness of the Oklahoma Bioscience Association (OKBio) and to expose these excellent local breweries, distilleries and wineries to even more people,” Meacham said.
Guests mingle at last year’s BrewFest. This year, organizers moved to a bigger venue, Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. (Provided)
Guests mingle at last year’s BrewFest. This year, organizers moved to a bigger venue, Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. (Provided)
Meacham believes this festival offers the best of both.
He said OKBio has approximately 50 members, including companies in every size range.
OKBio, established in 2008, is a nonprofit that helps provide focus and drives growth in the state’s burgeoning bioscience industry.
“We have a very dynamic biomedical and bioscience community in Oklahoma,” Meacham said. “It’s a growing sector that is increasing in importance in terms of the state’s economic growth.”
i2E (Innovation to Enterprise) inherited BrewFest a couple years ago with a goal to expand. Meacham said tickets sell fast, but Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark allows for a lot of festival growth.
The evening’s festivities include live entertainment from Hosty Duo, featuring longtime local guitarist Mike Hosty and two-piece drummer Michael “Tic Tac” Byars. The pair’s music incorporates everything from thigh-slaps to kazoo playing, foot-stomping to sing-alongs.
Meacham said ballpark vendors will be open to sell food.
What you get
• Designated driver tickets are $15 and include two nonalcoholic drinks and a free t-shirt.
• Full-price general admission ($25) includes a 14-oz mug; a free t-shirt to the first 300 guests; and samples of local craft beers, wine and spirits.
• Free parking is available at Chevy Bricktown Events Center and on Joe Carter and Reno avenues.
• Live music from Hosty Duo.
OKBio BrewFest
5-7 p.m. Nov. 6
Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark
2 S. Mickey Mantle Dr.
okbio.org
$15-$25
Must be 21 to attend
Click here to read the article at the Oklahoma Gazette website
