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March 4, 2010 - Grand Rapids, Michigan The Power of Beer The Power of Beer Beer can be enjoyed from just about anywhere including bars, restaurants, friends' homes and sporting events. Beer is ever present when folks want to be social and enjoy the company of their fellow patrons. Such is the power of beer that Grand Rapids is able to host the 5th Annual Michigan Brewers Guild Winter Beer Festival at 5/3rd Ball Park. On one Saturday every winter over 4000 people come together to enjoy the many delicacies of over 50 local Michigan brewers. The layout is simple with tents spread out in an open parking lot behind the White Caps Stadium. Enter through the gate and obtain your tokens and your glass; the two most important tools for the day. The tokens allow you to savor either a 3 oz drink for one or a 6 oz drink for two. Crowds huddle in each tent and eagerly wait to taste the next beer and check it off their program. They sip, taste, drink or chug to their heart's content, finish, enjoy and then go back for more. The brewers have but one goal to leave no cup empty during the festival. Music plays, people laugh and beer flows like fountains. The music tent featured Hank Mowery and the Hawktones taking the stage first followed by the rock/soul sounds of Four Finger Five. Fire pits were kept lit to keep people warm and social, giving them the perfect place to stand in a circle and discuss none other than their favorite beer. It seems that I was a rookie at this event showing up unprepared without the infamous "Pretzel Necklace" which wasn't an item sold at the event but had to bring yourself. Food was available and the most cherished item was the full size turkey legs that made each person eating them feel like a king. After indulging in so many different types of Ales, Ambers, Blonde, Dopplebocks, IPAs, Stouts, Wheats and more the event was a complete success. Get ready for next year's 6th Annual Michigan Brewers Guild Winter Beer Festival but remember to buy tickets early. This year's event was sold out weeks in advance. So as not to make the same rookie mistakes I did this year I leave a few key points to remember. 1. Dress warm - it's winter after all and we can mock her all we want but nature is no friend to a body metabolizing beer. 2. Eat food - something before, something during and something after will keep the drinking champ going strong. 3. Stay hydrated - not just beer but water as well to help clear the pallet between each beer to truly enjoy each as they were intended. 4. Bring the Pretzel Necklace. This is only one of the great social festivals for Grand Rapids and Michigan which allows everyone to get out and break that cabin fever. And so with glasses raised high join me in saluting the power of beer.
Adam Schomaker works as a Sales Manager for the Amway Hotel Collection (Amway Grand Plaza, JW Marriott, Downtown Courtyard Hotel). He helps many corporations bring their successful events to the downtown Grand Rapids area. He started his career going to culinary school, right here in Grand Rapids, before shifting his focus to hotel operations then event planning and now finally sales. He helps plan the Celebration on the Grand for “Taste of Downtown” and serves on a board for Paws with a Cause. If you see him out and about downtown at any events stop by and say hi! You can follow him on twitter: @adamschomaker If you are interested in blogging for the "Diary", please email us at: grandrapidssocialdiary@gmail.com Are you in? "Beer" ~ photography by Michael Buck 
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