Did you know that your neighbor brews their own dark lager? Well you might just learn that very fact on Feb. 10 at the Black River Coliseum during the Brews in the Bluff event.
This year’s event appears to be the largest one yet as a crowd of 450 is expected to check out the products from different brewers from all over the area who plan to attend.
“Our response from actual brewers from as far away as Memphis, Springfield and St. Louis has been incredible,” exclaimed Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce President Steve Halter. “We have also opened the event up to wineries and distilleries. And we have a lot of home brewers from Southeast Missouri. They will all be competing for the People’s Choice award.”
Halter explained this year’s event will have more going on with the addition of wineries and distilleries, in addition to live music being performed to help maintain a casual atmosphere. According to Halter, there will be over 125 different beers for people to sample, in addition to food provided by Castello’s Restaurant in Poplar Bluff.
“We are having live music, games, a 50/50 drawing and Castello’s is catering,” Halter explained. “We have it indoors so people don’t have to worry about the weather.”
Halter went on to explain there is still plenty of space for more people to buy tickets to attend due to the fact that the event will be at the Black River Coliseum. In addition to purchasing regular tickets for the event, people also have the option of purchasing VIP tickets.
“Our VIP ticket sales have been excellent,” Halter remarked. “Probably 2 out of every 3 tickets sold are VIP.
“We will have special pours and a larger, souvenir, cup for our VIP ticket holders. Plus, they get to enjoy the event for an hour before the general admission ticket holders.”
Halter said the previous year’s event was a big success, and that makes him even more hopeful for this and future events to bring more people into Poplar Bluff.
“All of our local distributors have really stepped up as well,” Halter stated. “Companies such as Wil Fischer, Kohlfeld and BreakThru Beverages. Big Whiskeys will be pouring their house brand bourbon during the VIP hour.”
Brews in the Bluff is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Saturday for the VIP tickets holders first and then general admission. The event is scheduled to end at 7 p.m.