The 16th Annual American Red Cross Battle of the Brews will be setting up its tents this upcoming Travers weekend, with a taste for everyone from the occasional sipper to the certified cicerone.
On Saturday, Aug. 23, from noon to 4 p.m., the yearly event will feature more than 30 New York and national brewers brought by DeCrescente Distributing Co. right inside of the Saratoga Race Course next to the carousel. All of the proceeds go directly to the local chapter of the American Red Cross.
For those new to the event, visitors pay a flat fee of $40 at the gate, or $35 online prior to the event. Group rates are available, including groups of 10 or more at $30 a ticket; 25 or more at $25 a ticket. Participants receive their tickets, gaining them access to sample eight different, 4 oz beers. If drinking aficionados want to dabble with a few more brewskis, they must go through a sobriety checkpoint in order to receive more tickets.
“We always have posters and signs everywhere listing local cab services and, obviously, no one under 21 is allowed in,” said Kara Livingston, of the American Red Cross.
For those that want to still keep their eyes on the racetrack, TV monitors will be hanging by the brewery tent.
Each year, the event draws in roughly 1,000 visitors, and raises nearly $25,000 for the American Red Cross local chapter. Gary Ferris, executive director at American Red Cross of the Adirondack-Saratoga Chapter, said the idea for the battle came from a board member who was thinking of new ways to raise money for the chapter.
“At that time, wine tastings were becoming popular. He had the idea with the racetrack and the big crowd … maybe do a fundraiser that’s a little different than wine tasting,” Ferris said. “It was a nice fit because of the nature of the track meet every year in the summer.”
This year, brewers include Long Trail, Blue Moon, Magic Hat, Sierra Nevada and Ommegang. Brewers often bring specialty beers specifically for the battle. This year, Adirondack Brewery will be featuring their Dirty Blonde Pale Ale straight through a firkin, an English-styled small barrel.
“A lot of people coming already know what Dirty Blonde is because it’s one of our more popular beers, but this gives it a huge grapefruit aroma and flavor. It’s really good,” said Laura Stevens, of Adirondack Brewery.
Melissa Hildreth, branch coordinator at DeCrescente Distributing based in Mechanicville, said the event is always fun and filled with a wide variety of different flavors. There are even some gluten-free beers, including those from New York brewery Steadfast. Brewers will also offer their seasonal beers, including summer choices and the start of the fall selections.
“There’s something for everyone’s taste. We have some beers that are a little more out there in the taste profile, and some that are little more common,” Hildreth said. “Craft beer drinkers just starting out, (it) won’t be too aggressive but won’t be bored. No one will have to be worried either way.”
The battle will occur throughout the day, as the “Thoroughbrews,” all homebrew enthusiasts, judge the brews. Ticketholders can also vote for the people’s choice. By the end of the event, three awards for win, place and show will be given out.
“It’s Travers week, so it’s very crowded. There’s a lot of people there excited about the weekend in general. It’s just a nice, relaxing, lazy afternoon for people that go,” Livingston said.
For more information, visit http://www.redcross.org/news/event/Battle-of-the-Brews-2013.