Brewski mobbed Saturday with over 1,500 participants

by Dan McClelland

Attendance at this weekend's chamber of commerce-sponsored Brewski at the golf course exceeded organizers' wildest expectations. The sixth annual event drew about 1,500 people from all across the state to walk, ski or snowshoe the new 1.5 mile long trail, part of the James C. Frenette Recreational Trail complex.

Attendance this year dwarfed last winter's Brewski which was the best attended one to date with 350 registrants.

The weather was perfect for it with the mercury hovering in the 30s most of the day. The sunshine that was forecast didn't materialize, but otherwise it was a glorious day for a winter event.

By 10:30a.m. that morning the line was already forming in front of the pro shop which had been opened for registrations for both the Brewski and the Lions Club's annual Fire and Ice Golf Tournament. The events didn't begin until noon.

The line got longer and continued in front of the building until mid-afternoon, with the place packed with would-be registrants inside.

At 2p.m. chamber treasurer Sandy Strader, who was working the registration booth, had already registered over 1,100 people who paid $15 for the privilege of sipping craft beer vendors samples along the trail.

Christine Day, in her first event as the chamber's new event coordinator, figures that in addition to the number who paid to sample the ales, there were another 300 or 400 Brewski attendees who didn't sign up to drink plus many children.

Many visitors took advantage of a concession provided by High Peaks Cyclery that the chamber had asked to come and rented skis, snowshoes and fat tired bikes- which are all the rage these days. The chamber hired the vendor and in turn rented the equipment to Brewskiers for $10 per set.

From the event the local chamber again intends to make a significant contribution to the town's trail system at the golf course.

The event drew people from all over the state including Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, as well as many from the North Country. Christine said she and the chamber board members haven't analyzed registration materials to find out where exactly people originated.

The trail conditions were excellent that day, thanks to the grooming efforts of John Gillis and his crew.

Even walking the packed trail was without difficulty.

There were nine craft beer vendors in all, finishing up with the hometown's premier brewery, Raquette River, just shy of the finish line, tucked over beyond the bridge next to the driving range.

The Lions Club's Fire and Ice golf in the snow was again popular, drawing seven three-person teams.

Hitting colorful tennis balls around a five-hole course can be challenging.

At the end of trail was the Lion's popular cook shack where many participants grabbed a tasty burger or hot dog, smothered in Lions onions, before heading home. By mid-afternoon there were long lines there at the port-a-johns near the Lions booth.

The Lions held an awards ceremony at Lakeview Lanes after the 4p.m. close of the event.

Many of the participants too enjoyed the barbecued fare of John Gillis and his family at mid-way near Cranberry Pond with all proceeds going to maintenance of the trail network.

The Lions maintained a bon fire for the entire afternoon, which drew participants.

This year the local Lions again ran their 50-50 drawing which this year netted the biggest prize pot yet of $2,600. Tupper Lake's high school athletic director, Dan Brown, was a happy man that day as the prize winner.

The other $2,600 in the promotion will benefit the service club's support of many community activities here.

This year for the first time there were fires at each of the craft beer stops for people to enjoy.

This year organizer Christine Day had encouraged each craft beer vendor to bring two small kegs to provide their two-ounce samples to vendors. With the huge, unanticipated crowd many of the vendors ran out of beer by 3p.m. or so.

Often times there were long lines at each beer station.

Mark Jessie of Raquette River Brewing came prepared, however. His four large kegs each carrying 15 and a half gallons were enough to satisfy the thirsty crowd all afternoon, despite long lines there.

Another vendor who brought enough beer was a new participant, Hex and Hop.

Christine said this week that she was elated by the turn-out and is already looking forward to next year.

She figures next year there will be a three-keg minimum for the craft brewers, with the chamber perhaps purchasing the third, with donations by vendors of the first two.

News of the event was advertised on Facebook and there were stories carried about it in the local newspapers.

The events Saturday drew many people to town for several days, judging by the increased trade seen in local businesses as early as Friday and on Saturday evening too after the event.

Congratulations to the organizers of Saturday's Brewski and Fire and Ice tournament on a great winter event.