Big Brew-ski on tap for Saturday

by Dan McClelland

There are expected to be 1,000 people or more at the Tupper Lake Chamber of Commerce's Brew-ski at the golf course Saturday. More brewers than ever will be showcasing their brews.

The chamber will again create its major winter event in cooperation with the Tupper Lake Lions Club's 11th annual Fire & Ice golf tournament (see story this week).

In February 2020- before the pandemic- the Brew-ski and Fire & Ice drew over 1,200 people to the course on a sunny winter day, with the mercury hovering about 25 degrees F. It was picture perfect weather for a winter event.

Chamber Events Coordinator Christine Day said Thursday that the chamber's plan this year is to cap the number of attendees at 1,000. That way there will be enough beer for the craft beer fans to sample, she explained.

The brewers and brewing companies that will be showing off their fine beverage products for everyone to sample will be: Ausable Brewing, Hex and Hop, Lake Placid Pub and Brewery, Big Slide Brewhouse, In-Law Brewing, Paradox Brewery, Raquette River Brewing, Wood Boat Brewing, Rareform Brewing, Township 7 Brewing, Northway Brewing Company, Oval Brewing Company and Woodland Farm Brewery. At least four of them have participated at past brew and ski events produced by the chamber.

Nine brewers were on site at the 2020 event.

As of Thursday 700 tickets have already been sold for Saturday's event and Ms. Day figured all 1,000 will eventually be sold- presenting a banner attendance.

For the price of a $20 ticket, each participant receives one sample at each of the 13 brewing booths set up around the upper nine.

This is Ms. Day's second time running the event. Last year's Brew-ski was cancelled because of Covid-19. The chamber's board of directors organized two or three Brew-skis before Christine joined the team.

Before the huge turn-out in 2020 it typically attracted 400 to 500 craft beer fans, who walked, skied or snowshoed around the frozen upper nine, enjoying the various craft beers.

Ms. Day and the chamber organizers are aiming to provide a great experience for all attendees this year. There are more bathrooms available this year, including the new heated ones in the town's renovated pro shop. The chamber is paying each brewer a nominal fee this year to make sure they have enough beer on hand for all the samplers.

“The only complaints we heard in 2020- because we were overwhelmed with the big crowd- was the need for more bathrooms and more beer, so we've taken care of that on both fronts. We also offered pre-sale tickets this year which we didn't have in 2020,” so we'll have a better gauge of the size of the crowd we'll see Saturday.

The Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) strategic planning team is expected to have a table at the event to explain details of the $10 million grant program to local and area business people who may be interested in participating.

The chamber plans on erecting a 20 foot by 20 foot tent with sides and equipped with a portable heater just outside the pro shop and that's where people who bought their tickets early and those who still need to buy them will be registered.

“We're hoping people who have already purchased their tickets on-line will have a copy of their receipt so their registration will go very quickly.” For those without receipts their names will be checked off against the chamber's master list of ticket buyers by Ms. Day inside the pro shop.

Also inside the now-heated pro shop, the Lions Club will have a table to register the snow golf teams and sell the club's 50-50 tickets. With the Lions inside will be the folks from K&W Ranch with their food-infused treats. The chamber volunteers will also have a table where Brew-ski souvenirs will be sold. Included will be two-colored long sleeved t-shirts, knit caps and ball caps, also in two colors, silicone pint glasses and dog bowls, as the event is pet friendly.

High Peak Cyclery of Lake Placid will be bringing its fleet of fat-tired bikes for visitors to navigate the golf course trails. The company, however, won't be bringing its cross-country ski equipment to loan as it has in the past.

Both the Brew-ski and Fire & Ice run from noon to 4p.m. and the long range weather for Saturday is calling for the mercury in the mid 20s.

The Tupper Lake Lions Club will again be selling their locally famous hot dogs and hamburgers, smothered in Lions onions if participants wish. The Lions will be set up next to the large fire pit on the southern edge of the driving range.

Also selling their food products will be Tyler's Pizza of Tupper Lake from its food trailer.

The chamber will again run its Brew-ski costume contest, inviting participants to dream up and wear whacky apparel. The first place prize is $50. The second best costume will win its owner a Brew-ski shirt. A couple or group in costume can also win them $50. A couple or group whose costumes are judged to be the second most creative will win a host of chamber souvenirs.

“The costume theme is Brew-ski....skiing and drinking beer,” the event coordinator explained. “We're expecting to see a lot of very interesting costumes, judging by the contest at the 2020 event.”

Full event details can be found at tupperlake.com or on the Brew-ski site on Facebook.