WinterFest Brings Out Beer Connoisseurs
By Lauren Poster
Market Common and Festival Promotions partnered once again this past weekend to bring WinterFest to Valor Park in Myrtle Beach. Sponsored also by Piggly Wiggly and the Surge Magazine, the event took place January 16th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is one of three major Beer Fests presented by Festival Promotions. Featuring more than 25 traditional winter brews as well as a cold-weather menu, the festival filled outdoor tents despite the recent nonstop barrage of inclement weather along the Strand. Attendee Kevin McCallum said “the turnout here is really good, considering.” Already at the park for an hour, the weather wasn’t deterring him from a good time.
The festivals are intended to allow people to congregate in a safe and responsible environment while filling themselves to the brim with bubbly, hopsy libations. As any reasonably experienced drinker can tell you, mixing doesn’t always end in matching. Layering a frosty mug of Sierra Nevada on top of a Magic Hat may, for some, result in the kind of oil and water debacle so heavily cautioned against in 9th grade science class. Apropos of that, Tropical Taxi was on hand to make sure all festival-goers reached home safely and soberly.
That being said, these events are held in the daytime and are very family-friendly. This is not intended to be a raucous all-night rager, but more a chance for connoisseurs to experience the differences among seasonal ales. Dogs are always welcome at these events, and Saturday was no exception. Goldies nuzzled each other cautiously as children in hot-pink high-tops chased each other with gleeful abandon. As has become customary at the Beer Fests, purchases are made with tickets, not with money. The tickets were sold at the event or could be pre-purchased exclusively at the Market Common Piggly Wiggly. For varying costs, everything from chicken bog and chili to a bushel of oysters was available, all stout offerings meant to combat the cold.
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Mike Shank of Festival Promotions was very hands-on at the event. He could be seen moving, Frogger-like, between the long rows of tables, hauling giant empties of oyster shells and helping to clear tables for more people anxious for a seat. Mike says that social media played a large part in getting the word out about the event, as well as radio ads and a partnership with Market Common and the Surge. He says the Beer Fests are all similar in that he “tried to put together some events where people (can) enjoy a variety of beers,” but they all have their own individual themes, like the German-oriented Octoberfest, or March’s Irish Festival.
A favorite tent at WinterFest was the “Age Your Own” whiskey station from Thousand Oaks Barrel Company, selling bootleg kits and small barrels in which you can age your own blend of whiskey in a two- to four-month time period. Because, let’s face it, the best part about winter is the hibernating and the waiting. And the eating. And drinking.
Hatton Gravely, marketing manager for The Market Common, was excited about the turnout – “better than I expected” – and the bands lined up to play the event. Paul Grimshaw played earlier in the day, and the Potatoheads were scheduled to hit the stage at around 3 p.m. “They’re both really laid-back and acoustic,” Gravely said. She was also anxious to share future plans for the coming year, including the Coastal Uncorked Festival, a non-profit wine and food event scheduled in May, whose proceeds will go to benefit area higher education institutions.
But getting back to the brewskie, as I always like to do: check out myrtlebeachbeerfest.com for a full list of upcoming events and sponsors, as well as the brands and brews that will be featured. Don’t miss another one of these fun events!
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