Press Club fundraiser celebrates art of brewing

By MIKE AVERILL World Staff Writer - 11/4/2009


More beers, new flavors and a new location highlight this year's First Draft, the Tulsa Press Club's annual beer-tasting fundraiser and celebration of the brewing arts.

The tasting will feature 65 beers representing about 25 styles, ranging from Ommegang Abbey Ale and Belhaven Scottish Lager to Warsteiner Dunkel and Anchor Porter.

Because of the construction in the Atlas Life Building where the Press Club is located, the event is being held 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday at the Blue Dome Diner, 311 E. Second St.

"We may be a little less spread out, but we have a workable plan where people won't be packed in too tightly. We want people to move around and sample beers," said Ed Bettinger, First Draft spokesman.

Also new this year is a section devoted to Oklahoma beers.

"We've got five breweries in Oklahoma now," he said. "We're going to have all five represented."

From Tulsa, Marshall Brewing Co. will have its Oktoberfest and McNellie's Pub Ale on hand. Choc Beer Co., in Krebs, will have its Last Laugh, 1919, Miner Mishap and Pietro Piegari.

From Oklahoma City will be Battered Boar Brewery's Briarpatch Amber, Mustang Brewing Co.'s Golden Ale and COOP Ale Works' Zeppelin German Wheat, Native Amber and Gran Sport Porter.

"It's refreshing to be able to talk about having some Oklahoma products here," Bettinger said. "We'll have them all together and have a little taste of Oklahoma right there at First Draft."

The Fellowship of Oklahoma Ale Makers (FOAM) is bringing a cream ale and a cherry chocolate stout as well as some homemade wine, and the owners of High Gravity will have some samplings as well. Food will be catered by the Blue Dome Diner.

Making a comeback this year is the beer-theme T-shirt competition.

The competition is informal. Just wear your favorite beer, brewery or pub shirt, and Kristin Dickerson, emcee and Channel 8 morning news anchor, will select finalists from the crowd.

Proceeds from the event support the Press Club's mission of promoting excellence in journalism, encouraging the exchange of ideas between news media and the community, and encouraging students to pursue careers in journalism.

All attendees receive a pint glass and a magazine-style program and T-shirts, and additional pint glasses may be purchased.





FIRST DRAFT, FIFTH EDITION

When: 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday

Where: Blue Dome Diner, 311 E. Second St.

Cost: $35 or $60 per couple in advance and $40 at the door; Tulsa Press Club, 583-7737, mail@tulsapressclub.org. Tickets come with souvenir pint glass.

Online: tulsaworld.com/firstdraft



Mike Averill 581-8489
mike.averill@tulsaworld.com


_________________________________________________

Tulsa World Reader Comments
_________________________________________________

Arbythree, Tulsa (11/4/2009 1:44:19 PM)
MMMMMM Beer.

lucky girl, mine (11/4/2009 1:49:55 PM)
Beer? Where? When?

2nTulsa, Tulsa (11/4/2009 3:07:16 PM)
yum

Tulsa Kayaker, Tulsa (11/4/2009 3:23:08 PM)
Outstanding!

SRV, (11/5/2009 10:15:04 AM)
Choc beer is RIGHT ON!



Email to a Friend
Main Menu