Fun and games with beer!

Written by on April 5, 2022 in Bars, Taprooms - No comments

After a couple of years of COVID shutdown, I think we are all up for some good clean fun. And what goes better with good clean fun than good craft beer? Here are four athletic?? events at some of our local breweries. Let’s start from least athletic to most athletic.

Ill Mannered Alternative Sports Extravaganza Palooza – This will be the Second Annual edition, after the inaugural event in 2019. On Saturday April 30th, you will have the opportunity to compete in four events that will include Cowboy-Ninja-Grizzly Bear (think full body Rock-Paper-Scissors), a Staring Contest, a Coin Flip-off, and a Guess-the-Number contest. Decidedly non-athletic, but likely a lot of fun as you are cheered on or heckled by the crowd. Entry will be limited to 16 or 32 in a March Madness-style single elimination bracket. Entry tickets go on sale on Friday, April 1 for $30. Entrants will receive a commemorative t-shirt and a ½ liter stein filled with beer. There will be prizes for first, second, third, and last. Owner/brewer Tom Ayers describes the event as “a whole bunch of silliness”, which seems like a good thing. This will all take place between noon and four with time-outs between events for trivia and beer drinking.

Next up and ever so slightly athletic is Trek Brewery’s 0.5K Fun Run. Also, back after a two-year layoff is the Second Annual Run With a Point. On Saturday, April 16th at 11:30, you can run the POINT 5K run to support the Licking County Family YMCA. The $30 entry fee includes a $5 donation to the LCYMCA, custom t-shirt, and your first beer. Be prepared for a grueling 0.5K lap around the parking lot!

Then there is the barely athletic Third Annual Columbus Bier Run at Hofbrauhaus on June 4th. The wall/run is 2.5 miles with a pause every half mile for a beer! Once done, you will receive a Columbus Beer Run glass, an event t-shirt, and a free mug of beer. If you are feeling particularly wild-and-crazy, there is also a costume contest. The event costs $35. I have to admit to having participating in this fun run a couple years ago, and the pre-party and after-party are great fun. I was particularly impressed by those runners pounding liters of beer at the pre-race party. And after the run, you might want to try a Shotski.

Lastly, is the Beer Mile at Hoof Hearted in Marengo. It is a shorter run, but more beer! The one-mile run is four laps around the quarter mile wooded trail behind the taproom. Chug a 12 oz. can of beer at the start, run a lap, chug a beer, run a lap, chug a beer, run a lap, chug a beer, run a lap and you’re done. What could go wrong. BTW, if you spew, you run a penalty lap. There are prizes and a raffle as well. The event is Saturday May 7 from noon to 5, and the entry is only $12. You can also hitch a ride to the event from Hoof Hearted’s Italian Village Brewpub for $15. The bus leaves at noon and returns at 5.

About the Author

Bill Babbitt is a retired engineer, beer lover, and freelance writer for Beer Advocate Magazine.

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