Drink. Eat. Learn. Repeat! Sounds like the perfect weekend to us at the 8th Annual Kohler Festival of Beer at Destination Kohler. Next weekend, April 29-May 1, will bring together brewmasters from across the country for a weekend perfectly “crafted” for beer enthusiasts.
Guests can take part in an overflow of brew-themed happenings, including food pairings and tastings, educational seminars, and culinary demonstrations. If you’re not quite as craft-focused, there is also an interactive grilling experience and college keg-themed party. Beer lovers, fun lovers, and weekend getaway-ers all will have something to love!
Associate Director of Special Events & Leisure Sales Jenna Check at Destination Kohler is giving us the full breakdown of what we can expect …
DiningOut: What makes Kohler the perfect destination for this fest?
Jenna Check: While it seems there are food and beverage festivals everywhere you turn these days, the [fest] takes place in the Village of Kohler at the Five-Star American Club Resort. The resort has been a favorite destination for Chicagoans over the years because of its easy access to the city and the quiet relaxation the village offers. If you have never visited the Village of Kohler before, now is the perfect time to try it out! Guests looking to get in a round of Championship golf or a service at the Wates Spa have that option as well.
What makes it a beer lover’s paradise?
With 17 ticketed events at this year’s [festival] there is something for everyone. Not only do you have the opportunity to talk with brewmasters at many of the events, you can try exclusive beers along the way. Our participating breweries always bring a sampling of their favorites as well as unique beers for guests to try.
What are the top five beers you are looking forward to tasting the most?
We are doing a FinnRiver dinner in the Immigrant room on Friday night, and all the Ciders that night are going to be great. 3 Sheeps Brewing Co. is bringing their First Kiss, which is an Imperial IPA with honey. Deschuetes Brewery will have The Stoic from their reserve series at Cheers to Beers. Metropolitan Brewing will be pouring Generator as well at Cheers to Beers. 5 Rabbit will have their Paletas at the Craft Beer demonstration in the Winery, a great way to try the beer and learn about the current craft beer trends in the market.
There are lots of classes and interactive classes available. What are two to three that people shouldn’t miss?
I would make sure to attend Friday’s Hops at the Shops to kick the weekend off. On Saturday, the Homebrew Competition is a great way to see some unique beers. Some of our home brewers in the past have gone on to open small breweries, so you could be tasting the next craft beer on the market!
And there’s also a 5K! How do running and beer pair together?
The 5K beer run is the ultimate pairing for guests looking to start their Kohler Festival of Beer Saturday on a good foot. Many of our guests are mindful of their workout routine while away from home and our partnership with Michelob Ultra for this year’s 5K creates this great opportunity to get your morning run in and to enjoy a few beers along the way. In addition to beer along the way, the race gives you beautiful scenery along the way in the Village of Kohler. Finally, there will be a few light snacks at the end of the run to refuel for the remainder of the day.
What are some other things that pair well with beer?
Everyone thinks about cheese pairing well with beer. While this is a great fit, we also like to pair our Kohler Original Recipe Chocolates with beer. Our head chocolatier, Anette Righi DeFendi, is doing two demonstrations for Kohler Festival of Beer this year: one based on chocolate pairing with beer and one based on beer inspired by chocolate.
But wait … there’s more!
We have Hoppy Yoga and the 5K beer run for our beer lovers looking to keep their fitness in mind while away from home. The guests looking to learn some tips to take home can participate in the interactive Grilling Skills event or The Art of Homebrewing. Finally, for the guest just looking to kick back and relax with some great food you can’t go wrong at the alfresco Goose Island Beer Garden and two of our signature events: Shorts and Chefs and Cheers to Beers.
—Interview by Kaleigh Glaza | Contributor
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