The Morton Grove Park District’s second event aimed at an adult demographic drew more than 100 people Feb. 21.
Some of those in the amiable “Snowshoes and Cold Brews” crowd said they thought Morton Grove may have invented a new type of winter activity or festival.
People arrived at the Morton Grove American Legion Civic Center starting at 11 a.m. and got rental snowshoes. Most then walked or drove a block west to Linne Woods, fastened on the snowshoe bindings and made their way down the winter trails.
Between noon and 1 p.m., they returned to the Civic Center’s main hall, where several craft brewers had tables set up and were handing out tastings of ales and lagers.
“We really enjoyed the snowshoeing, and it was a new attraction to pair it with the beer tasting,” said Kristen Rohder of Chicago, who was tasting a beer with friends.
“Only at first we thought we’d have to showshoe to the beer,” she said, laughing.
Todd Britt of Chicago works for another brewery, Rock Bottom in west suburban Warrenville, and said he was enjoying the tastings after the snowshoe hike. His friend Charlie Knudson of Evanston said he had learned about the fest when his wife saw a flyer promoting it.
Chris Andresen of Emmett’s Brewing Co. said the brewer has locations in Downers Grove, West Dundee and Palatine, but that the bottled beer for the tasting was brewed in Palatine.
After coming in from the cold trail, Ashley Mores of Evanston said she usually picks dark beers in winter because she finds them heartier. She was enjoying one of Emmett’s brews.
So was Jim Demos of Morton Grove, who was tasting beers with his wife Michelle.
“This is a great idea,” he said. “The woods are so close to the Civic Center. It definitely breaks up a winter afternoon.”
“The snowshoeing was a great time,” Michelle Demos commented. “We loved it.”
Another Morton Grove resident, Rosemary Alioto, said she enjoyed the snowshoeing so much she’s going to buy a pair of snowshoes.
“I live close to the woods, and I’m constantly in the woods walking the dog,” she said.
She thanked the park district for hosting the event.
“They have fabulous programming for kids, and it’s nice to have something for adults, too,” she commented.
Matt Seifurt, who was staffing the Lakefront Brewing Inc. booth with Stacy Lafortune, said that as the Milwaukee brewer’s Chicago representative, he usually does one to two tastings a week in summer, but only one or two a month in winter.
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Brian Stanek, a representative for New Belgium, which is based in Colorado, was offering samples of Fat Tire, an amber ale, Snapshot, a wheat beer,Trippel, a traditional Belgium ale and Slow Ride, an easy-drinking India Pale Ale which was released on Jan. 12. He was also handing out branded lip balms and bottle openers.
Revolution Brewing and several other breweries were also handing out tastings. A caterer was selling bratwursts, and many people in the crowd were wearing pretzels on a cord around their necks.
As people of various ages, but predominantly in their 20s and 30s, visited the various breweries and then chatted in groups with friends. Patty Vesper of Chicago said she was glad she came out to snowshoe and sample the brews.
“Otherwise, I would have been at home in my pajamas,” she said.
Pam DeFiglio is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.