For the third installment of a yearly craft beer festival, the focus has shifted to more local vendors and raising funds to revamp a LaPorte park.
Presented by DeCamp’s Band of Brothers Foundation, the third annual La Pour Brew & Wine Fest on Nov. 18 at La Porte Civic Auditorium benefits the Clarke Park renovation project.
“We’re making an effort to have a little more of the local craft breweries and wineries represented,” said Brett Binversie, director of La Porte Civic Auditorium.
“We had some input last year from event attendees that they’d like to see a little less of the large craft breweries that are represented by distributors and a little more local breweries and drafts from connoisseurs of crafts.”
The more than 25 vendors pouring 50-plus brews and wines include Hammond’s Byway Brewing; LaPorte’s Back Road Brewery; Michigan City’s Burn ‘Em Brewing and Shady Creek Winery; and Munster’s 3 Floyds Brewing Co.
More Top Picks Best Reading Lamps For Low Vision
Other vendors include Bloomington’s Bloomington Brewing Co.; Granger’s Bare Hands Brewery; Indianapolis’ Sun King Brewery and Triton Brewing Co.; Knox’s 10-56 Brewing Co.; and Mishawaka’s Evil Czech Brewery.
“When we started the event three years ago the idea was to have an end-of-the-year beer festival after all the other fests,” said Binversie about the event, which was previously presented by Greater La Porte Chamber of Commerce with funds dedicated to downtown city events or the Maple City Grand Prix.
“We’re the last one in the area for 2017. It takes place in a historic building inside at the La Porte Civic Auditorium that was built and donated to the city of LaPorte in 1930. Having a beer fest inside of a historical gem is one of the things we always wanted to focus on.
“The other thing was to open people to different breweries so people would realize there was more here than just the normal attractions. We wanted to celebrate our local businesses as much as our craft breweries.”
Live music is by Rich Hardesty, an independent singer-songwriter who blends reggae, acoustic, folk and rock for albums that began in the early 1990s and continue with his new EP, “You Know Me.”
“He grew up in LaPorte and lived very close to the park that we’re renovating. We think it will be a nice touch and flavor of having someone of Rich’s caliber playing this event,” said Binversie, LaPorte event coordinator for LaPorte County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
“Clarke Park is located on the southern part of town. That needs some tender, loving care. It also houses a baseball field. It will be a complete renovation where you literally scrape the field and rebuild it. There’ll be new fencing, infield, outfield, bleachers, dugout, etc.
“We’ve been doing other fundraisers for the last three years. We’re currently about to break $100,000 by the end of the year and hope we will be able to break ground in June.”
DeCamp’s Band of Brothers was started in 2014 by board members Darrin Brooks, Mike Riehle and Mark Schreiber, friends of the late Jeff DeCamp, who was on the 1987 LaPorte High School baseball team that won the Indiana state championship.
“Our goal was to make sure we can carry on his name and do good for the public,” said Binversie, a DeCamp’s Band of Brothers board member.
A designated driver ticket, which includes unlimited soft drinks, is $15 for VIP admission and $10 for general admission.
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
La Pour Brew & Wine Fest
When: 1-4 p.m. Nov. 18
Where: La Porte Civic Auditorium, 1001 Ridge St., LaPorte
Tickets: $35 general admission; $55 VIP admission
Information: 219-362-2325; www.facebook.com/LaPourBrewWineFest