Center's fundraising expands to beer festival

The Community Counseling Center's benefit wine festival has long been a popular local event. Now the not-for-profit wants to take that success and branch out to beer.

On Oct. 6 the organization will host its first Cape Girardeau Craft Beer Festival at Arena Park, inside the 4-H and Bank of America show arenas.

"There are over 20 craft beer microbreweries attending," said Larry Essner, executive director of the Community Counseling Center Foundation.

A microbrewery is a brewery that produces a limited amount of beer each year.

According to the American Brewers Association's website, a craft brewery is "small, independent and traditional." Small means an annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less. A barrel is equivalent to 31 U.S. gallons.

Goose Island Beer from Chicago, Ferguson Brewing Co. from Ferguson, Mo., Blue Moon Brewing from Golden, Colo., Samuel Adams from Boston and Big Sky Brewing Co. from Missoula, Mont., will join local brewers such as John A Huber Brewing Co. and Buckner Brewing Co. for the event.

Garen Miller, an architect working on a project with the Community Counseling Center, initially suggested a craft beer festival.

"He's from St. Louis," Essner said, "and has attended some events there. He home brews. He said he would support it and sponsor if we had one."

The center has held 11 wine tasting events. The last one was in April.

"We did a survey there -- if we did have the benefit, would they come? The survey helped decide to get it going," Essner said.

A committee of about 15 people was formed and began planning the event last May. Some of the volunteers had been involved in previous Community Counseling Center events and some were from the local beer distributors.

"Various people would come forward that wanted to help get this thing going," Essner said.

For the price of attendance, guests will be able to taste products from more than 20 microbreweries from around the country. There will be a sampling of more than 70 beers. Each microbrewer is donating time and products for the event.

Additionally, each participant will get a tasting glass, and there will be demonstrations of home-brewing techniques.

Pat Schwent performs at the wine tasting benefits. For the Craft Beer Festival, Schwent found German musicians and will lead them for the afternoon. The band will be set up between buildings. The road leading through the park beside the livestock arenas will be closed.

Food will be available to purchase from Cook's Bar-B-Que and catering from Jackson.

Drawings for gift baskets and other prizes all afternoon will be held every hour. The event runs from noon to 4 p.m.

"I want to invite everyone to come out, taste a variety of beer," Essner said, adding, "You must be 21 to get in."

Proceeds will benefit the Community Counseling Center Foundation to be used for improving facilities, equipment and services for people with mental illness.

Tickets are $30 in advance and can be purchased from all Community Counseling Center locations, Bluff City Beer Co., Dirt Cheap in Cape Girardeau, John Huber Home Brew Supply in Fruitland, Kidd's Gas Stops, Montgomery Bank in Cape Girardeau and Jackson, Primo Vino and P-Mac Music.

Tickets can be purchased at the gate the day of the event for $35.

Pertinent address:

Arena Park, Cape Girardeau MO