Beer festival hopes to raise funds for local nonprofit agency

Beer drinkers from all around the country will unite tonight and tomorrow as Big Red Liquors puts on the largest and most highly-attended beer festival in the Midwest for the 10th time.\nThe beer festival will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Monroe County Convention Center, where attendees can sample over 200 domestic, import and micro-brew products and mingle with brew masters and company representatives from all over the Midwest.\n"Instead of spending too much money at the bars, the event is designed to allow people to try as much as they want of all different kinds of beer," said Chris Ludy, manager of Big Red Liquors on College Avenue.\nBig Red Liquors has been in the Bloomington community for over 25 years. The first beer festival, nine years ago, was introduced by a group of workers who wanted to offer the town a festive outlet for drinking beer.\n"The festival was originally a one-day event," Rob Williamson, promotions director for Big Red Liquors, said. "As attendance rose over the years, it was changed to a two-day event."\nWilliamson said attendees can visit 47 tables with up to eight different types of beer per table. Prizes ranging from wakeboards to neon signs from distributors and other local businesses will be raffled off throughout the evenings. \n"Everyone can expect a fun, laid-back atmosphere and a good time," Williamson said.\nA taxicab phone table will also be set up for people who need assistance getting home. Ludy said several police officers will attend the event, and people can expect to show two forms of photo identification.\n"Big Red is notoriously known for busting people with fake IDs," Williamson said. "If at all possible, we will be even stricter in this event."\nAs state law mandates, proceeds from the event go to a different local organization each year. This year's profits will go to the Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington, in support of its Smart Moves program, which raises awareness about safety, drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Last year, the beer festival raised over $10,000, which will be the monetary goal this year, for WonderLab.\n"Although drinking goes against our beliefs, we are going to make good use of the money," Joe Stebbins, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club, said. "The children who are participating in the program are going to put a different spin on it by encouraging people to drink sensibly and to not drink and drive."\nBig Red Liquors has one of the largest selections of beer, spirits and wine in southern Indiana and Bloomington. Customers often come from over 200 miles away because of Big Red's wide array of products. \nTickets for the festival are available at all Big Red Liquors locations as well as online at www.bigredliquors.com. Presale tickets for tonight are $20 or $25 at the door. Friday night advance tickets are $25 and $30 at the door.\n"A six-pack of beer can cost up to $10," Williamson said. "This is a huge opportunity to treat yourself nice, while your money goes to a good cause"