TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
The Merrill Parks & Recreation Department hosted their 13th Annual Lincoln Lager Barleyfest in the Smith Center at the Merrill Area Recreation Complex (MARC) on Saturday, Oct. 2. For the price of admission, attendees received a glass and a scorecard and the opportunity to sample and vote for their favorite beer and wine from among those represented.
Nearly 30 breweries and wineries were represented with more than 100 beers and wines available for sampling including microbrews, craft beers, IPAs, sweet wines, dry wines, and other spirits, as well. While multiple breweries had IPAs or their own version of an Oktoberfest beer, others had more unique names like Fuel Cafe, Batshit Crazy, Coffee Bender, Louies Demise, Kick in the Berries, Walleye Oughta, Catch the Buzz, Falling for Chocolate Wine, and Mikey Likes It, making them harder to forget, unless, of course, attendees had one too many samples too close together.
More than 300 people attended, according to Dan Wendorf, Parks & Recreation Director. “We were pleased with our event again this year. After a year off last year due to health concerns, to bounce back with strong numbers and support says a lot about our event and our community.”
“Barleyfest has become a destination event that draws people from outside of our community and allows us to showcase all that Merrill has to offer,” he said.
Next year’s 14th annual event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022.