14
Sep
2004
If public television and a beer-tasting event featuring craft- and micro-brewed beverages wouldn't normally seem like a good match, you'll understand the thinking behind WQPT's Brew Ha Ha, celebrating its fifth year on Saturday in Davenport's LeClaire Park.
"It opens the door to people who wouldn't consider themselves supporters of public television," said Lora Adams, the station's marketing director.
Brew Ha Ha this year will feature roughly 200 brews for tasting, far more than the 125 to 150 at events past. Adams said there are more nonalcoholic and "women's choice" (generally sweeter) beers than in years past.
The selection will include brews from local establishments Bent River Brewing Company and Blue Cat Brew Pub, as well as the home-brew clubs of the Quad Cities, Galesburg, and Peoria. Other beers range from well-known classics such as Newcastle Brown Ale to lesser-known micro-brews such as the intriguingly named Sea Horse Pale Ale. (For a complete list of beers and breweries, see the special section inside this week's River Cities' Reader.)
The genesis of Brew Ha Ha in the Quad Cities came seven years ago, when a Texas public-television station took a similar approach to reaching a new audience.
Four years ago, the event was launched here, with between 200 and 300 people attending on a cold, windy spring day in Moline. Ever since then, Brew Ha Ha has been held in LeClaire Park in the late summer.
The event accomplished several things: It found people who watched public television but didn't identify themselves as viewers; it reached people who might not watch public television but love interesting and micro-brewed beers; and it alters people's perceptions of what public television is about.
"Public TV is a not a fuddy-duddy thing," Adams said. "It exposes us to a whole group of volunteers we normally wouldn't have."
Of course, it also raises money. Brew Ha Ha normally nets the station between $6,000 and $7,000. That might not sound like much, but "it's a whole lot of money for us,"Adams said. The station's eight-day August pledge drive generated $15,000. Money raised at Brew Ha Ha will help support WQPT educational programs, such as one that gives away 8,000 new books a year.
Adams said WQPT is hoping to get 1,500 people for the event this weekend, compared to 1,100 last year. But the station is also interested in keeping crowds at a certain level, so that people are able to move around easily. "There's an element of keeping control of things in terms of numbers," she said.
Entertainment at the event will include Jim the Mule's Americana rock, the Ellis Kell Band's blues, and the improvisational zaniness of Comedy Sportz. In addition, one tent will have two large-screen televisions showing football games on ESPN and ESPN2.
An educational workshop will be held between booths 37 and 39 at 3 p.m. for people interested in learning about the home-brewing process.
The configuration of the event is slightly different this year, with three beer tents instead on just one. "People will have the opportunity to move around a lot easier," Adams said.
Brew Ha Ha runs from 1 to 6 p.m. at LeClaire Park. Tickets are $15 in advance and available from (http://www.wqpt.org). Admission at the gate is $20.
"It opens the door to people who wouldn't consider themselves supporters of public television," said Lora Adams, the station's marketing director.
Brew Ha Ha this year will feature roughly 200 brews for tasting, far more than the 125 to 150 at events past. Adams said there are more nonalcoholic and "women's choice" (generally sweeter) beers than in years past.
The selection will include brews from local establishments Bent River Brewing Company and Blue Cat Brew Pub, as well as the home-brew clubs of the Quad Cities, Galesburg, and Peoria. Other beers range from well-known classics such as Newcastle Brown Ale to lesser-known micro-brews such as the intriguingly named Sea Horse Pale Ale. (For a complete list of beers and breweries, see the special section inside this week's River Cities' Reader.)
The genesis of Brew Ha Ha in the Quad Cities came seven years ago, when a Texas public-television station took a similar approach to reaching a new audience.
Four years ago, the event was launched here, with between 200 and 300 people attending on a cold, windy spring day in Moline. Ever since then, Brew Ha Ha has been held in LeClaire Park in the late summer.
The event accomplished several things: It found people who watched public television but didn't identify themselves as viewers; it reached people who might not watch public television but love interesting and micro-brewed beers; and it alters people's perceptions of what public television is about.
"Public TV is a not a fuddy-duddy thing," Adams said. "It exposes us to a whole group of volunteers we normally wouldn't have."
Of course, it also raises money. Brew Ha Ha normally nets the station between $6,000 and $7,000. That might not sound like much, but "it's a whole lot of money for us,"Adams said. The station's eight-day August pledge drive generated $15,000. Money raised at Brew Ha Ha will help support WQPT educational programs, such as one that gives away 8,000 new books a year.
Adams said WQPT is hoping to get 1,500 people for the event this weekend, compared to 1,100 last year. But the station is also interested in keeping crowds at a certain level, so that people are able to move around easily. "There's an element of keeping control of things in terms of numbers," she said.
Entertainment at the event will include Jim the Mule's Americana rock, the Ellis Kell Band's blues, and the improvisational zaniness of Comedy Sportz. In addition, one tent will have two large-screen televisions showing football games on ESPN and ESPN2.
An educational workshop will be held between booths 37 and 39 at 3 p.m. for people interested in learning about the home-brewing process.
The configuration of the event is slightly different this year, with three beer tents instead on just one. "People will have the opportunity to move around a lot easier," Adams said.
Brew Ha Ha runs from 1 to 6 p.m. at LeClaire Park. Tickets are $15 in advance and available from (http://www.wqpt.org). Admission at the gate is $20.
