The Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring a series of Craft Beer 101 classes starting this week. (Supplied)
By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
It is not too late to fill your Monday calendar with a little beer (education) as the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department beings four weeks of its Craft Beer 101 adult education program Monday, Jan. 23, with a program at Jaden James Brewery.
The program — continuing on Monday evenings from 6-8 p.m. on Jan. 30 and Feb. 6 and 13 — is for people 21-years-old and older who want to learn more about what goes into beer, how beer is made and the various kinds of beer, according to supplied information. The class will include tasting.
The classes are led by Ben Darcie, founder of Experience Beer WM and a beer writer, educator and self-proclaimed “beer geek extraordinaire.” The classes are for the beginner as well as the advanced home-brewer.
The program at Jaden James Brewery, located at 4665 Broadmoor Ave. SE, is called “Intro: Beer Ingredients and Process” The other classes, in order of date, are “Beer Tasting: Lager, Pale Ale & IPA; Hops and Brewing Them” at Schmohz, 2600 Patterson SE; “Beer Tasting: Belgian, Porter and Stout; Alternative Yeast and Recipe Design” at Railton Brewing, 3555 68the St. SE; and “Infection and Off-flavor” at Horrock’s Market at 4455 Breton SE.
Cost of the four-class program is $50 or $15 per class; and night-of registration is available. For more information call 616-656-5270 or visit yourkprd.org
The popular community event Dutton Days already has quite a bit packed into a single celebration: a pancake breakfast, parade, a carnival, horse-drawn hay rides and classic car and motorcycle show. What more could there possible be to add? How about beer and music?
This year Railtown Brewing Company, which is located in the heart of Dutton just west of the community’s center of Dutton Avenue and 68th Street, will join the festival fever with a tent and live music in its lot, located at 3555 68th St. SE.
“We are excited to have Railtown Brewing be part of Dutton Days this year,” said Phil Tietz, the executive director of the Culterville-Gaines Area Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the annual event. “Railtown Brewing will be setting up a tent next to all the day’s activities.”
Being that Dutton is Railtown’s home base it was a natural fit, Tietz added. The entertainment and, of course, beer will start flowing at noon. There will be both indoor and outdoor service with outdoor service ending at 8 p.m. and indoor service continuing to closing time.
A total of 18 taps will be on hand with 10 taps inside and eight taps outside. Railtown also will be hosting a fundraiser for Hope for Brody throughout the day.
Brody Jousma was diagnosed in 2014 with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. DMD is caused by an absence of dystrophin, a protein that helps keep muscle cells intact. The Hope for Brody Foundation was created to financially assist the Jousma family in being able to afford medical expenses.
For Dutton Days, Railtown’s Bike Ride Blonde will become Brody’s Blonde for the day and $1 from every pint will go to Hope for Brody. There also will be Hope for Brody growlers for sale and every time they are filled, $2 will go to the foundation.
Bands lined up for the day include J. Ryan Berends at noon; Jim Shaneberger Band at 1:40 p.m.; Bigfoot Buffalo at 3:20 p.m.; Forrester at 5 p.m.; and Flexadecibel at 6:40 p.m.
Dutton Days officially starts at 7 a.m. with a pancake breakfast with proceeds going to the Dutton Food Pantry. It is followed by a parade at 10 a.m. from Dutton Industrial Park Drive to Hanna Lake Avenue. A food court featuring several vendors including Carmelo’s, Steiny’s, Cooks, Patty Matters and more, will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The craft show, fire station tours, and kids zone also run those same times, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. The horse-drawn hay rides and classic car and motorcycle show will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information on Dutton Days, visit the event’s Facebook page.
