By Al Kaufman
Beer and rock and roll is as American a combination as baseball and hot dogs. One just isn't as good without the other. The creators of HOToberFest understand this, and have brought a great music line-up to this year's beer festival.
Headlining the bill is the Lousiana-funk based – but world beat inspired – Charlie Wooton Project. Wooton likes to use different lead singers for various gigs, so that the audience receives a different experience each time they hear the band. The lead singer for this gig is none other than the tattooed hot local blues mama Heather Luttrell. A lighter brew, such as Oskar Blues Brewing's Mama's Little Yellow Pils will need to be imbibed to keep that booty shaking, but also to keep the temperature below the boiling point.
Michael Tolcher's full-bodied sound, folky with grit, requires something a little heavier. McSorley's Irish Black Lager would compliment him well, and it will look good when you sway the bottle over your head during the chorus of "Speed Feels Better."
Pabst American Pilsner is the perfect beer for gospel-tinged, bluegrass harmonies of DejaBlue Grass Band. You can simultaneously feel cheap and reborn.
A sweet, dark ale, such as Duck-Rabbit's Brown Ale, seems appropriate for the experimental funk sounds of Under the Porch. It's got some body to it, but it's not so heavy that you can't jam out.
Sehwe Village Percussion round out the bill. "Sehwe" is Susu for "happiness." Nothing makes me happier than a nice rich stout. Lagunitas' Cappuccino Stout Seasonal will match the heaviness of the drum beats, while the cappuccino in it will keep the bodies gyrating.
HOToberFest is even more than beer and music. The the non-profit event, held in the Glenwood Park area, is earth-friendly, generating all its power from solar and biodiesel generators. All the proceeds go to pro-sustainable charities. They also offer lots of food, local artists, crafts, and kids events. But the main attraction is the beer. The festival offers more than 130 brews from all over the world, many from micro-breweries. Be thirsty, my friends.
HOToberFest is held at Glenwood Park on Saturday, October 3rd. noon-7 pm. Free for the general festival area. Beer tasting is $30/$35 door. VIP tickets (offering access to more beers, bathrooms, hors d'oeuvres, and flat screen TVs) are $50/$55 door.
