Bloomington beers it up

At 6 p.m. Sunday night, beer flowed like water at the Monroe County Convention Center. Over 200 people showed up throughout the night at the 11th annual Beer Festival hosted by Big Red Liquors. \nIn the background, the attendees expressed their enjoyment of the event, saying "This is like paradise," and "I feel like a kid in a candy shop." \nThere were 51 different tables sponsored by common beer distributors, such as Heineken and Anheuser-Busch, as well as more exotic breweries, such as Bitburger. \nFor a $20 entrance fee, beer connoisseurs were given a souvenir Big Red glass and were allowed to roam freely from table to table, sampling a slew of over 300 different types of domestic, imported and micro-brewed beers. \nRob Williamson, promotions director for Big Red Liquors, said the event is a good way for many people to try expensive beers for less money. \nThe event also gave people a chance to experience a sampling of beers they may have yet to taste. \n"I am here as a scout for Yogi's," said Mike Dawkins, an IU alumnus and bartender at Yogi's. "Pretty much, they sent me here to taste new beers and bring them back to the bar." \nOne of the more crowded booths was the Sierra Nevada table. Jason Davis, the Ohio/Michigan area manager of Sierra Nevada, claimed the Bigfoot Ale was his most commonly tasted beer. Big Foot is newer to the market and is heavily hopped with a 9.9 percent alcohol content. Most beers, on average, have an alcohol content of between 4 and 6 percent. He also boasts the ingredients cost four times the price of their normal ones used in their other beers.\nThe majority of the people in attendance were IU students who came in small groups to mix and mingle with others and enjoy some of the finest beers available on the market.\n"The event is a good way to enjoy the last six weeks of college," senior Zack Lynn said. "I can't lie. I am here for the endless amounts of Zima."\nAll proceeds from the two-day event will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington. The Beer Festival hopes to reach a goal of $10,000, which in return will help finance programs teaching local kids about safety, drugs and alcohol use. \n-- Contact staff writer Stephanie Frasco at sfrasco@indiana.edu.