After last weekend’s very crowded lakefront, this Saturday brings another festival logjam that fortunately won’t require us to play favorites and pick one over the other. The two events in question: MobCraft’s 6th annual Weird Fest and Third Space Brewing’s 8th annual Wisconsin IPA Fest.
Both events happen over the course of several hours at locations less than a mile and a half apart, so it’s quite possible you can knock out both of these Saturday afternoon/evening. One of them is a little more time specific, however, so let’s tackle it first.
Wisconsin IPA Fest at Third Space Brewing
This celebration of the IPA (India pale ale, for the uninitiated) is a natural extension of the beer style’s general popularity. Way back in 2008, IPAs occupied less than 8% of the craft-beer category. Now, they represent more than 40% of the total volume of craft beer being brewed — which isn’t surprising considering the just plain silly number of varieties.
So, whether you dig a double or a triple, a hazy or a milkshake, a New England or a West Coast, you’re likely to find something to your taste at IPA Fest. Third Space has invited more than 40 Wisconsin breweries to pour for all the hop-heads in attendance — from Third Space itself to Rhinelander Brewing way, way up north.
As a result, you could try literally hundreds of beers, although we also recommend that you not do that. The IPA is a notoriously high-octane style, so pick your spots judiciously. Loading up on food is a good idea, too, which is why Third Space invited food trucks to the party: Pico’s Tacos, Tots on the Street, Pig Tailz and Rot’s Hots. On top of that, the local brewery will have a DJ, a make-your-own t-shirt station and “a few fun surprises along the way.”
If you’re interested in sipping on a few of the state’s best IPAs, you can snag a general admission ticket for $55 that’ll get you into the event from 2 to 5 p.m., a tasting class and unlimited (within reason) beer sampling. For $85, you can make that a VIP ticket and get early entry at 1 p.m., access to a VIP area and VIP-specific beers, a meal voucher and a four-pack of the VIP collaboration brew with last year’s “Best IPA” winner, Hacienda Beer Co.
To purchase tickets and get more information, visit the event's webpage.
Weird Fest at MobCraft
There are a lot of numbers flying around for this year’s Weird Fest. It’s the event’s 6th annual installment, the brewery is celebrating its 11th anniversary, and the Walker’s Point location is marking 8 years as part of the neighborhood. To recognize all of those achievements, things will be as weird as ever from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., with the tap room staying open until 11 p.m.
The most obvious weirdness comes from the entertainment, which this year includes a “real life” swimming mermaid that will likely seem even more real after a few of MobCraft’s offerings. In addition to the aquatic life, you can catch Mondo Lucha wrestling, belly dancers, live music and vendors from local businesses. We’ll put the full schedule below, but first let’s give you the weird beer releases on tap:
- Bloody Mary Brunch — beer inspired by the spicy Bloody Mary inspired beer
- Baja Buds — lemon-lime weiss with blue raspberry
- 5 Pepper Amber — MobCraft amber with garden hot peppers
- pHunky Pebbles — sour ale with the flavors of Fruity Pebbles (hold the milk)
Those four will be on draft inside and outside the tap room starting at 11:30 a.m. while supplies last. Quantities will be even more limited for the extra-special release: 11-Year Anniversary Barrel-Aged Crush. This smoothie-style, Creamsicle-inspired beer will also be available on draft, as well as in four-packs you can take to go. But MobCraft recommends you get there at the crack of 11:30 a.m. if you want to get your hands on it.
Accompanying those refreshments are food options that include MobCraft’s own kitchen, K&L Barbecue and Style Pop Cafe. You’ll also have an opportunity to relax at the World’s Smallest Island Party — a tiny tiki bar available to reserve in 15-minute blocks. For more information on all of that, head to the event page on MobCraft’s website right after you peruse the entertainment schedule:
- 11:30 a.m. — Live music from Jump the Bluff
- 12:30 p.m. — Mondo Lucha wrestling (match #1)
- 12:45 p.m. — Belly dancing
- 1 p.m. — Live music from Cozy Danger (set #1)
- 2 p.m. — Mondo Lucha wrestling (match #2)
- 2:15 p.m. – Live music from Cozy Danger (set #2)
- 3:15 p.m. — Mondo Lucha wrestling (match #3)
- 3:30 p.m. — Belly dancing
- 3:45 p.m. — Mondo Lucha wrestling (match #4)
- 4 p.m. — Live music from Dad Strength (set #1)
- 5:30 p.m. — Mondo Lucha wrestling (match #5)
- 5:45 p.m. — Live music from Dad Strength (set #2)
- 7 p.m. — Mondo Lucha wrestling (match #6)
