We did the Time Warp… for the first time. And we look forward to doing it again next year, but we’re just going to have to wait on that. In the meanwhile, we’ll bask in the glow of the beauty that was last week and remember what it’s like to have that kind of fun. Because it was fun. It was fun as hell!
If you don’t know what we’re talking about, that means you missed our Rocky Horror Picture Show viewing party! We took part in that long tradition of interactively watching this cult classic, with all the noisemakers, bells, jeers, newspapers, and even toast that have made the movie the unique legend that it has become! The night began with an amazing set by local psychedelic groove band, the aptly-though-temporarily named The Time Warp, which brought people down on the dance floor and set the right mood for what the rest of the night would offer.
And when it was all over, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the taproom more messy than I did when the lights came back up around midnight. But as they say, many hands make light work, and there were no shortage of Good Samaritans to help with the cleanup.
All of this was the day after MN Beer Day, when the throngs of the thirsty crowded the taproom in order to get their hands on this year’s annual Beer Day pint glass! We’re no stranger to busy days, but damn… we seem to have underestimated how many people wanted this glass! We had about 80 glasses for sale, which we thought was a safe amount to procure in order to sell out of but not run out of too early. Given the fact that the glasses were gone by a quarter to 5 p.m., we clearly did our math wrong.
More important than bad math, what this means is that we owe you a thank you! MN Beer Day is the day set aside to celebrate local brews and the people that make them, and you all came out in force to make it a worth while celebration! We felt the love with every pull of the tap handles, every gulp of the suds. It was just another example of the beauty of last week that we want to hold on to. It’s one of those things that sustains us in more ways than one.
Looking to the future… we still have plenty of that great beer we’ve been celebrating! But if you want more than that, (sigh) fine. How about a game? Or, even better, a game show! Next Thursday, Nov. 14, starting at 6 p.m., Ditty Wish will be hosting a new series happening here in the taproom: Ditty Wish Ventures to do a GAME SHOW! You may know her from our monthly Open Mic, or from her various musical appearances at a venue near you, but Ditty Wish… well, maybe I’ll just let her explain the show, as well as introduce herself a bit:
We Barley Know You, But We Hop to Change That. It’s the Yeast We Can Do: Emily Slaubaugh AKA Ditty Wish
Question: How long have you run Open Mic at Klockow Brewing?
Emily Slaubaugh: I… has it been three years now? Three years. Two and a half, maybe. That sounds about right.
Q: And in all that time, what is your favorite Klockow beer?
ES: I really like Siduri’s Garden (Saison). That’s probably one of my favorites.
Q: When you’re not drinking Klockow beer, what do you like to drink?
ES: Well, right now I’m drinking root beer! I drink a lot of tea; a lot of black teas and green teas. Really any kind of tea.
Q: You’re a big tea person.
ES: A big tea person.
Q: What are some of your favorite foods that you like to pair with these teas?
ES: It’s often in the morning, so I’ll have it with eggs. Or toast. Or hash browns.
Q: Any other favorite foods in general?
ES: I like a good taco. Singing Chihuahua Tacos especially are my favorite. I miss them.
Q: So what do you do for a living?
ES: Right now I’m working at running my own business where I’m freelancing fully. That involves a lot of performing. I’m still playing under the name Ditty Wish. So trying to do more performing. I’m going to be hosting more stuff coming up at Klockow…
Q: Yes, I understand some of this new business involves not just music but other things.
ES: Other fun things! Starting next week, on Thursday, Nov. 14, I will be hosting a live game show at Klockow! So we’re going to have contestants come up. We’re doing Family Feud for this first one, but in the future we’ll be doing different ones: The Newlywed Game, the $10,000 Pyramid… or Beeramid, if you will.
So it’s gonna be a lot of fun! It’ll be a fun community event, I think. We’re going to have contestants come up to play the game, I’ll be up in a sparkly dress hosting, and at the end I’ll have some games that anyone can come up and try, like Minute to Win it.
Q: So how will that work for people who will just be showing up?
ES: Well, it’s going to be fun to watch, even if you’re not participating. Our contestants are pre-selected this time around. So if you come and watch, it’ll be a good time. And when we get to the last 30 to 40 minutes, we’ll ask for volunteers to come up to play these other games.
Q: Speaking of fun, what do you like to do for fun?
ES: You already know I like to play music. That’s a fun thing I like to do. I also enjoy being outside. I like going on hikes and riding my electric scooter around. Oh, and I like playing games: board games, card games, that kind of group games is what I’m into.
Q: What is a fun/interesting fact about yourself, perhaps something not too many people know?
ES: A lot of people already know this, but I don’t think everyone does. I was born in Canada, and so I am a Canadian citizen as well as a U.S. citizen.
Q: That is interesting. Don’t know if it’s fun, but it’s definitely interesting.
ES: It’s fun for me!
Q: Ok, last question: if you could wake up tomorrow and be amazing, as in world-class, at one thing without having to train for it, what would it be and why?
ES: Hmm, well I need to decide between giving a fun answer and a practical answer.
Q: You could give both if you like.
ES: Ok, my fun answer would be improv. Because it looks very fun but I don’t think I could ever do it. It’s just something that… I enjoy taking it in, so I feel like I would enjoy performing it as well. Just seems like a fun skill to have.
Q: You need to be quick-witted, so yeah. How about the practical one?
ES: I’ll say picking up languages. So to be able to learn all the languages really fast.
Q: That’s almost a super power.
ES: And very practical. Some people have a good knack for it.
~
Thanks for checking out our humble little brewery! As long as you keep coming by, we’ll do our part by making the best damn beer possible and serving it in our always inviting atmosphere.
The Klockow Staff
Beer and Shrubbery Drops this Week:
Local, etc -
Raven Stone - Coleraine
Dutch Room & Mad Dog’s Pizza - Grand Rapids
SuperOne Foods North - Grand Rapids
SuperOne Liquors - Grand Rapids
Smoke on the Water - Coleraine
Bob’s Country Market - Bovey
Bottle’s & Brews Liquor - Grand Rapids
Pokegama Plaza Liquor - Grand Rapids
Frontier Liquors - Grand Rapids
Timberwolf Inn - Marcell
NoPo Coffee - Grand Rapids
Timberlake Lodge Hotel - Grand Rapids