“Partying and praying for snow”
The announcement of 10 Barrel Brewing Company’s sale to Anheuser-Busch around this time last year was the cause of much hand-wringing and speculation about how the new ownership might change the company’s operations. Well cross one thing off the list of concerns, because the company’s annual Pray for Snow party will take place again in Bend Saturday night.
“We’re excited to take an event that started out as a small thing with a tiny budget five years ago and evolve it for all our customers,” he continued.
To accommodate more activities and a bigger crowd, the sixth annual event will be held outside at 10 Barrel’s brewery on 18th Street, so make sure you bundle up for the weather. The larger venue means a wider selection of beer on sale, with two bars at the event each having 12 to 17 beers on tap. These will include a number of brews from the Portland and Boise pubs not usually available in Bend.
As always, the beer headliner will be the seasonal Pray for Snow winter ale. Brewmasters used five different malts and a new selection of hops in the 2015 batch of Pray for Snow, for what they describe as a piney, herbal hop complexity. 10 Barrel’s cider made from Washington-grown Granny Smith and Pink Lady apples will also be available.
The 10 Barrel pub’s chefs will have verde pork tacos, bacon and sweet pepper chili and barbecue pork or veggie sliders for sale at the event. Designated drivers, the under 21 crowd and kids at heart can stay warm with hot chocolate.
To get you in the mood for winter snow sports, the new 10 Barrel rail jam truck will be on-site. This transformer-like green and black behemoth becomes a 70 foot long downhill run, with boarding experts on hand to demonstrate their jibbing skills until around 6 p.m. After that, the public can take turns sliding down the ramp on specially modified snowboards and sleds.
The musical lineup for the night includes three acts who will each perform a 90-minute set. First on stage at 4:30 p.m. is Eugene hip-hop groove artist Marv Ellis. Next on the bill, at about 6:15 p.m., is Seattle glam electro-rock duo The Fame Riot.
Rounding out the evening, at 8 p.m., is Canadian hop-hop collective Sweatshop Union.
Partygoers will have the chance to win some of the giveaways on offer, including customized 10 Barrel snowboards and a variety of other winter sports gear and equipment. You can put your beer-pong skills to work and earn raffle tickets for featured prizes that will be drawn later in the evening.
Now you may not believe that the Pray for Snow party has any effect on the weather, but 10 Barrel’s Wales points out that during at least two of the previous five events in Bend, it has started to snow.
Coincidence? Maybe. But that’s a better batting average than most major league baseball players, and we can all hope partygoers manage to influence the snow gods again this year!
The Pray for Snow party runs from 4-9:30 p.m. Saturday outside 10 Barrel Brewery, 67970 NE 18th St. in Bend. Admission is free for all ages and free shuttles will run between the 10 Barrel pub on Galveston Avenue and the brewery from 4-10 p.m.
Contact: www.10barrel.com, tinyurl.com/nv86f6x or 541-678-5228