If craft breweries really want to get the word out about their latest brews, promoting to swarms of consumers at beer festivals is key. In the Twin Cities, many local and national craft breweries promote their latest offerings at Beer Dabblers that happen three times per year. Just last weekend, the 11th annual Winter Beer Dabbler took place at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul and attracted a mass of Minnesota beer lovers.
The 2020 Winter Beer Dabbler was nothing short of a massive success, as both General Admission and Early Access tickets completely sold out. Throughout the event, hordes of beer fanatics went gaga over unlimited samples of tasty pale ales, stouts, peanut butter porters, hard ciders, and so much more from over 180 breweries and cideries. Over 600 beers and ciders were present! Attendees also raved over samples from 27 different meat and cheese producers at the Lunds & Byerlys Meat & Cheese Showcase.
Minneapolis beer and cider labels were very popular at Winter Beer Dabbler 2020, such as top favorites like 612BREW, Number 12 Cider, HeadFlyer Brewing, Indeed Brewing Company, Pryes Brewing Company, and Minneapolis Cider Company. Beer fanatics also raved over the booths for St. Paul locales like Bad Weather Brewing Company, Summit Brewing Company, Blackstack Brewing and Wabasha Brewing Company.
Minnesota craft breweries outside of the Twin Cities also stole the spotlight at Winter Beer Dabbler. Attendees raved about beer from 22 Northmen Brewing Company in Alexandria, Alloy Brewing Company in Coon Rapids, Big Wood Brewery in White Bear Lake, Angry Inch Brewing in Lakeville, and Rustech Brewing in Monticello. Booths for other Midwest breweries also attracted major foot traffic, including 608 Brewing Company in Wisconsin, Bell’s Brewery in Michigan, and Drekker Brewing Company in Fargo, North Dakota.
Like past Beer Dabblers, beer and cider labels based in other parts of the country also had a major presence at this event. Beer lovers enjoyed delectable brews from Alaskan Brewing Company in Alaska, Bear Republic Brewing Company in California, Kona Brewing Company in Hawaii, and Ska Brewing in Colorado. Booths for international breweries like Guinness in Ireland and Stiegl Brewery in Austria also attracted a lot of passersby.
Winter Beer Dabbler 2020 also featured a thrilling soaring sleds snowmobile expo, Giant Beer Pong (sponsored by Solhem), a snow kayak race (presented Recreational Equipment, Inc.), live performances by Night Moves, NUR-D, DJ Tiiiiiiiiiip and Private Oates, and an exciting silent disco presented by Hilton (Media Sponsor). Staff from favorite breweries also competed in an American Brewer Warrior challenge sponsored by Minnesota Lottery! Attendees also loved challenging each other to Hammer-Schlagen® (Activity Sponsor).
Winter Beer Dabbler also hosted a number of Premium Brewery Booths for top establishments: August Schell Brewing Company (also a Glassware Sponsor), Back Channel Brewing in Lake Minnetonka, Bent Paddle Brewing Co. (also a Snow Kayak Race Sponsor), and Outstate Brewing Company. Attendees could also pick up their wristbands before the event at various pre-wristbanding locations: Dual Citizen Brewing Company, Forgotten Star Brewing Co., Gabe’s By The Park, Joe Senser’s, Milwaukee Burger Company, Twin Cities 400 Tavern, Northern Taphouse, and Stout’s Pub (also host of the Pre-Sale Party).
Winter Beer Dabbler was also made possible by other first-rate companies: ABV Technology (Designated Driver Sponsor), All Energy Solar (Solar Cell Phone Charging Station Sponsor), Bridgewater Bank (Glassware Sponsor), DDi — Drink & Drive Intelligently (Shuffleboard Sponsor), College of St. Scholastica, Delta Hotels by Marriott Minneapolis NE (Hotel Partner), and Drury Plaza Hotel St. Paul Downtown (Glassware Inserts Sponsor).
Talecris Plasma Resources also sponsored the Coliseum Stage and online tickets and Strike Visuals was the Brewer & Vendor Hospitality Tent Sponsor. The event’s other Media Partners were Pioneer Press and The Current Twin Cities radio station.
The 2020 Winter Beer Dabbler was the perfect way for both local and national companies to promote their products and services to a multitude of consumers. If you own or work with a Twin Cities lifestyle company and are looking to grow your brand awareness, definitely consider sponsoring the Pride Beer Dabbler in June and/or the Summer Beer Dabbler in August. They will provide invaluable marketing opportunities for your business.
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