Crafts Beers and Comedy Merge in Two Day “Great FOX Brew Ha Ha!” Festival at the Deltaplex on
Friday & Saturday, January 14-15, 2011
For More Information Contact
Rich Berry, Events Coordinator for Clear Channel Radio
(616) 776-5471
(Grand Rapids, MI) – What happens when you merge the nation’s best Craft Beers with hilarious comedians? You have the “Great FOX Brew Ha Ha!” – a two day marriage of beer and comedy – on Friday, January 14th and Saturday, January 15th at the Deltaplex, 2500 Turner Northwest in Grand Rapids.
The WBFX 101.3 The FOX organized “Great FOX Brew Ha Ha!” is now in its 3rd year of showcasing Craft Beers from Michigan and beyond. In addition to being able to sample more than 150 different beers from approximately 25 different breweries, the “Great FOX Brew Ha Ha!” will also offer laughs from comedians Tim Bedore, Pat Godwin, Mark Knope and Grand Rapids native Matt Lauria.
“The real stars of the ‘Great FOX Brew Ha Ha!’ will be the Craft Beers,” explained Rich Berry, Events Coordinator for Clear Channel Radio. “In addition to having a wide range of craft beers to try, we will have seminars that will give people a greater understanding and appreciation of Craft Beers. We want to expose people to the growing popularity of home brewing and the number of craft beers that are being marketed. We want everyone to have fun, but we also want to celebrate the craftsmanship that goes into the making of these remarkable beers.”
The “Great FOX Brew Ha Ha!” has gained a reputation for bringing in wild and hilarious comedians. This year’s entertainment includes Tim Bedore, who has headlined comedy clubs across the country for 20 years. Bedore has appeared on Comedy Central, NBC, FOX, A&E, HBO and is a regular on National Public Radio’s “Marketplace” show.
Additional comedians who will be entertaining both days include Pat Godwin, one of the most clever songwriters and quick-witted live comedians in show business; Mark Knope (pronounced Ka-nope), whose energetic celebrity impersonations, quirky facial expressions and dead-on sound effects leave audiences laughing until they cannot breathe; and Grand Rapids native Matt Lauria, who at the age of 24 is a rising star in comedy. All four comedians will be performing both Friday, January 14th and Saturday, January 15th.
“Every one of these guys are very funny and very quick on their feet,” said Berry. “Performing at the ‘Great FOX Brew Ha Ha!’ is much more difficult than performing at a comedy club because there are so many other things going on. That means the comics really have to be on their game.”
Mixing beer and comedy in the dead of winter has been a winning combination for the “Great FOX Brew Ha Ha!” Last January, nearly 7,000 people attended the two day event, and expectations are high that the 2011 event will draw even more people.
“We never know what kind of weather we can expect during the second week of January,” Berry said. “But we do know that it’s warm inside the Deltaplex and that everyone will have a great time. How can you not have a great time when your focus is on Craft Beers and laughter?”
Hours for the “Great FOX Brew Ha Ha!” are from 3 p.m. – 11 p.m. on Friday, January 14th and from 12 noon – 11 p.m. on Saturday, January 15th at the Deltaplex, 2500 Turner NW, Grand Rapids, MI. Admission is $18 in advance and $22 at the door and includes 3 beer samples and a free collectable souvenir glass (while they last). Advance tickets may be purchased at any Ticket Master outlet, on-line, or at the Deltaplex box office.
Here is a partial list of Breweries participating in the ‘Great FOX Brew Ha Ha!’ on January 14th and 15th, 2011:
· Thirsty Dog
· Mount Pleasant Brew Company
· Great Divide
· Frankenmuth Brewing Company
· Lake Front Brewery
· Dragonmead
· Left Hand Brewing Company
· Lagunitas Brewing
· Shorts Brewing
· Leinenkugel
· McSorley’s
· Hornsby’s Draft Cider
· Tri-City Brewing Company
· Dundees
· Lilja’s
· Samuel Adams
· Flying Dog Brewery
· Magic Hat Brewing Company
· Brooklyn Brewing Company
· Great Lakes Brewing Company
· Avery Brewing
· Arcadia Brewing Company
· Ommegang Brewing
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Emily Pearce