By Eric Stock
NORMAL – Organizers of the annual Bruegala beer and wine festival are taking advantage of their new home to give customers more exercise than bending the elbow.
New to the 16th annual Bruegala, which will be held at the Corn Crib August 28 and 29, is the beer mile which co-chairman Jeremy Kelley said apparently has become a thing.
“There are actually world records on this and rules and requirements,” Kelley quipped.
The beer mile is just like it sounds. Participants run a mile while drinking four beers – one at each quarter-mile lap around the Corn Crib track.
“It’s kind of a new thing that’s catching on the last handful of years,” Kelley said. “It’s a lot bigger than we realized.”
The website beermile.com claims there have been thousands of these races nationwide.
Kelley said the Corn Crib also enabled them to add a second stage so they can have twice as many musical acts – 12 in all. The headliners are Red Wanting Blue on Aug. 28 and the Steepwater Band on Aug. 29.
Bruegala is also bringing back beer school where participants can learn how hops impact how a beer tastes. Participants can try five different beers which are all brewed the same.
“The only difference is the hops put in them so you’ll be able to understand what hops does to a beer,” Kelley said.
The entry fee for the beer mile or beer school is $35, which includes your entry into Bruegala.
Bruegala is sponsored by the Bloomington-Normal Jaycees. It had been held at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts before moving to the Corn Crib this year. The BCPA will be hosting its own Beer Fest on Aug. 22.
Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.
