“A good portion of the beer was donated this year, and all of the raffle items except the Prairie Partners things. So, we had more donated this year than in the past, which helped.”
Iwasiuk said the event originated from an idea brought forward several years ago. Her predecessor Jason Dyck ran with it and it went over well with the community. She said there was a fair bit of enthusiasm to keep it going from those who attended and it gives Prairie Partners the opportunity to do several things at once.
“It was something people wanted,” she explained. “It is an experience, something people enjoy, and when they are paying for it they want something for it. Also, it gives us an opportunity to support Manitoba businesses, some of these small brewing companies.”
This craze all started with wine tasting, then moved to scotch. Over the last decade or so, in line with the development of small craft beer companies, beer tasting became a thing. At the March 16 event, there were nine beers tasted – lagers, pilsners and ales – from different Manitoba companies like Fort Garry and Farmery. Iwasiuk said they speak to breweries about what good options are and what they are promoting when making their decisions on what they will include. Of course, they want variety that fits within the different types, and different brews from previous years. Also, if they can get product for free it helps too. For the breweries, it helps get their names out there.
“It gets people to try their beers. It is good exposure for them.”
This year, Peace Garden CEO Tim Chapman hosted the event, explaining the differences between beers, introducing them to the thirsty participants, and handling the trivia contests (who knew the most breweries in the US were located in Pennsylvania?). Iwasiuk said it was great to have someone with more experience involved in presenting to the public.
“Tim was fabulous,” she said. “He was more than we asked for.”
They provided tips on how to taste the different beers, similar to other alcohol tasting. You must pay attention to aroma, look at its appearance, take three sips to gauge its different flavours, swish it in your mouth and engage it, taking note of its bitterness and aftertaste. As well, there are different international bitterness and alcohol by volume units.
As well as the beers themselves, the Sawmill served food to go with them that was beer related or included in the menu.
Over the evening, the participants tasted different lagers, pilsners and ales. Some had interesting names like ‘What the Helles’ or ‘Portage Pilsner’. Those partaking learned the differences between pale ales and stouts and were able to pick out which went over better than others.
“It opened people’s eyes to it. It is nice because then we can carry the beers as well, but not the ones people didn’t like.”
Everyone’s tastes are different, but Iwasiuk said overall the India Pale Ale did not make the cut with many.
She gave a great deal of credit to her board members for the success of the evening, as they did much of the pouring and serving.
The money raised will be going to a new wheelchair-accessible van. The current one is starting to get a little beyond its years and is costly in repairs. Prairie Partner’s individuals with additional support needs require this type of van to get around, particularly to larger centres for medical or recreational needs, which is difficult to do with the community Handi-van.
“A lot of our people are aging,” Iwasiuk stated, “and we need to plan for the future.”
Costs could be different depending on what they purchase, but they are in the $35,000-$50,000 range. It might take them a year or two to get it together. She added fund-raising is always a challenge is a small community.
However, Iwasiuk said they are planning on hosting a fourth beer tasting evening. This was her first as organizer, and now she has the kinks out, they are ready to go again in 2020.
“We had some suggestions, like giving them something to make notes on to rate the beers and things like that. For sure, we’ll do it again.”
by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff