Sip brew at the zoo

Event to benefit animals at Forest Park Zoo

By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican

All the animals in the zoo have their own special diets, and so will adult guests only at the Forest Park Zoo in Springfield on Saturday who will feast on a variety of taste-tempting foods and beers “on tap.”

It is all part of the popular zoo’s annual Brew at the Zoo fundraiser, which last year raised nearly $30,000 to support the zoo and its more than 225 animals.

Open to reserved tickets only, the four-hour event from 1 to 5 p.m. features beer samples from local craft breweries, a home brew competition, food trucks, live music, games, and the opportunity to visit with the animals in the zoo.

“Brew at the Zoo is our largest fundraiser. It is an important source of revenue to help absorb our operating costs along with the continued care of our animals from their food and water to making sure they get the proper veterinary care throughout the year,” said Gabry Tyson, development manager of the Zoo at Forest Park.

More than 20 area breweries and home brewers will be pouring their cooling libations at the event, including Loophole Brewing, One Way Brewing, Broad Brook Brewing Company, Iron Duke Brewing, Altruist Brewing Company, Amherst Brewing, Abandoned Building Brewery, WeHa Brewing & Roasting Company, Rustic Brewing Company, Vanished Valley Brewing Co, Berkshire Brewing, StrongHaus Brewing, Side-Gig Brewery, Catseyesoup Brewing, 4 Walls Brewing, SPARGE Homebrew Club, Big Bee Brewing, Matts Brew Research Lab, Inside Joke Brewing Collective, Beech Hill Brewery, Beefort Brewing, Siren Song Brewing, Fallen Timbers Brewing Co and Screaming Cider.

Nick Martin, owner of Iron Duke Brewing in Ludlow, noted “it’s always a good time” about their participation in Brew at the Zoo.

“There is always a great turnout for the fundraiser and I enjoy seeing friends from the brewing community, many of whom I haven’t seen or talked with for a while. It’s a cool venue and a good cause, plus I grew up in the Sixteen Acres neighborhood of Springfield and it’s nice to be helping the city in a small way,” he said.

While still planning his “beers on tap” for the event, Morin said “it’s a good bet” that tasters will find his Seafoam Cruiser, an American light lager, as well as his New

England IPA called 4 A.M., and possibly a new fruity beer and seltzer at their table.

Food trucks, offering taste-tempting treats for an additional price, will include Tai Chili Street Food, Souper Sweet Wheels, SoulFully Vegan, CremeBru.LA and Elo’s Hibachi.

Live entertainment will feature Andy Cavanaugh and Christina Cerbone of Stillwater Band.

The Forest Park Zoo will be closed to the public during the event and only those with advance tickets will be allowed to enter the zoo. Even with tickets in hand, IDs will be required to enter the brew fest.

Those planning on attending the fundraiser can select from four ticket types: general admission is $50 and covers tastings, a free glass, and visits with the animals; general admission designated driver is $25 and includes visits with the animals, but no alcoholic drinks; VIP is $75 and includes a free glass and an extra hour of tasting beginning at noon and an additional opportunity to meet the zoo’s animal ambassadors up-close and personal and also receive animal feed to interact with the zoo’s hoofstock on their own; and there is a VIP designated driver priced at $35.

To purchase tickets, go online to forestparkzoo.org/ brew.