Great Alaska Beer & Barley Wine Fest 2007
January 2007, Anchorage, Alaska
[photos by Barb Miller, Sara Johnson, Gregg Wiggins, Jason Ditsworth and Jim Roberts]
Special visitors to the brewery sample MSBC's draft beers: Tom Dalldorf, Celebrator Beer News; Carolyn Smalgalski, Beer Fox on bellaonline.com; and David Edgar, White Labs/Rastal Glass.
Carolyn and Tom with Gabe and Ben (MSBC brewers) and Ben Love (Pelican brewer) sample our "M" Belgian-style Barley Wine (released in May 2005).
The 20-month-old bottle of "M" that Gabe unearthed from the dusty cellar.
AHA member from Atlanta, GA, Phil Farrell, strikes an early victim with his Rubber Chicken gig at the AHA Rally.
Tom Dalldorf leads Alaska's version of his Rolling Boil Blues Band at the Snowgoose pub after the AHA Rally.
Pamela Hatzis, proprietor of La Bodega Beer Wine Spirits shop, toasts to "great Alaska beer" with Geoff Larson, founder and owner of Alaskan Brewing Company.
Longtime homebrewers Fred Nolke, Mike Kiker and John Trapp enjoy the fabulous beer and music at the Snowgoose pub after the AHA Rally.
Hillary and Barb dare to step up on a pedestal table and become the Rolling Boil Blues Band's first-ever table dancers -- it's all in the BooTs.
The Rubber Chicken strikes again - but RB3 gladly poses with their new fan..
Give that table a rest!
One more toast and we swear this is our last dance...
The GaLs gather for one pose before the night's over. (This is still pre-fest.)
Finally...fest time. The MSBC booth is nestled between the Pelican Brewery and Pub (OR) booth and the one for newcomer Kenai River Brewing Company (AK).
GM Gary pours samples for festgoers.
The awards kick off with Elysian Brewing Company (Seattle, WA) winning third place and Pelican Brewery and Pub (Pacific City, OR) winning second. Above, Tom Dalldorf gives Ben Love of Pelican his gold pan while Jim "Dr. Fermento" Roberts enjoys the moment.
The MSBC crew heads up to the stage after first place was announced. Gabe reaches out for Tom Dalldorf's hand. Barb and Mark follow.
Ben and Gabe accept awards for first place as well as Best Barley Wine in Alaska.
MSBC celebrates victory with Tom Dalldorf on one knee.
Another view of the same scene...
Ben Johnson and Gabe Fletcher show off the new pans with Mark Staples (in orange camo and rubber chicken Mardi Gras beads).
The red shirts get together for a photo, flanking Ben Love of Pelican. MSBC red shirts (l-r) are Ben Johnson, Rob Collier and Gabe Fletcher.
Ben, Mark and Gabe take a moment (amidst all the excitement) to humbly thank the Beer Gods for this win and all the ones that have come before...
The Bens: Big Johnson and Big Love