Spring Break
Poor weather can't stop goat races at 'Bock Fest'
Mike Partel
Issue date: 5/8/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
With anticipation building, the lederhosen-clad leader would occasionally rouse the eager crowd with a drunken chant, "Zigi zagi, zigi zagi! Oi! Oi! Oi!" Between these attractions were those thousands of attendees: drinking, laughing and having a good time.
On tap, at $5 a glass, Sly Fox had their Pils, Helles, Bock, and Slacker, which doesn't sound as lazy as it tastes. Eventually, the promised, they would tap the Maibock: it would be named after the winning goat!
I grabbed a nice pint of the Helles to start the afternoon off slowly. Good choice. It was clear, crisp and somewhat spicy, thanks to the German hops. Quite the tasty brew, I must say.
The race finally began at 2:30 p.m., with much anticipation and fanfare. Here were introduced the main characters in this little zoo of a beer event: among them, to our own tipsy entertainment, were the emcee, goatmaster Steve, and a panchoed woman that we dubbed thegGoat whisperer. And of course, there were the goats. Running in four full heats, and one final one, the first goat to cross the finish line with its handler would be the winner, the catch being that the goat had to cross first. Racers were disqualified for pulling it across.
After these five, truly enthralling and life-altering races, the Goatmaster named the year's Maibock after the crowd favorite, Dax. Without wasting a second, we rushed to the bar to grab one of the first pints of Dax's Maibock, complete with souvenir glass and warm, victorious flavor. To our chagrin, the bartenders had not yet received word that the beer had been named and refused to serve it. We circled back outside and got it instead from one of the outdoor tables. There was a line, though, and 20 minutes later, we held the holy grail of wet, springtime, goat-ridden festival beers.
Let me tell you, it was entirely worth it. With a white, fluffy head, smooth body, a sweetness that satisfied and a spice that kept you interested, the Maibock far surpassed the Helles from earlier in the day. The best part was it didn't kick too hard afterwards, so that even with a homeward drive looming in our future, we still heavily considered tossing back another, delicious pint.
It was a cold day - a soggy, damp, and miserable windy day. But it was still a day filled with good people, stubborn goats and great beer. I am already looking forward to next year's race and I would highly recommend you all plan on attending then as well. Just remember, "Sly Fox Beer is WUNDERBAR!"
On tap, at $5 a glass, Sly Fox had their Pils, Helles, Bock, and Slacker, which doesn't sound as lazy as it tastes. Eventually, the promised, they would tap the Maibock: it would be named after the winning goat!
I grabbed a nice pint of the Helles to start the afternoon off slowly. Good choice. It was clear, crisp and somewhat spicy, thanks to the German hops. Quite the tasty brew, I must say.
The race finally began at 2:30 p.m., with much anticipation and fanfare. Here were introduced the main characters in this little zoo of a beer event: among them, to our own tipsy entertainment, were the emcee, goatmaster Steve, and a panchoed woman that we dubbed thegGoat whisperer. And of course, there were the goats. Running in four full heats, and one final one, the first goat to cross the finish line with its handler would be the winner, the catch being that the goat had to cross first. Racers were disqualified for pulling it across.
After these five, truly enthralling and life-altering races, the Goatmaster named the year's Maibock after the crowd favorite, Dax. Without wasting a second, we rushed to the bar to grab one of the first pints of Dax's Maibock, complete with souvenir glass and warm, victorious flavor. To our chagrin, the bartenders had not yet received word that the beer had been named and refused to serve it. We circled back outside and got it instead from one of the outdoor tables. There was a line, though, and 20 minutes later, we held the holy grail of wet, springtime, goat-ridden festival beers.
Let me tell you, it was entirely worth it. With a white, fluffy head, smooth body, a sweetness that satisfied and a spice that kept you interested, the Maibock far surpassed the Helles from earlier in the day. The best part was it didn't kick too hard afterwards, so that even with a homeward drive looming in our future, we still heavily considered tossing back another, delicious pint.
It was a cold day - a soggy, damp, and miserable windy day. But it was still a day filled with good people, stubborn goats and great beer. I am already looking forward to next year's race and I would highly recommend you all plan on attending then as well. Just remember, "Sly Fox Beer is WUNDERBAR!"
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