I cannot think of any beer-tasting festivals in the area where the admission is free, and I know of only a handful of free film festivals. So, you can imagine the excitement when New Belgium Brewery of Fort Collins, CO (and soon Asheville, N.C.) announced that their Clips Beer and Film Tour would be adding Grand Rapids to the list of stops this year. I guess being named Beer City USA two years in a row has that power.
The Clips Beer and Film Tour showcases the sustainability of New Belgium Brewing Co. Not only has the firm made advancements in employee ownership, but it was also reclassified as a B Corporation. The other part of this festival is a film program pulling from their annual call for entries, with the proceeds from each stop going back into the pockets of the area's nonprofit sponsor. In our case, the Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition will be the benefactor. This is the first large-scale event for GGRBC with newly hired Executive Director Tom Tilma. (Congrats, again.)
The format of the festival is simple. They will be offering 3 oz. or 12 oz. pours of their awarding winning brews, as well as their Lips of Faith series of boutique beers, for a very nominal fee per glass.
Meanwhile, approximately 20 short films celebrating topics of sustainability, sports, and even the pleasures of craft brewing (often in a hilarious fashion) will be projected on the inflatable screen they will bring to Ah-Nab-Awen Park. Rumored are films about mastering the technique of dice rolling, the quest for the ultimate full moon shot, a duel to be the hippest hipster, and home brewing in a small New York City apartment.
You are encouraged to bring low chairs and blankets to enjoy the summer night along the banks of the Grand River. You are also welcome to pack a picnic basket of food, but there will also be food trucks at the event.
If you are feeling lucky, bring along some extra cash for the raffle of one of two custom-made bikes -- the classic New Belgium cruiser, and our local 616 Bicycle Fabrication's replication of the Fat Tire Bike (an homage to the New Belgium Brewing Company's Fat Tire Amber Ale).
Admission: Free
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