Beer, wine and a good cause: Lions Clubs ready for Roar off the Shore Brewfest

LUXEMBURG - March is supposed to go out like a lamb, the old saying goes, but craft beer and wine fans can make the end of the month more Lion-like at the Roar off the Shore Brewfest.

Sponsored by the Dyckesville and Kewaunee Lions Clubs, the 12th annual event is scheduled for March 24 in the Exhibition Building at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds in Luxemburg.

Guests will be able to sample more than 200 craft and microbrews and ciders and over 100 regionally produced wines at the event. Also, eight or nine food vendors will be on hand to satisfy guests’ appetites.  Each attendee will able sample to sample the food offered and vote for their favorite brewery, winery or food.

Roar off the Shore began as a three-year commitment by the Kewaunee Lions Club for fundraising by club members. The club had no idea what the event would lead to, but they knew that microbrewed beers were gaining popularity 12 years ago.

When the event first began, it was held in the fall and had to compete with other beer tasting events in September and October. This reflected in the amount of money raised.

The club decided after the third year to change the date to the last Saturday in March, or the Saturday before if Easter happened to fall on the last weekend of the month. This became a much more beneficial time frame for the event.

When the event first became a reality, the Kewaunee Lions sought the assistance of the Dyckesville Lions. Today they run the event as a combined effort and split the funds equally. The clubs are able to fund numerous projects through the proceeds this fundraiser generates.

The event has grown so well, it has outgrown a few venues. It originally was held at the Heritage Farm south of Kewaunee, then moved to Lakehaven Hall in Kewaunee, but neither could accommodate the increasing participation.

The event then moved to the Exhibition Building just inside the main gate of the fairgrounds. It is a state-of-the-art community center which has all the amenities needed for this type of event and can accommodate the large number of eventgoers. It also provides room for expansion for future Brewfests.

Among the organizations, groups and projects that have received funds from Roar off the Shore and other Lions' events are the Algoma, Kewaunee and Luxemburg chambers of commerce; Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts; Kewaunee Literacy Project; Kewaunee Fire Department; Lakeshore Community Food Pantry; Leader Dog for the Blind; Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin; Wisconsin Lions Pride Campaign; Wisconsin Lions Missions; NEW Puppy Leader Dog Project; Special Olympics; Sturm Humanitarian Foundation; Toys for Tots; Wisconsin Diabetes Camp; Wisconsin Lions Camp; Bruemmer Park Zoo; American Red Cross blood drives; Red River Park Improvements; youth baseball and softball leagues; and many others.

New and different brews

One major difference between this event and others of its type is the clubs' insistence on the breweries changing their lineup of beers over time.

Brew Master and event co-chairman Jeff Kohnle documents the lineup of the beers and watches over the vendors to ensure new and different brews each year. Vintner Chris Schroeder does the same with the wine list.

This year’s festival will feature regional craft beers from over 40 breweries, and five home brewers will be on hand as well. The beers aren't the typical mega-brewery kinds, either.

“There is no such thing as Busch, Budweiser or Miller to be found,” said co-chair Jeff Dorner. “This is real beer. The beers go all across the ballpark, from really hoppy to dark stouts, to a few ciders and meads. You name the style, we have it.”

Local favorites participating in the event include Titletown Brewing, Badger State Brewing, Stillmank Brewing, Hinterland Brewing and Noble Roots, all of Green Bay; Courthouse Pub and Lakeshore Tech, both of Manitowoc; Ahnapee Brewing of Algoma; and Thumb Knuckle from Luxemburg. 

Joining them are breweries from across the state — O'So, Stone Arch, Sprecher, Door County Brewing and Point among them — and across the country — Ballast Point of San Diego, Toppling Giants (Iowa), Samuel Adams (Boston), Blue Moon (Colorado), Alaskan Brewing (Alaska) and Angry Orchard (Ohio), for just a small sample.

Some of the wineries on hand will be Parallel 44 and Cold Country of Kewaunee; Von Stiehl of Algoma; Duck Creek of Denmark; Door Peninsula of Carlsville; Captain’s Walk of Green Bay; and Forgotten Fire of Peshtigo.

Some of the food vendors are Konop Meats, Salmon's Meats, Krohn’s Dairy Store and Don’s Bakery, all of Luxemburg; and Port O’ Call and Classix, both of Kewaunee.

Along with free food entrees, free transportation is available from Algoma and Kewaunee to and from the brewfest. In Kewaunee, buses will be provided at Port O’ Call, while in Algoma, a bus will run from Ahnapee Brewing. All buses will return guests back to their original pick-up point at the end of the event. There is no charge for those with a Brewfest ticket but preregistration is required.

The Dyckesville and Kewaunee Lions Clubs' Roar off the Shore Brewfest runs from 2 to 6 p.m. March 24 in the Exhibition Building at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds, 625 Third St., Luxemburg. Tickets are $40 in advance, $45 at the door and include a commemorative glass and "Beer 4 A Year" drawing tickets. Designated driver tickets are $10 and include free soda and water. Attendance is limited to 850.

For advance tickets, to sign up for a bus ride or for more information, go to kewauneelionsclub.org, roarofftheshore.com or facebook.com/rotsbrewfest. Tickets also can be purchased by calling 920-388-3553 during the day or 920-388-4717 at night, or by mailing a check payable to Kewaunee Lions Club to PO Box 253, Kewaunee, WI 54216.

Tickets also are available at all Bank of Luxemburg locations, Thumb Knuckle Brewing, American Family Insurance – Erica Lemhouse Agency in Sturgeon Bay, Van’s Lumber in Dyckesville, Port O Call, BlueWater Services in Kewaunee, and Ahnapee Brewing,

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Beer, wine and a good cause: Lions Clubs ready for Roar off the Shore Brewfest