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As you may have heard, the Summer Beer Dabbler is getting a new lease on life—literally. On September 6th, from 5 to 9pm, the 6th Annual Summer Beer Dabbler will be on the field at Midway Stadium.

Besides enjoying the view from the Twin Cities’ second most popular baseball diamond, why should you make your way to this year’s Dabbler? Ah, let us count the ways.

It’s Midway Stadium’s Last Beer Festival

For Minnesotans, it’s hard to believe that Midway Stadium will soon be going the way of the Metrodome. (Well, minus the impressive implosion and all.) But with the Saints moving to their spiffy new stadium in Lowertown, it’s one of the last parties that Midway will host before the old stadium comes down. You’ve spent plenty of warm summer days and nights at Midway, so what better way to pay your respects than to quaff a few tasty samples of craft beer at the Summer Beer Dabbler? Just don’t pour any out in its honor—that could get messy.

Beer, beer, and more beer!

The Beer Dabbler will play host to over 85 breweries at this event. 85 breweries! There will be local favorites like Summit Brewing Co, Dangerous Man, Burning Brothers, Badger Hill, and a whole bunch of others. Enjoy outstate Minnesota favorites like Bent Paddle, Brau Brothers, and Junkyard (a relative newcomer from Moorhead). You will find Midwestern staples like Milwaukee’s Lakefront, Omaha’s Nebraska Brewing Company, and Iowa’s Millstream Brewing. The the usual Colorado contingent—New Belgium, Oskar Blues, Odell, and others. And we’re proud to welcome our West Coast brethren, too: Green Flash, North Coast, Anchor, and Lagunitas will all be on hand. So, you’re covered, whether you’re craving a high-graving blast from HammerHeart or an inimitable IPA from Cali’s finest—or pretty much anything else.

There Will Be Brewery Debuts

Two breweries will make their festival debuts at this year’s Summer Beer Dabbler. You can be on hand to welcome Chicago’s Off Color Brewing and Brooklyn’s Evil Twin Brewing. Let’s make sure they leave Minnesota with fond memories—and keep sending their brews our way.

Not Just Your Standard Fare

Okay, you’re probably not going to the Summer Beer Dabbler to get one last run at a ballpark dog. So happily, you don’t have to rely on the concessions stand to soak up all the beer you’ll be drinking on the 6th. We’ll have local food trucks—Gastrotruck, Natedogs, and Potter’s Pasties. And the St. Paul Saint’s concessions stand WILL be open, so you can get your fill of dogs, nachos, and other greasy goodness there too. Oh, and the food trucks will be staying till 9:30pm, provided they don’t run out of food first, so you can stay and linger for the…

Fireworks!?

…because that’s just how The Beer Dabbler rolls. The show starts after the last beer has been poured (9m), so stick around, nosh on some food truck grub, and prepare to “Oohs” and “Ahhs.”

The Mayor Will Be There

What Midway Stadium bash would be complete without the face of St. Paul? Mayor Chris Coleman will grace the Summer Beer Dabbler with his presence—beginning the festival with a ceremonial first pitch(er). (Come on, it’s a baseball stadium.) And who will be on the receiving end of said pitcher? None other than The Growler‘s own Joe Alton, a proud St. Paulite himself. Just make sure you have a good view of the opening shenanigans.

There’s Live Music All Evening

The Summer Beer Dabbler will have wall-to-wall live music from some of the region’s most exciting acts. Sonny Knight & The Lakers, who likely needs no introduction, will start things off at 5pm on the Big Wood Brewery Stage. Hippo Campus, an up-and-coming four-piece from the Minnesota, follows at 6:30pm. And rockers, Crossing Guards, take the stage at 8pm. If you want a break from the onstage entertainment, head to the Beer Dabbler’s Silent Disco—back by popular demand—where you can don wireless headphones and (literally) groove to the beat of your own drummer.

We’re Taking Care of Transportation

Planning a safe ride home is paramount. Bring a Designated Driver. DD tickets available for $10. But if you want a more sustainable way to get to the festival, take advantage of our pre-party shuttles from O’Gara’s, Stout’s Pub, or Gabes by the Park. Or grab a free Metro Transit pass, good for a ride to and from the event. If you want to be driven home in your own car, we’re also partnering with You Drink We Drive. Just be sure to make a reservation on their website before arriving.

There’s a Homebrewing Contest!

If you’ve got something in the fermenter at the moment, you can register until September 5 at the stroke of midnight. Drop off your brew at the judges’ table by 6:30pm on September 6, then wait around until the winners are announced at the end of the night. There will be prizes! But we’re limiting entries to 70, so please register early.

You Can Burn Off Some Beer Calories Before the Event

New this year: The Beer Run/Beer Dabbler 2 Mile Trot. Yes, you can run to the Summer Beer Dabbler, thanks to the MN Brewery Running Series. The $70 entry fee gets you admission to the Beer Dabbler and a free T-shirt and glass, and a portion of the proceeds goes to Bolder Options. The winner gets a “golden growler,” but don’t worry—you’re not going to be timed.

It’s a Steal

When you register in advance, tickets for the Summer Beer Dabbler are just $40. That’s $40 for unlimited beer from 85 breweries, plus a stacked lineup of live music. You do the math… we can’t. Day-of tickets are $50, if there’s still space on the field, and DD tickets are $10.