Drinking beer while watching baseball is a time-honored American tradition. With the inaugural Opening Day Beer Bash, the Toledo Mud Hens will formalize that relationship.
From 3-5 p.m. April 16, the Mud Hens will have 30 different craft beers available to sample, as well as an all-American buffet. Headlining the event and pouring some local suds will be Maumee Bay Brewing Co. They will be joined by regional and national favorites including: SweetWater Brewing Company, Saugatuck Brewing Company, Goose Island Beer Company, Frankenmuth Brewery, Kona Brewing Company, Summit Brewing Company, Redhook Brewery and O’Fallon Brewery.
According to Toledo Mud Hens’ President of Concessions Craig Nelson, having a beer tasting event made a lot of sense, due to the growing popularity of craft beers.
“Craft beer has been growing so much in general over the past five years,” Nelson said. “The other tastings we’ve held have gone extremely well and is something people look forward to.”
According to Nelson, craft beer has garnered such interest that the Mud Hens are looking at additional places to serve it within the stadium.
“We’re looking at a another locations, somewhere on the main concourse,” Nelson said. “We’re looking at two auxiliary locations to offer craft beers on the main concourse, somewhere on the third baseline. We have Pub 315, which is in the right field corner under the Roost so it covers that side of the stadium, but we are hoping to have something on the other side.”
With the additions of Black Cloister Brewery Company, Sugar Ridge Brewery and Black Frog Brewery, as well as Toledo staples Maumee Bay Brewing Co. and Great Black Swamp Brewing, there are a lot of options for the Mud Hens to grow their craft beer offerings locally.
“We are trying to look at more and more breweries to have at our tastings or possibly bring them in to other areas,” Nelson said.
The Opening Day Beer Bash packages are $45 and include a game ticket, a dozen 3-ounce beer samples, a souvenir beer tasting glass, an all-you-can-eat buffet and soft drinks. Packages for designated drivers are $35 and include a game ticket, the buffet and soft drinks. Tickets for the Opening Day Beer Bash are available at mudhens.com.
