The weekend of August 26 to the 28 was one that happened by chance. For a girl who is on Facebook a lot, I had been patrolling the newsfeed and saw an article about an upcoming event called Burning Foot Beer Festival. It is an even that takes place in Muskegon, Michigan during the end of the summer. With over 50 breweries attending and serving cold beer and fun, I wanted to take the chance to go there and see what it was all about. I was able to convince my boyfriend, Alex, to join me on this journey and we planned ahead.
We decided to attend the pre-sale party on The Sandlot in downtown Muskegon, across from Unruly Brewing Co., back in June. There we had but a taste of what we were to expect when we went to the actual event. With sand between our toes, cold beer, and purchased tickets in hand, we were prepared for what August had in store for us.
The morning of August 27, the day of the Burning Foot Beer Festival, showed some rain, but the event didn’t begin until 3pm, so we had some time to kill. After shopping around Muskegon, visiting the museum, and even getting lunch before going, we didn’t head over there until around 5pm.
After arriving at Pere Marquette Beach, we were greeted by friendly locals and travelers, and some awesome event staff.
What our $35 tickets gave us was a set of 15 tickets, where one equaled one beer. The take-home souvenir cup, embellished with the Burning Foot logo, was what the beer tickets came in, and we received a koozie handout as we walked in. With over 50 breweries to choose from, it was plenty to have your fill or to try out new tastes and flavors.
As we met the friendly vendors, we were impressed with how helpful they were when you told them what you liked and what you were looking for (I'm a shandy kind of girl). They had list of their brews, would describe you their tastes, and even would pour you a small sample before handing over your ticket for a full glass. I had been hoping for a beer tasting experience for quite a while and I would never have imagined my first time going so well as it did here. Cedar Spring Brewing Company had one that my boyfriend and I particularly liked called KÜsterer Heller Weißbier. What we liked the most was the subtle banana flavor because we had never tasted something like that in a beer before. It was smooth and delicious, and I would love to visit their location to have it again.
What was also cool was the beach itself. Taking place on Pere Marquette Beach, they had blocked off the area at the end near the pier for the event. The beach was very clean, open, and just all around family friendly (when there isn't a beer festival going on, we went back the next day to swim). The parking was a bit of a hassle, especially when we came a bit late, but walking distance wasn't bad if you parked on the street.
Also, the view from the area was breath taking. With the event going until 9:30pm, you had the chance to witness the sunset as you sipped your beverage. The clouds held different hues of pinks and purples, while the sky was a clear baby blue, all soft and relaxing to look upon. The reflections of the waves and water sparkled, and it had me questioning if Lake Michigan ever ended. This is what I think #PureMichigan should be promoting.
We left around 8:30pm, after having our fill of beer, warming up by the toasty campfires, and enjoying the Sublime cover band, Badfish. Walking along the shore of the beach was lovely, as we watched the rest of the sunset on some nearby swings, observing others as they walked back to their vehicles, and breathing in the cool summer air.
The night was a great experience for trying new things, for vacationing in a new place, and for a wonderful time that I will remember for quite a while.
Thank you Burning Foot, Muskegon, and everyone involved!
