We journeyed to Marshall, Michigan on December 8th to celebrate the release of Dark Horse Brewing Co.’s4 Elf Winter Ale.
The Annual 4 Elf Party is an opportunity to enjoy crazy amounts of Dark Horse beer with elves, santas and thousands of other Michigan Beer Enthusiasts while wandering around the Dark Horse production facility.
You can also purchase special bottle releases of:
- 4 Elf Winter Ale
- BBL Please the 5th
- Monster 29 (Imperial Barleywine)
- Ginger in Your pants
- Militiagan
- Whiskey Richard
- King of the forest
A token is required to purchase the bottle releases.These were handed out starting at 11 am. You didn’t need a token to enter the party just $5.00 or an elf costume.
Beer Sales and the party started at 3 pm.
Token holders lined-up by number to buy the special beer releases on the other side of the fence and the party goers huddled in the beer garden. There was confusion among the party goers and token holders but if you read the signs it was pretty clear where you were suppose wait.
Dark Horse loves tunnels.
This is not the first time I’ve journeyed through a tunnel to taste their beer. The 2011 Winter Beer Festival also featured a tunnel with black lights to taste their porters I think. As you can see I was super excited to enter the tunnel.
Beer Line
Yep there was a line.
Making friends in the beer line
Yes that is a tattoo and he claimed his mother liked it. Hmmm.
Beer List
This is half the list. I tried the MMMM, Monster 29, Plead the 5th Imperial Stout and the Blueberry Stout. All were good. Chuck sampled many including Sarsaparilla 666 Stout. (He liked the 666.)
The Dark Horse staff serving the crazy beer drinkers.
Elves everywhere!
This elf liked to text and the bad santas…
Bad Santas
Trust me they were bad santas.
Unique Appetizer Buffet
OMG. Unique doesn’t quiet describe this appetizer buffet.
The elf from Blackrocks Brewery in Maquette, Michigan is eating a muskrat head. Maybe eating muskrat is common in the UP.
I’m serious. It had eyeball sockets and hair sticking to it.
I am vegan and the idea of eating a rat head was beyond my comprehension but there was a mob waiting for each course which included: duck balls, duck tongue, pig, salmon and lots of other crazy things.
The Pottery Display
All Dark Horse members have a mug created by an artist (on the right) from Marquette, Michigan. He was at the party showing off his pottery with the brewer from Blackrocks Brewery (elf that likes muskrat heads).
Jeff scored a VIP card.
I am good enough and smart enough and damn it people like me.
Metal Angie
Thank you Go Dad for the ride home!
