I’m a massive fan of the big Burger Bar/Beer Garden expansion at Fifty West. They nailed it, Especially for a summer where we were all looking for outdoor spaces to hang out, properly distanced, and have a beer and a bite to eat. Really, it’s brilliantly done. You can read about the expansion here – but that’s not what this post is about. It’s about how we get the same thing even through the winter.
Covid Or Not, Let’s Extend The Season
We can’t ignore the pandemic and the need that it has created for us to find places where we can hang out safely, and outdoors is easily the best. Winter throws a very clear wrench in that plan, though. It gets cold that time of year if you don’t remember – and it’s not very fun to sit in the cold, shivering over a beer.
Extending the outdoor drinking season is something I feel very, very strongly about. Usually for me it involves fire… layers… and something very boozy. I love when places are able to create wintertime activities, or spaces where you can comfortably drink outside without freezing your tail off. Enter the real reason for this post.
Fifty West’s Winter Wonderland
Plans were just announced for the opening of a new idea for Fifty West. The brewery installed (with help from Columbia Township) a brand-new, family friendly 40 by 80 foot ice skating rink. The grand opening is set for November 16th, and it’s gonna change the experience of wintertime at a brewery for me.
For $10 admission, you get skate rental and an hours worth of ice time, with a timed reservation system to keep things orderly and spread the crowd out. If you’ve got little ones under the age of four – they skate for free.
This desire to create family fun, a sense of normalcy, and a real feeling of a place that cares about your safety is more important than I can explain. These folks get it… in a lot of different ways. They have three large clear span tents… heated of course – so once you wear yourself out skating, you can hang with the family in a safe, warm environment to have a beer and some food.
Firepits? Check. Holiday Lights? Of course. Hot cocoa and cider with boozy options for you? Duh. I’m serious, you guys… this is spectacular. And. AND… if that’s not enough – the big guy is coming, too. Santa will be there for four dates, giving families a chance to get their holiday photos taken in a socially distanced Christmas experience that will bring joy to your heart. He’ll be there from 4-6pm on 11/27, 12/6, 12/13 and 12/20.
Why It’s Important
Yeah, I want you to know the details about all of this. I want you to make it to see Santa and to have some hot cocoa next to a bonfire. But I don’t want you to think that’s really the point of all of this… this is about community, this is about the real meaning of craft beer.
Fifty West has busted their butts trying to keep people employed for the last 8 months, and ask any brewery – it hasn’t been easy. But they’re doing it, and their doing it really well. They’re smiling. They’re creating spaces where we can spend time safely. They’re bringing Christmas joy to kids and families in a year where things are going to be strange. You can’t really express the value that something like that brings to this community.
Go and support them. Tell them that you appreciate them. Buy their beer, eat the burgers… Be Gnarly… support the people that you love. We’ve got this.
For more details and to get tickets, make sure that you hit up Fifty’s Website here.