Preliminary activities for the 2018 Glass Blown Open continued Monday night with the Kick-Off Beer Fest presented by Radius Brewing.
The 10 block of West Seventh was full of people sampling beers from nearly 10 different vendors from across Kansas, and it highlighted a unique partnership stretching from Emporia to Oklahoma to Oregon. Radius is partnering with Prairie Artisan Ales and with two disc golf world champions for a special brew this year — Valarie Jenkins, a four-time world champion, and her husband, Nate Doss, a three-time champion. Jenkins says the partnership is special, and so is her time in Emporia in part because she won her fourth championship here in 2016.
Jenkins and Doss are opening a brewery in Bend, Ore.
Michael Lalli of Prairie Artisan Ales in Tulsa, Okla., tells KVOE News he enjoys the partnership. He also loves the atmosphere surrounding the Beer Fest and the GBO in general.
Radius co-owner Jeremy Johns calls the Beer Fest a showcase event.
GBO activities continue Tuesday with practice rounds leading up to the pre-GBO block party at Brickyard 20 Alehouse and mini disc golf at Bourbon Cowboy. Player check-in starts at 9 am Wednesday at the Granada Theatre and a host of opening activities at White Auditorium beginning at 6:30 pm. Play officially begins Thursday.
Check KVOE.com all week for photos and videos from the GBO.
Photos by Chuck Samples/KVOE News
{gallery}GBO KickOff Beer Fest 2018{/gallery}
