Second summer Corks & Hops a crowd pleaser

By DOUGLAS W. MOTLEY
Senior Writer

 

Last Saturday’s much appreciated summertime Corks & Hops craft beer and wine tasting event was not as crowded as the previous one on June 7. Owing to the already crowded event schedule of Crestline’s Jamboree Days events, it was held a week later than usual. However, that’s not to say that last week’s July 11 Corks & Hops was a dud, which it certainly was not.

As a matter of fact, according to Crestline Chamber of Commerce President Louis Boehle, attendance was only down slightly from last June’s 400 participants to around 300 ticketholders, one of whom, Staci Armao, was a first-time participant.

Armao, who was encountered at a high table outside of Hearth and Sage in Top Town Crestline, was with a group of friends who were piecing together a wooden block structure with blocks precariously perched, until they came tumbling down. In the meantime, Armao was enjoying a pouring of Meinklang Burgenland Red wine, imported from Austria. Her companion was having a taste of Bob Singlar Red, imported from Provance, France by Skyforest’s Little Bear Bottle Shop. He characterized the reddish blend as having a touch of Syrah, Pinot, Merlot and Grenache.

After catching a free tram ride out of Top Town, down to the Lake Drive business district, this reporter sampled a Harland Brewing Company Hazy IPA, which helped wash down a delicious bacon-wrapped mustard dog from a street vendor in front of Trinket Trader Antiques.

The next stop was down the street at Bizzyland plants and gifts, which was quite busy and had a crowd that seemed to be enjoying its various pour station varieties of wine and brews while offering a chance to finally relax in chairs while listening to loud music.

The final stop for this reporter and his wife was at Molly’s Art studio on Lake Drive, where Molly Collins hosts a variety of art classes and events and the walls displayed dozens of Molly’s own paintings, as well as rare objects d’art painted by the likes of Salvadore Dali, Francisco Goya and the eccentric Pablo Picaso.