By DOUGLAS W. MOTLEY
Senior Writer
According to sponsors, the summer season’s first Corks & Hops craft beer and wine walk lured about 400 ticketholder participants, not bad for the first event of its type this summer season. A Crestline Chamber of Commerce spokesperson believes July’s event will compare with or exceed last year’s 500-plus participants.
This year’s season opener kicked off at 4 p.m. and ran until 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 7. Unlike previous years, when the check-in station was located in the Arrowhead Credit Union parking lot, there were two check-in stations, one at Higher Grounds Coffee House on Lake Drive and another on Crest Forest Drive in Top Town Crestline. Since the two locations are about a mile apart, free shuttle service was available from Mountain Transit. No alcoholic beverages were permitted outside of designated tasting areas or on any of the shuttle buses.
San Bernardino County Supervisor Dawn Rowe (l) and her daughter were encountered in front of Trinket Trader Antiques.
After checking in, participants were given wrist bands to authenticate their participation when arriving at any of the 11 pour stations, which were located at the following local merchants: Lake Gregory Antique Mall, New Hope Botanical, Ace Garden Center, Earth Elements, Bizzyland, Fort Gregory, Liberation Therapies, Trinket Trader and Encompass/Flying Squirrel Vintage, all of which are located in Crestline’s Lake Gregory business district, and at Hearth and Sage and the beer garden, both located in Top Town.
Brian and Kate from Yorba Linda were encountered at a pouring station on Lake Drive enjoying what she called a Pacific Northwest IPA. When asked how she heard about the event, Kate said she heard about it from a friend who has a house in Crestline.
Meanwhile, down the street at Bizzyland, Carrie and her friend from Torrance were enjoying sipping on two different wines – his a white wine and hers a Cabernet Sauvignon from Santa Cruz. Carrie, whose parents own a cabin in Crestline, said she really liked the Cabernet for its spicy, oaky flavor.
Further down Lake Drive, in front of Trinket Trader, the Alpine Mountaineer ran into County Supervisor Dawn Rowe, who said she comes up to Crestline at least once a year. Others said they had seen Rowe, earlier in the day, in Top Town. Down the street, at Encompass Antiques, a band was playing while others danced or snacked on fried chicken from Chicken Republic.
A late afternoon ride to Top Town found activity slowing down at the beer garden and Hearth and Sage. Steve Taylor’s band continued playing classic rock tunes until it was time to shut down this season’s first Corks & Hops.
The next Corks & Hops is delayed until Saturday, July 12, due to the July 4th holiday weekend. After that, the next ones will be on Saturdays Aug. 2, Sept. 13 and Oct. 4.
Steve Taylor playing classic rock songs in Top Town Crestline.
0 Comments