Sixteen candles: Marble Brewery celebrates another year of beer

Apr. 26—Marble Brewery is celebrating its Sweet Sixteen with a big bash at its downtown location where it all began.

The "Marble Games" festivities begin at noon on Saturday, April 27, at the brewery, located at 111 Marble Ave. NW. Admission is free from noon to 2 p.m. and a $10 entry fee will be charged after 2 p.m. This is an age 21 and older event. Strollers and dogs will not be allowed at the event.

"This year, our theme is going to be the Marble Games," said Amy Levine, events coordinator and philanthropy for Marble Brewery. "We're kind of playing off the Olympics that start this summer. But we're going for more of a retro style. The main anniversary (event) will be down here at the downtown location. We have a really great band lineup."

Le Chat Lunatique kicks off the live music on the main stage. The group will perform "filthy, mangy jazz" from 2 to 2:45 p.m. The Fabulous Martini Tones will follow with exotic surf-rock and space-age pop music from 3:15 to 4 p.m. Reggae rock band, Reviva, will take the stage at 4:30 p.m., followed by blues guitarist Levi Platero at 7:30 p.m. and later The MoonThieves at 9 p.m.

In the north lot, attendees can enjoy entertainment by DJ Flo Fader from 2 to 4 p.m. and Forrest Thump from 4 to 7 p.m.

Eventgoers can sip on Marble's 16th anniversary beer, Qualifier IPA, which will be available on tap at the downtown location as well as Marble's West Side and Northeast Heights locations.

The American IPA is packed with notes of citrus, grapefruit, and pine. It was specifically brewed for the 16-year celebration, according to Levine.

Food trucks will also be part of the event, including Don Choche from noon to 8 p.m. and Tikka Spice from 5 to 11 p.m.

There will be free games guests can play in the north lot, as well as Hula-Hoop competitions from 3 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 7 p.m.

"We're going to have a bunch of games back there," Levine said. "It's going to be free play from 12 to 8 (p.m.). We'll have cornhole, Giant Jenga, ring toss, hook and ring, and then to tie in some beer into that, we're gonna have for the ring toss, we're gonna have some six barrels set out, so people can toss rings over those."

Levine said the 16-year celebration will not be as large as last year's 15-year event. However, it will still be a good time.

"So this year, it's not as big as we went last year, but definitely we just want to bring fun," Levine said. "We want fun for everybody. Have a good time, hang out, play games, listen to great music. Hopefully there will be great weather."

Marble is also looking toward the future and has tentative plans to bring food service to its main location.

"We are talking about a food concept coming into our downtown location," Levine said. "It's in the works. Nothing is set in stone at the moment. But that's what we're aiming for. We'll still have food trucks but we'll also have a Marble kitchen essentially."