INAUGURAL BEER TASTING AT STIFEL CENTER JAN. 22

WHEELING, W.Va. (January 11, 2010)- - The Stifel Fine Arts Center will host its first Beer Tasting event at 6:30 p.m. Friday, January 22. The ticket price includes a variety of beer samples from Great Lakes Brewing Co., an environmentally and socially conscious brewery based in Cleveland, Ohio, and food from Ye Olde Alpha.

Encouraged by the success of the Stifel Center’s popular wine tasting series, organizers decided to offer the public an event with a new twist – beer tasting.

“The popularity of craft-brewed beer continues to rise across the U.S., and people are eager to learn more about it,” Stifel Center director Rick Morgan said.

Morgan explained that there is an art to tasting beer, and beer-tasting events are an interesting and rewarding way to discover new beers and have fun.

“A representative from Great Lakes will discuss what to look for in a new beer and how to evaluate it,” he said. “But the cardinal rule of beer tasting is that it must be fun. That’s what the evening will be- - a social gathering that gives people a great excuse to spend time with friends and learn more about beer at the same time.”

Great Lakes Brewing Company is an environmentally and socially conscious brewer of award-winning, all natural beers. Their brewing and business practices reflect the “Triple Bottom Line” philosophy – to engage in economic, social and environmental practices that achieve a sustainable, yet profitable, business.

Five craft-brewed beers will be sampled during the event:

Great Lakes Burning River- assertively hopped American Pale Ale with citrus and piney Cascade hops

Great Lakes Commodore Perry- a medium-bodied and well hopped Indian Pale Ale with a dry, fruity finish

Great Lakes Eliot Ness – an amber lager with rich, fragrant malt flavors balanced by crisp, noble hops

Great Lakes Conway’s Irish Ale- a malty Irish Ale with a notable toasty flavor derived from lightly roasted malt

Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald- a complex, roasty porter with a bittersweet chocolate-coffee taste and bold hop presence

Morgan said he is excited about this new addition to the Stifel Center’s calendar of events. “If the event is well-received by the public, we will plan to do more beer tasting events throughout the year.”

Guests will have an opportunity to purchase their favorite brews following the tasting and can browse the art exhibition on display in the Hart Galleries.

Tickets are $25. Members of Oglebay Institute receive a discount. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the Stifel Center at 304.242.7700. Payment is required at time of reservation. The Stifel Center is located at 1330 National Road, Wheeling and welcomes the public daily to art, dance and fitness classes, craft activities and ongoing art exhibitions.

These programs are presented with financial assistance from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts.