Spotted™

Setting up a toast to a wheat brew at the first Octoberfest sponsored by the Muddy River Mashers Brewing Club on 10-17 afternoon in Bismarck's Sertoma Park are from left James Nygard, Nate Palczewski, Scott Wilkens and Erik Brousseau. "And it's not even a fun name," said Nygard of the wheat brew "all the others have fun names like Octoberfest of Flipswitch IPA." Steve Mayer of the brew club said the first event was a big success. "We've had 80 to 100 people here and for the first one it's outstanding," he said comparing the event to a wine tasting but only with 14 varieties of homebrew instead of wine. Mayer said the 20 members in the club brought different varieties of beer for people to sample. He said the beer ranged from lighter beers to a number of dark beers. Mayer said the event was to acquaint people with homemade beers and with the local people who make them. For more information on the local brew club go to www.muddyrivermashers.com.