FOOD AND DRINK

Brew-b-que combines some favorite things

New festival features beer, barbecue, music, belching and chainsaws, among other things

By Patrick Beach
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Thursday, May 07, 2009

Where there's smoke ? and beer

Belly up to Waterloo Park, where you'll find the true ABC's of life (ales, brisket and chain saws)

By Patrick BeachAmerican-Statesman Staff

Music, beer, barbecue and chain saws - now that's how to spend a Saturday in Austin, Texas.

The inaugural Texas Brew B Que happens Saturday in Waterloo Park . A festival combining beer and barbecue is such a great idea it's a wonder somebody didn't come up with it before.

And, in fact, French Smith, president and owner of promoter Roadway Productions, had hoped to do the event in 2008, but planning took longer than expected - and there was enough interest from brewers and meat-smokers that the festival was moved from the original Republic Square Park to the larger Waterloo Park.

`At one point we were talking about separate beer and barbecue festivals, and in deciding how to do each we decided to combine the two,' French said.

Local brewers will be respectably represented, with Live Oak, (512), Real Ale and Independence expected to be pouring, as well as Magic Hat, Sierra Nevada and, uh, ZiegenBock, Anheuser-Busch's answer to Shiner Bock. Homebrews will be judged, with losers no doubt weeping bitter tears.

There will be barbecue competitions as well as grub for sale, and local chefs will have demonstrations. County Line and Artz Rib House will be there, and at press time French was working on Uncle Billy's Brew & Que and possibly more.

Did we mention music? The lineup features 18 acts on two stages, with the top of the bill including the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Supersuckers, Monte Montgomery, the Mother Truckers, Shawn Sahm & The Tex-Mex Experience, Patrice Pike, and Joe `King' Carrasco.

Perhaps most significantly, you can put your big fat beer gut to productive use in the best beer gut competition. For those of you looking to throw your back out, try the keg toss. And there's a belch competition. Classy! Also, because they're mandatory at every festival, you got your arts and crafts.

Ah, but you want to know about the chain saws, yes? We now quote from the news release regarding the `very exciting and humorous PAUL BUNYAN LUMBERJACK SHOW. When's the last time you witnessed chain-saw demonstrations, ax throwing, competitive log rolling and adults playing with sharp metal objects???'

The answer, naturally, is dunno but too dang long ago. Performance times for that are 11:30 a.m., 3:30 and 5 p.m. Tickets for Brew B Que are $15, which basically just covers admission - food and drink and doodads are all a separate buy. Sounds like great fun, especially the beer and chain saw parts, but don't expect perfection. This is, remember, the first of what's planned to be an annual event (yay).

`With every event there are things you have to tweak and usually by the second year it's a masterpiece,' French said.

pbeach@statesman.com; 445-3603

Texas Brew B Que

What: Inaugural event combines beer, barbecue and music - as well as chain saw demonstrations and belching contests, among other things.

When: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday

Where: Waterloo Park, 403 E. 15th St.

Cost: $15 (that's just admission)

More: Full schedule and tickets at roadwayevents.com.