Manhattan Pints And Pork Teams To Pit Brews, BBQ In Taste Battle

MANHATTAN, IL — The beer will be cold, and the pork will be hot, when a favorite fundraiser for Manhattan's St. Joseph's School returns Saturday, Sept. 28.

The Pints and Pork Challenge will take place under a tent at the school, 255 W. North St., from 5 to 9 p.m., and will feature beers from 11 vendors, and pork to go with 'em. Tickets can be purchased in advance online for $60, and $70 at the gate. Advance sales end Friday, Sept. 27 at 11:59 p.m.

Ticket price buys a 4-oz. glass with the event logo, and the cost covers all food and beer. Attendees act as judges as they enjoy sampling food and drink. At the end, attendees cast votes for best dish, best brew and best pairing. Split-the-pot and raffles will also be offered. The event is 21 and over, only.

Water stations are also set up, making beer sampling simpler. Designated drivers are offered tickets discounted to $40.

Teams competing this year include:

1. Pollyanna Brewing and Manhattan Meat Wranglers
2. Brickstone Brewery and West 52 BBQ
3. Arrowhead Ales and Arrowhead Smoke Works
4. Hickory Creek Brewing and Papa J's BBQ
5. Trail's Edge Brewing and Rooster Que
6. Miskatonic Brewing Company and Bourbon's Smokehouse
7. Old School Brewing and EJ's Texas Q
8. Go Brewing and The Irish Pig
9. Flipside Brewing and Twin Stacks BBQ
10. Hailstorm Brewing and Legends Bar and Grill
11. Foreign Exchange and Pour Decisions BBQ

Raffled off will be a Wagon o' Booze, containing 50 bottles of wine and liquor. Tickets are 10 for $20. The rain or shine event includes live music in a cozy setting, with hay bales placed around firepits to socialize and keep warm, organizers said.

For more information, visit the event's website.