Suds are flowing smoothy now in cowboy beer booth
Thirsty fairgoers have been able to get their refreshing brews and tasty hard cider at the cowboy beer booth right across from the Strathearn Livestock Pavilion at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds for many years.
The Mariposa Friends of the Fairgrounds Foundation (FOF) has been operating the cowboy beer booth since 2014. Along with the annual Sausage and Suds event which is coming up in October, the Rodeo Royalty program and the new Pre-Fair Summer Barbecue and Concert, the annual Mariposa County Fair is the largest of the FOF’s fundraisers.
Every year the FOF has worked to reorganize the cramped area, trying to create a more functional and workable environment. During the fair there are so many kegs needed to supply the demand that the organization would rent a refrigerated trailer to hold the kegs nearby. By doing so they didn’t have to transport the heavy, aluminum kegs from the beer garden area. While the booth did have several cold box storage units, changing kegs was always difficult and so was regulating the temperature.
At this year’s fair, the booth had received a major facelift and makeover which included removal of old unnecessary equipment, new paint and siding and a rework of the building thanks to contractor Josh McConnell, Fairgrounds General Manager Brian Bullis, and fairgrounds maintenance staff.
Jake Wackerman, owner of 1850 Restaurant and Brewery, put together a new MicroMatic draft delivery system for the newly renovated booth.
Wackerman explained that “this new system is a smaller system than what is in the restaurant, and has worked very well for us.”
Having this draft system allows volunteers manning the popular cowboy beer booth to regulate the temperature of the lines from each keg straight to the tap. It insures perfect temperatures for flowing beer throughout annual event, and reduces waste at pouring, providing customers with a better product.
Started in 2011, the Mariposa Friends of the Fairgrounds Foundation is a non-profit organization created to insure that the fairgrounds stays open now and for future generations to enjoy.
For information on how to help out, go online to mariposafof.com or find them on Facebook. Membership applications are also available at the fairgrounds office.
Contributed by Carol Suggs
