Lisa Denton and Barry Courter
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Entire U.S. women’s soccer team will be in Chattanooga U.S. women rout Costa Rica 8-0 to begin victory tour
LISA DENTON: Barry, I’m not much of a beer drinker – and by “not much” I mean “not at all” since it takes me away from the hard stuff, and by “hard stuff” I mean Mello Yello. But I’ve been told there’s nothing like a cold beer on a hot day, so I’m thinking the Southern Brewers Festival will be just the place for serious beer tenders Saturday.
BARRY COURTER: The very best beer is the first one right after a round of golf or right after you’ve finished mowing the lawn. The second-best beer is the next one. Beer is big doings these days with all kinds of new craft beers being created here and elsewhere. Where there were just a few not that long ago, there are dozens of options being brewed right here at this moment.
You might be surprised at the different types and flavors that are out there. Just the other day we tried a chocolate-infused brew at our house that literally made my daughter do the happy dance. And I hesitate to tell you this in public, but there is a root-beer-flavored beer out there that’s sweeter than stolen honey. We have seriously talked about buying up every case we can find.
The festival is a reflection of the growth of craft beer, but it also a really strong music festival. Set to perform this year are Flow Tribe, Cory Henry & the Funk Apostles, Hard Working Americans, The Motet and Lotus. It’s another great lineup.
LISA: This is the 21st year of the festival, and the folks at the CraftWorks Foundation know how to throw a party. Plus, all proceeds go to charity, which is nice. It’s worth going just for the music.
Oh, but the big news this week may be that the Women’s National Soccer Team, the World Cup champions, will be at Finley Stadium on Wednesday for a friendly match against Costa Rica. Seating for the game has sold out, although I hear there are tickets available on some of the big ticket-selling websites. The Tuesday practice is open, though, so anyone can watch for free. It’s scheduled from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The match will be televised on ESPN2. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m.
BARRY: Did you ever think that Chattanooga would play host to two soccer events that would draw nearly 40,000 people total? The Chattanooga Football Club’s championship game drew 18,227. I think that in the whole history of soccer events in town combined we don’t total that number. It’s really pretty amazing, and the rest of the soccer world has taken notice. I’ve read several blogs and magazine articles that say essentially, “Holy cow, did you see what Chattanooga did?” Kudos to the Chattanooga Football Club, the Finley staff and everyone else that has made it happen.
LISA: There’s even a chance to pose for selfies with the World Cup trophy. Today, it will be on display at Waterhouse Pavilion at Miller Plaza from noon to 2 p.m. and at Hamilton Place mall (lower level near Zales jewelry store) from 4 to 6 p.m. On game day, it can be found in Fan Headquarters at Finley Stadium. The trophy eventually will be displayed at the U.S. Soccer Federation’s headquarters in Chicago.
BARRY: Also, The Band Perry is the StarNight headliner at the Chattanooga Convention Center to benefit Siskin Children’s Institute on Saturday. Also that night, Rhythm & Brews is hosting a benefit for Clark Jackson, who died in a house fire in Tuscaloosa, Ala. He was the guitar player for local band Soul Mechanic and a really popular guy with people who knew him.
Get event details every Thursday in ChattanoogaNow or online anytime at www.ChattanoogaNow.com.
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281. Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.