Guests line up to try Ballast Point, a brewery out of southern California. Local beers and more will be available during the KEDT Classic Brew fundrasier Thursday, Sept. 28, at the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History. Courtesy photo
Support your community public broadcasting while taking a craft beer taste test at the KEDT Classic Brew fundraiser. In its 22nd year, the annual international beer tasting is 7-9:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, at the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History in downtown Corpus Christi.
The more than 200 imported and domestic beers can be sipped from a limited-edition commemorative pilsner glass given free to those attending. Also on the menu: gourmet tasting selections from the best South Texas restaurants and food trucks. An outdoor biergarten features live music on one of three stages of entertainment throughout the museum.
Beer and food tables set up in the museum allow guests to walk through history as they sip a craft brew or sample local cuisines.
Silent auction items include specialty beer merchandise from a branded mini-fridge to specialty collections of beer, commemorative mugs and growlers. Also on offer are contributions from local businesses such as tickets to Schlitterbahn and Bowlero, food for 10 from Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q and more.
“It’s a gathering of local beer enthusiasts, foodies and those who enjoy the (public TV) station,” said Samantha Koepp-Stemplinger, director of fundraising events at KEDT. “It’s a fun way of getting to experience the museum, a combination of beers, over 20 restaurants — and it’s for a really good cause.”
VIP ticket holders get early access to the facility’s upstairs for a special tasting put together by the Coastal Bend chapter of the Texas Chefs Association, working alongside the local Lazy Beach Brewing Co. Together, the vendors will create a four-course menu paired with specialty beers.
The VIP experience will also feature “Star Wars” characters for a meet-and-greet and a PBS interactive pop-up lounge with tech devices from iPads to Rokus to explore programming — what Koepp-Stemplinger sees as a great introduction to KEDT’s lineup for those who haven’t experienced it before.
The VIP lounge isn’t entirely exclusive: After the four-course meal, the lounge will open to general admission ticket holders at 8 p.m. — a new addition to the fundraiser.
Proceeds benefit KEDT TV and radio, the Coastal Bend’s community-owned station. Supporting the station ensures the continuation of favorite programs such as “NOVA,” “Austin City Limits,” “This Old House” and “Curious George” as well as radio programs such as “Morning Edition,” “Fresh Air” and “All Things Considered.”
“Not a lot of people realize that we have to purchase the programming,” Koepp-Stemplinger said. “By people supporting these events, they’re supporting public TV and public radio and the programming choices that fit our community.”
For tickets and more information, visit kedt.org. The museum is located at 1900 N. Chaparral, just under the Harbor Bridge in the SEA District.
