Ice Bear Fest 80’s Après Ski Party Returns to Third Space Brewing September 29th

MILWAUKEE, Wisc. – January 25, 2021 – On Saturday January 29, 2022, Ice Bear Fest returns to Third Space Brewing. Ice Bear Fest is an 80’s après ski-themed party that runs from 12:00-5:00 p.m. at the brewery’s tap room at 1505 W. St. Paul Avenue in the Menomonee River Valley.

The event celebrates Third Space Brewing’s winter seasonal beer, Ice Bear Baltic Porter. Guests are encouraged to dress in 80’s ski gear with a costume contest at 3:30 to choose the best dressed. Ice Bear Fest will feature a DJ from Events by Design, playing 80’s music and other après ski tunes all afternoon.

The event was inspired by Third Space Brewing’s Co-Founder and President, Andy Gehl’s experience at a European Après Ski Party in St. Anton, Austria. In fact, the name of the beer, Ice Bear, comes from a German après ski sing-along song that pays tribute to the “Eisbär”, the “King on the Eternal Ice.” According to Gehl, “the Austrians really know how to party in the snow after a day on the slopes. People dance on tables in their ski boots and sing along to crazy songs with fellow skiers who turn into instant friends after a couple après ski beers.”

Ice Bear Fest combines the European après ski party with the nostalgia of the golden age of ski fashion – the 1980’s – to offer Wisconsinites a fun break from the harsh winter. “The goal of Ice Bear Fest is to bring people out of their winter hibernation for some fun in the snow with great beer, fun music, and a little silliness mixed in.

It’s one of my favorite days of the whole year,” said Gehl.

The DJ will be set up outside in Third Space Brewing’s beer garden with an outdoor bar open and several fire pits to keep party-goers warm. Third Space will even be selling shotskis filled with 2oz shots of the 9.4% Ice Bear Baltic Porter. Third Space will also tap a few special barrel-aged beers at the event including a version of Ice Bear that aged in Laphroaig Scotch barrels and both variants of its 2021 Stout State of Mind, a 13.5% J. Henry Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout collaboration with Ray’s Wine & Spirits.

Saturday will be the third in-person version of Ice Bear Fest. In 2021, Third Space opted for a virtual version of the event.

The party is free to attend but guests are encouraged to pre-order the Ice Bear Fest merchandise package for $20 that includes the annual Ice Bear Fest color-changing mug, a pair of Ice Bear Fest tinted sunglasses and a new Ice Bear Fest fanny pack.

The merch packages will help attendees add to their 80’s ski costumes and provide

$1 off drafts for anyone with the Ice Bear Fest mugs, that change colors when they get cold. If the merchandise packaged do not sell out, the items in it will all be available for sale a la carte at the event for a higher price. Packages are available on Eventbrite here.

The tap room will also be open to warm up inside but guests can also reserve a Happy Dome for only $25 for 2 hours for a place to warm up and not miss the party outside. Happy Dome reservations for Ice Bear Fest and other days at Third Space can be made on the brewery’s website here.

About Third Space Brewing

Third Space Brewing opened its doors September 15, 2016, and quickly gained a reputation for brewing high-quality, flavorful, and supremely balanced craft beer. In 2018, the brewery was named one of the 50 fastest growing craft breweries in the nation by the Brewers Association. In 2021, the Milwaukee Business Journal listed Third Space as the 10th largest brewery in the state of Wisconsin. Third Space was voted the Shepherd Express’s Best Microbrewery in Milwaukee two years in a row (2018-2019) and has won 4 medals at the Great American Beer Festival. Third Space beers are distributed throughout the entire state of Wisconsin.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.