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DEC 10 13 – 3:15 PM — Gatineau’s popular Winter Beerfest,  which in two years has attracted upwards of 10,000 beer aficionados over a mid-winter weekend, is moving to the Canadian Museum of Civilization for its third edition Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 when it hopes better visibility as an official Winterlude event will attract more people from Ontario.

“It has great accessibility and is closer to Ottawa residents we want to attract,” says Michael O’Farrell, executive director, who unveiled plans for the two-day food, beer and winter event this morning at the museum.

“The venue is certainly a landmark, and now we’re an official part of Winterlude this location puts us closer to the other activities.”

Previously, the event was held at Château Cartier in Gatineau (Aylmer).

Admission is $10, with tasting tickets for beer and gourmet appetizers by museum executive chef Martin De Board at 50 cents. Beer and food typically cost from four to 12 tickets per sample, depending on the brew or extravagance of the dish, O’Farrel says. Passes are now on sale online here.

Here’s the edited press release:

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Third annual Winter Beerfest to be held
at the Canadian Museum of Civilization

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It’s official: the Gatineau Winter Beerfest, presented by Lachapelle Fiat, will be held Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, 2014 at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, part of a three-year agreement with the museum. As well, the Winter Beerfest is proud to be listed for the first time as an official Winterlude event.

“Thanks to partnerships such as this, Winterlude will once again offer highly popular culinary events that showcase Canadian products and celebrate the creativity and talent of some of Canada’s top chefs, sommeliers, and wine and beer makers,” said Canadian Heritage and Official Languages minister Shelly Glover.

Lachapelle Fiat, presenting partner of the 2014 Winter Beerfest, “is pleased and proud to be associated with this important regional event,” said Pascal Lafrance, Lachapelle Fiat Division Manager.

The Winter Beerfest has quickly become one of the Outaouais region’s top tourist events. The Canadian Museum of Civilization’s spectacular site and stunning architecture are sure to impress visitors to the third annual Winter Beerfest, which adds an urban vibe to the warm, welcoming atmosphere associated with local craft products. Besides beer and food tastings and seminars, the weekend program includes winter activities and live entertainment that will ramp up the momentum for the Gatineau Beerfest to be held in May 2014.

The new location is easier to get to, from both the Outaouais region and the Ontario side of the Ottawa River. As well, there’s parking on site and on nearby streets. In the Grand Hall, the festival’s main venue, beer aficionados will be invited to sample a wide range of craft beers, enjoy music, and savour gourmet appetizers prepared by the museum’s executive chef, Martin De Board. Outside the museum, directly across from Parliament Hill, festival-goers can warm up around a gigantic bonfire.

“We are delighted to be a partner of the Winter Beerfest for the next three years”, said Mark O’Neill, president and CEO of the museum. “Partnerships like this allow us to reach out to the local community while supporting this creative and unique event.”

The 2014 edition will launch a new Beerfest tradition. Friday evening’s festivities will include the coronation (by Beerfest organizers) of Queen Hildegard and King Gambrinus, in honour of two legendary figures in brewing history. Chosen through a “people’s choice” contest, the royal couple will reign happy and glorious over the Beerfest kingdom. Contest details will be posted in the next few weeks on the Winter Beerfest’s Facebook page (facebook.com/festibiere) and website (festibieredhiver.com/en).

Beerfest chair Mario D’Eer is the first Francophone beerologist. Author of 14 books about beer and a regular guest on Radio‑Canada, Mario established the beerologist certification and co-founded the Chambly and Gatineau Beerfests. As he points out, “In the cold heart of winter, there’s nothing better than the warm, fuzzy feeling you get from tasting Quebec’s finest beers at the Gatineau Winter Beerfest!”

Winter Beerfest passes go on sale today on the Beerfest website and at the Canadian Museum of Civilization box office, for $10. Again this year, Mario D’Eer will deliver his popular lecture on Beer and Cheese Pairing, Friday and Saturday evening at 6 p.m. The presentation is a fun and informal way to learn about the art of pairing different beers and cheeses. Lecture tickets are $15, also available on the Beerfest website and at the museum box office.

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No winter beer festival (in Ottawa-Gatineau, at any rate) would be complete without these signature beauties: Poutine with lamb and beer-based sauce, a must-try on the menu for the third edition at the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

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Twitter: @roneade

Email: ronlorne[at]hotmail[dot]com

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