By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
The sounds of polka and smell of sausage filled the air, the beer was flowing, and spirits were high at Red Rambler Coffees & Ramblin’ Red’s Brewing Co. last week during the Wauseon Chamber of Commerce’s third annual Oktoberfest event.
According to Chamber President Bill Drummer, the event is a chance for their 265 members to get together and socialize.
“We do these business after hours once a quarter and this one has probably been the most popular of all of them,” Drummer said.
“We have live polka music, Nick from Sullivan’s Restaurant makes German food and we have all the craft brews that are made right here in the microbrewery by Ramblin’ Reds and it’s just a nice little fun time.”
Included in the food offerings were pierogi, sausage, soft pretzels with cheese, pork rinds, and German chocolate cake.
The music came courtesy of accordionist Bette Lighthill and her sister, keyboard player Ginni Neuenschwander. The pair – who have played at all three chamber Oktoberfest celebrations – have been playing together since the 1980s, when Lighthill had a band. “We just played every weekend then,” she said.
The duo said they love polka because of their German heritage and because it’s “happy music.” Among their favorite songs to play are “Kisses Sweeter than Wine,” “Out Behind the Barn,” and “No Beer Today.”
“But that’s not here today, we’ve got lots of beer!” Bette said.
Ramblin’ Reds co-owner Brent Shea said the most popular beer of the night was their seasonal Oktoberfest – a 5.6% ABV marzen.
The brewery has three flagship beers – the Crema Cup Coffee Stout, Raspberry Beret, and Corn Rules Everything Around Me (C.R.E.A.M.) cream ale.
“We brew all our own beer here and roast all our own coffee as well, so everything is fresh. We don’t serve any coffee that’s older than three weeks old and all our beer is made in small batches,” Shea said. “In the last couple of years, we’ve launched canning, and that’s gone really well.”
In addition to the three flagship beers, eight additional taps carry a selection that rotates throughout the year based on seasonal variations and personal preference.
The brewery owns 32 labels in order to be able to can and sell that many varieties, which are distributed to restaurants in 12-ounce and 16-ounce cans.
Shea and company are currently developing a new beer using the same base as their Raspberry Beret but using organic Michigan cherries in place of the raspberries.
The event was sponsored by F&M Bank, and Business Development Officer Blake Pitzen was on hand with several other representatives from the bank.
“We like to be involved as much as we can, whether it’s through sponsorship, whether it’s through volunteering our time, whatever that may look like we try to give back any way that we can,” Pitzen said.
He said that, along with that community involvement, his favorite thing about working for F&M was the flexibility which allows him to also serve as the head wrestling coach for Wauseon Middle School.
That program recently launched its first varsity girls’ wrestling team, which has more than 10 girls competing at the middle and high school level.
Jesse can be reached at jesse@thevillagereporter.com
