What The Funk Invitational Downsizes to Upsize Quality

What the Funk!?, the barrel-aged sour beer-focused festival put on by Crooked Stave, will take place on Tuesday, October 4, to unofficially kick off the Great American Beer Festival. In its fifth year, the popular invitational is coming back with some major changes to address concerns of last year's attendants.

The event is coming back to the EXDO event center because organizers seek a large open space, with unobstructed access to the brewers and artisans, all in a meet and greet style hangout. There will be a smaller crowd 25% less tickets will be sold, fewer brewers - 50 instead to 65 as last year, and more beer from each brewer in attendance. To minimize the time in line, prescreening will be an option and guests will be allowed to get checked in early so participants can be ready to taste right at 6 p.m.

Tickets, which are $100, will go on sale Wednesday, August 24 at 10 a.m. online at www.wtfinvitational.com. Proceeds will benefit Water for People, a local non-profit organization that works to provide clean water systems to developing countries.