Wine, beer, bourbon, bats & a cheese river: why you should hit Science of Wine and Beer Too

• Beer and wine too

  

   

  There will be more than 30 wines and beer galore free with admission. The event will feature domestic and craft brew, including selections from Dayton favorites Warped Wing and Toxic Brew Company and Columbus-based Elevator Brewery.

  (Photo: wine at a recent Science of Wine at the Boonshoft, contributed)

   

• Bats

  

   

  Funds will be collected for much-needed upgrades to the Egyptian fruit bat enclosure in the Museum’s Discovery Zoo. Guests will be able to interact with these nocturnal wonders as they roam the museum with animal keepers.

  (Photo: bats at the Museum Discovery Zoo, contributed)

   

• Batman

  

   

  Batman and Robin will patrol the museum and Carl’s Body Shop’s Batcycle will be set up in the lobby for photo ops. Carl’s Batmobile will greet guests as they arrive. RiffTraxx’s 1940s Batman episodes will play in the planetarium.

  (Photo: a tiny Batman with Carl's Body Shop's Batmobile, Carl's Facebook page)

   

• Cheese river

  

   

  It is just what it sounds like. The fondue-style set up prepared by Kohler Catering will include four different kinds of cheese.

  The impressive list of apps also includes risotto and spinach stuffed mushroom caps; a beef, turkey and black bean sliders bar with sweet potato fries, specialty cheeses, antipasto, fruits, a potato bar, a carving station featuring beef and roasted pork tenderloin, mac and cheese with lobster topping, roasted vegetables, snacks from Mike Sells Potato Chips and beef, vegetable and pork sausages in the beer garden.

  (Photo: grub served at 2009's Science of Wine, contributed photo by Peter Wine)

   

• Science

  

   

  You can’t have a party at the Boonshoft without the “s” word. Much of the science activities at the museum will revolve around beer, wine, bats and bourbon.

  Toxic Brewing Company co-owner Shane Juhl will give a presentation on grains, hops and mash. Seth Meranda from Meranda-Nixon Winery of Ripley will talk about growing wine grapes in Ohio. A Gallo representative will discuss the scent of wine.

  Bruce Benedict from the Ohio Department of Agriculture will discuss the state’s grape growing climates. The three Ohio breweries will present info and Joseph Head from Dayton’s Century: A Bourbon House will answer questions at the bourbon bar.

  (Photo: scene from a recent Science of Wine at the Boonshoft, contributed)

   

• Grown-up fun

  

   

  Can you really tell the different between a Syrah and a Merlot? Party-goers will participate in a blind wine tasting. There will be Jeopardy-style trivia in the planetarium. Other activities include fire demos on drinkable and non-drinkable fluid, chemical reactions with yeast and wine smoothies made with liquid nitrogen.

  (Adult-sized, contributed)

  Contact this blogger at amelia.robinson@coxinc.com or Twitter.com/DDNSmartMouth

  Note: Blogger Amelia Robinson is a member of the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery’s associate board. The volunteer organization knows how to have a good time.