More Than 300 Enjoy Second Annual Novemberfest In Neligh

More than 300 eager guests attended the Second Annual Novermberfest on Saturday, a beer and wine tasting event presented by the Neligh Young Men's Club.

The event was open to anyone 21 years of age and older at the Neligh American Legion. 

Four breweries and four wineries offered samples throughout the night of some of their more popular selections. Bootleg Brewery of Taylor, The Brewery at Divots of Norfolk, Kinkaider Brewing Co. of Broken Bow and Empyrean Brewing Co. of Lincoln all offered various beer options for the crowd. Mac's Creek Vineyards of Lexington, Prairie Creek Vineyards of Central City, Nissen Wine of Hartington and WunderRose Winery of Roca each offered multiple wine options as well.

Steve Simonsen, a member of the Neligh Young Men's Club, says that having no more than four vendors for wine and four for beer, helped each vendor individually more than last year, and they will change next year as well.

“Next year hopefully we will have three different breweries and three different wineries that we didn’t have this year," Simonsen said. "So we like to keep things changing.”

A competition was also held for the best homemade beer and wine, with champions and reserve champions crowned. In the beer competition, Greg Ptacek earned champion and Derek Schilling earned reserve champion. Of the wine selection, Wade Pitzer took home champion and Brent Stelling took home reserve champion.

After the event, the Legion hosted a Husker watch party for the guests.

Steve Simonsen said things changed from last year, but this years event was still a success.

“We had a silent auction and raffle this  year. The silent auction went over really well, and people were really generous there," Simonsen said. “We made a little bit of money, we didn’t lose, which is always good. And we can have an event that everyone in town can pretty much enjoy.”