(Press Release)

MILWAUKEE—Lakefront Brewery, Inc. announced it is hosting the 26^th annual Blessing of the Bock on Sunday, March 23. The celebration will feature a specially-brewed Bock style beer not sold in stores and proceeds will benefit the Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Initiative.

The event is a way to mark the return of spring, according to brewery representative, John Zutz. Zutz explained that the modern beer blessing ceremonies originated in the Middle Ages when monasteries operated breweries and considered fermentation a miracle, not yet knowing the existence of yeast. “At Lakefront, we understand the mechanics and the chemistry,” Zutz added with a chuckle, “but we still celebrate the miracle.”

The special bock style beer, brewed just for the event, is similar to the brewery’s bock beer that was discontinued in 2011. Brewery President, Russ Klisch, stated, “We couldn’t host the ‘Blessing of the Bock’ without a bock beer, so we made a small batch just for the occasion.” Klisch also invited homebrewers to bring samples of their beers to be blessed, as well. The beer will be blessed by Fr. Michael Bertram of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, based in Milwaukee’s Harambee neighborhood.

The 26^th annual Blessing of the Bock will be held at Lakefront Brewery on Sunday, March 23, from noon until 4:00 PM. Tickets for the event are $20.00, and can be purchased at the door or via a link on Lakefront Brewery’s website. Proceeds will benefit the Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Initiative. Brewery tours will be available, as well.

Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Initiative has served more than 1,200 homeless and at-risk veterans and their families since 2008. MHVI does outreach to find veterans in need and helps them obtain benefits, medical care, clothing, food, toiletries, and transportation, and supplies furniture, household items and other necessities when they move into new living spaces.  More information is available on their website www.mkehomelessvets.org or on Facebook.