On a bright, crisp Saturday afternoon, the Hopper team and I headed to Call to Arms Brewing Company to enjoy the Third Annual Mardi Gras Rumpus. It was packed to the gills with people celebrating, despite the snow that fell all morning. There were plenty of troupers parading and enjoying New Orleans style food and great beer by Call to Arms and other collaborating breweries.
A Mardi Gras Rumpus wouldn’t be complete without a parade, feathered masks, and big brass. The third annual, self-acclaimed “tinniest Mardi Gras parade in the country” could not be stopped by a little snow. Miniature floats made by local breweries marched around the block, some dancing to the sound of trumpets and trombones played by the Mile High Brass Band. It was a small but mighty display, each brewery with a float theme such as Mario characters and Stout Month celebrators. People gathered outside Call to Arms to watch the revelry and then place Mardi Gras beads on their favorite float.
One of the specialties brewed for the party was the Rock Me Like a Hurricane, inspired by the ever famous, and sometimes infamous, New Orleans drink, the Hurricane. I’ve never had a beer quite as fruit forward. The passionfruit and lemon flavors far outshined the hops and barley, and the color was a deep pinkish gold, as close as you can get to the color of a Hurricane in a beer. Despite being inspired by the Hurricane, this beer’s ABV was reasonably low, making it easy to sip on over the course of an afternoon. Another fan favorite was the Farewell to Arms, a collaboration with TRVE Brewing. Brewed with rosemary, this sour golden ale was a perfect balance of savory, sour, and bitter. Another easy drinking beer that was complex and interesting, but not so over the top that you didn’t want to go back for more.
Overall, it was a quite a jubilee. We danced, tried almost every beer on offer between the four of us, and watched the crowd gain more and more comradery over the afternoon. No one seemed to mind the cold, and the tradition of Mardi Gras carried on miles away from its roots. This celebration is a tradition to look forward to each February. Just as the winter starts to become overwhelming, there will be an open door, welcoming all in from the cold to enjoy an afternoon of merry-making at the Call to Arms Annual Mardi Gras Rumpus.