Nearly 600 join in beer-tastings at Medina’s Ale in Autumn

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Members of Medina Area Partnership who volunteered at Medina Senior Center to check in participants of Ale in Autumn, posed for a picture after the crowds had thinned out. There were 565 people who purchased tickets for Ale in Autumn.

MEDINA – Those who bought tickets for the annual Ale in Autumn, sponsored by Medina Area Partnership, enjoyed a beautiful day Saturday walking through the streets of town, and enjoying a different ale at nearly two dozen participating businesses.

Taylor Sugar and Erin Taylor of Albion check in with Ann Fisher-Bale, head organizer of Ale in Autumn. Sugar has attended the event before and had a lot of fun, she said. But his was Taylor’s first time.

Deana Dena Anderson pours beer at The Walsh for Matt Corser of Middleport during Ale in Autumn on Saturday. This was Corser’s first time at the event, and he attended with friends from Canada.

Sarah Fisher said one lady came dressed as a cow.

A different feature this year for participants was getting their picture taken at Alexandra Peracciny Photography. They could choose from themed props and got to take their picture home in a card-like frame.

Dawn Borchet, director of Orleans County Tourism, provided juice and water bottles for the goodie bags each ticket holder received. The bags also contain their glass, pretzels, a pen, Koozie and a program.

Participants checked in at the Medina Senior Center,  where Patrick Weissend checked their ID. The head of Tompkins/Bank of Castile in Medina, Weissend has had the same duties for at least 10 years, he said.

At The Walsh, Deana Dena Andersen poured ale from a small kiosk outside. The area is roped off for entertainment with chairs and a big screen TV. At the end, the band Darrel Brown and the Chill Factor provided music.

Fisher-Bale said this event brings in people from all over the area, including Canada.

Funds from this event and other fundraisers has allowed MAP to purchase the sound system downtown.

“The money we make goes toward improvements and promoting our member businesses,” Fisher-Bale said.

Ann Fisher-Bale, right, checks in Taylor Sugar and Erin Taylor at Medina Senior Center. Participants of Ale in Autumn checked in there, where they were ID’d and received a goodie bag.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Angela Rogers of Batavia and Karl Dionne of Toronto try a beer poured by Randy Huslor, co-owner of The Print Shop, which was one of the stops for Ale in Autumn.

At Modern Mercantile, beer tastings from Talking Cursive in Syracuse were served by Holly Lederhouse, left, and Bekah Osher.

A commemorative glass has a light beer, Oktoberfest, from Meier’s Creek Brewing Company in Cazenovia. This photo is inside the Medina Triennial Hub in the former NAPA building on Main Street.

Matt Hollenback pours a tasting of beer for Victoria Schicker of Medina at the Medina Triennial site.

The Medina Hemp House put out a sign celebrating a festive day in Medina.