Cookies and craft

It’s again time for milk to take a back seat to beer when it comes to cookies.

The local Girl Scouts’ Craft Beer & Cookie Fest, pairing area brews with those iconic Girl Scout cookies, returns for a fifth year in Spokane on Saturday and for the second time in Coeur d’Alene next Thursday.

The Spokane event runs from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Girl Scout program center, 1404 N. Ash. Black Label, the top vote-getter for its pairings the past two years, will defend its title along with fellow returnees Alaskan, Badass Backyard, English Setter, Iron Goat, Lagunitas, New Boundary, River City and Waddell’s plus newcomer Big Barn.

Black Label has claimed its crown with a couple of very different combinations: Espresso Stout and Thin Mints in 2015, and Fox’s Pale Ale with the lemony Savannah Smiles last year.

“Most people like beer and everyone likes cookies,” says Black Label’s Dan Dvorak. “So when you are able to bring the two together and have it support such a great cause it is a very true win-win.”

For the first time, food trucks will be on hand: Left Coast Fusion and Meltz Extreme Grilled Cheese. Live music will be provided by Bill Bozly followed by Blue Mustangs.

In Coeur d’Alene, at Uva Italian restaurant from 5 to 7:30 p.m., Daft Badger ((last year’s winner with Kahlua Porter/Thin Mints), Mad Bomber and Slate Creek will be back for another round along with first-timers Post Falls Brewing and North Idaho Cider, plus music by Bozly.   

Tickets for each event are $20 in advance (see links above), $25 at the door, which includes a tasting glass, five 4-ounce pours and food (a $5 food truck voucher in Spokane, house hors d’oeuvres in Coeur d’Alene). Proceeds support Girl Scouts programs.