Serving God, country, cookies and beer

Milk and cookies, of course, is a classic match. But beer and cookies?

That’s what’s in store at the second annual Craft Beer & Cookie Fest, Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Spokane’s Girl Scout Program Center, 1404 N. Ash. The fundraiser pairs popular Girl Scout cookies with local and regional brews.

“We’re trying to do fun things to show off our location, let people know what we’re doing for the area,” said Girl Scouts event specialist Lydia Duffy. “Plus, of course, it’s Oktoberfest – why not try something a little edgy?”

Before you start, um, tossing your cookies, consider these combinations:

– Iron Goat’s Goatmeal Stout (and possibly Lagunitas IPA) with chocolaty Thin Mints.

– River City’s VBS vanilla bourbon stout with chocolate/caramel/coconut Samoas.

– Alaskan’s Pumpkin Porter and Big Barn’s brand-new Harvest IPA with peanut butter/chocolate Tagalongs.

– English Setter’s Over/Under IPA with shortbread Trefoils – a combo that particularly interests Duffy, a beer lover whose husband brews at home.

Ramblin’ Road also will participate, though its pairing hasn’t been announced yet.

There also will be bratwurst (for those whose stomachs do not live by cookies alone), live music by Matt Mitchell of Folkinception, celebrity pourer Matt Santangelo (former Gonzaga University basketball star and current Hoopefest executive director) and games like beer ring toss (if you snag a bottle, you take it home).

Tickets are $15 in advance, through Brown Paper Tickets (with service charge) or by calling (509) 747-8091, or $20 at the door. That gets you three 4-ounce tastes, accompanying cookies and a brat (additional samples and sausages will be available for purchase).

No actual Scouts will be involved, Duffy stresses; the event is for 21 and older only.

“That was one of the biggest concerns last year – people would say, ‘Girl Scouts and beer? Not OK,’ “ she said. “It was just new to our crowd.”

About 100 people showed up for that lower-key debut, said Duffy, who’s hoping for a few hundred this time.

“The atmosphere was like a backyard barbecue. People were hanging out, having a good time,” she said. “I expected them to come and have their samples and leave, but they stayed the whole time and had fun.”

They also learned more about the program center, with such offerings as a full-sized gym, computer lab, teaching kitchen, and arts and crafts.

“This is a great time of year for girls to become members, but in the Spokane area, not a lot of people know about our center,” Duffy said. “We want to generate more attention for our facility, and what we can bring to the community.”