On Saturday, the Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City, Indiana held its 6th Annual Blue Chip Brewfest. Thousands of craft beer lovers gathered at the Stardust Event Center standing in a line that spanned the length of the casino in order to receive their glass, and sample the libations that the more than 80 breweries in attendance offered up.

Blue Chip Casino’s Assistant General Manager Jack Elia said that the annual event had grown from 600 people six years ago to the over 2,200 people in attendance at Saturday’s event. Elia said that they held a Brewmaster Luncheon that John Leinenkugel, part of the fifth generation of the Leinenkugel family brewery that was founded in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, spoke at. Also in attendance was the World of Lagunitas; the Lagunitas Brewing Co. that last year partnered with Heineken International in what was the most significant deal yet in U.S. craft brewing industry.

Forty-five breweries were featured in this year’s Blue Chip Brewfest in the Stardust Event Center, with another 40 set up in a tent outdoors. “We’ve got 85 breweries here today and over 300 beers,” said Elia. “It’s just a fun day for all to have! There are a lot of local breweries from Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan that are here but we do have breweries from all over.”

Six years ago, Blue Chip Casino decided to get involved in the craft beer craze by hosting their first ever Brewfest. With some of the finest beers being brewed in Northwest Indiana, Blue Chip thought it would feature and bring together both local and national breweries for one huge event.

The United Way of La Porte County will receive a portion of the proceeds generated from the Blue Chip Casino Brewfest and from the silent auction sales of promotional items that were donated by the various breweries in attendance.