Over $22,000 Raised, Best Bloodys + Beers Crowned At 2024 Bloody Bash

A fun summer fundraising event returned on Sunday for the third year to the Duluth area as Skyline Social and Games in Hermantown hosted the 2024 Bloody Bash.

The event is held each year as a competition between area bars and restaurants in a vote for the best bloody mary with breweries also looking for votes in the category of best beer chaser/snit all in an effort to raise money for Never Surrender, Inc.

Never Surrender is an organization that helps people living with ALS, with the ultimate goal of finding a cure for this disease, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Since the inception of this event a couple of years ago, all of the proceeds from the day have been donated to Never Surrender, Inc., which includes ticket sales for admission, raffle tickets sold at the event, and even the money made by Skyline from bar and food sales is donated to the cause.

In addition to the great beverages to be sampled, the ever-popular Northwoods Band once again played on a stage on the volleyball courts, entertaining the crowd through the afternoon.

This year, the grand total of money raised was $22,090! Before announcing the winners of the beer and bloody voting, representatives from Skyline and Never Surrender took part in a check presentation to announce the news.

Who won in the bloody & beer voting?

While the real winner is, of course, the charity, there were competitions for the title of the best tasting and best presented bloody mary, as well as the best beer snit. This fun element of the event gives bars, restaurants, and breweries a chance to have some fun showing off some favorites or trying a new recipe for the crowd.

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In the competitions, hundreds of votes were cast to decide which of the 9 participating bars and restaurants should earn the titles of best-presented and best-tasting bloody in the Twin Ports area.

Best-presented bloody

In the category of best-presented, or best-looking bloody, participants are appealing to the eyes with all sorts of fancy garnishes and touches. As they say, you eat with your eyes first!

This year's top 3 winners are as follows:

1. Pike Lake Golf & Beach Club
2. McKenzie's Bar & Grill
3. Powerhouse Bar

Best-tasting bloody

How a drink looks is one thing, but how it tastes is another. Some of this year's bloodys offered surprise twists on flavor. For example, The Boreal House had a sweet and savory rim that used maple sugar, while a few others packed a surprise kick of a little heat.

In the end, these were the top winners:

1. McKenzie's Bar & Grill
2. Pike Lake Golf & Beach Club
3. Powerhouse Bar

Best beer chaser/snit

Many consider a side of beer a traditional part of enjoying a bloody. Once again this year, breweries were vying for the vote of best chaser. Local places like Bent Paddle and Duluth Cider along with brands from elsewhere in the state like Bemidji Brewing all competed.

Many of the breweries had a few different options to choose from, but the vote ultimately came down to which brewery had the best brew to go along with a bloody. Here's who won:

1. Third Street Brewhouse
2. Castle Danger Brewery
3. Fulton Beer

The 2025 Bloody Bash has been announced!

As a part of the closing ceremony to this year's event, the date for the 2025 Bloody Bash was announced. It will once again be hosted at Skyline Social and Games, set to be held on Sunday, August 10, 2025. Mark your calendars!