Thirsty spring ritual

After long stretches of gray/ wet weather, is winter finally over? Hell, yeah! If nothing else, Brewfest at the Beach takes place Friday in the pavilion at Ocean Beach Park. Few things say "spring-into-summer" quite like this biannual and muchloved event sponsored for all the right reasons by the New London Rotary.

So that you don't have to, I've done a little math for you to enhance your enjoyment of Brewfest. To wit:

• Approximate number of breweries participating: 36

• Approximate number of beers from those breweries: over 150

• Approximate number of IPAs: 26

• Approximate number of designated summer beers: 10

• Approximate number of fruit/citrus brews/shandies: 14 • Approximate number of brews you probably want to sample but, knowing to drink responsibly, you won't: 150 There are also plenty of hard ciders, wines, twisted teas, flavored coolers and hard sodas. Don't forget hotdogs and chili dogs and the Bon Appetito Pizza Truck. Live music by the Rhythm Method and, again, the lulling greatness of sea 'n' sand. As always, proceeds go to Camp Rotary, a summer camp for New London middle school students.

Brewfest at the Beach, 6-9 p.m. Friday, Ocean Beach Park, 98 Neptune Ave., New London; ages 21 and over; $25 advance, $30 gate; newlondonrotary.org.