DURANGO Ska Brewing Co., already growing by leaps and bounds with a recent 70 percent boost in brewing capacity, now is venturing into the world of show biz.
And judging by early responses, the local brew crew may have a real future in entertainment.
Brew Minions is a new online video filmed and produced locally by Marc Sniders Exposure Productions. It stars a cast of Ska regulars. Skas Dave Welz wrote the script. The short film is a parody of The Discovery Channels popular Brew Masters reality show, and the Ska boys somehow even got Brew Masters host Sam Calagione of the Dogfish Head Brewery in Delaware to make a cameo in Brew Minions.
Weve known Sam for years and knew he would be at an event (in Vail) we were doing, and he was totally into doing our movie. It makes it so much better having him in it, said Dave Thibodeau, Ska co-founder and star of Brew Minions.
The plot, as it were, follows Thibodeau and his crew on a quest to bring a specially crafted beer to Ska music legends The Toasters for the bands 30th anniversary tour. (The brewery is close to finalizing a deal to bring The Toasters to Durango for Skas annual birthday party in September.)
Its a parody of a particular Brew Masters episode celebrating the anniversary of Miles Davis Bitches Brew album. Though the brewery has maintained a friendship with The Toasters for years, in the film the band is convincingly oblivious to Skas efforts.
The fictional brew in the film is made from a selection of different toasts, but the real brew, which Ska has sold at Toasters shows in Missouri, Nebraska, Arizona and New Mexico, is of a more traditional recipe. The beer is not available locally but will be sold if and when the September gig is confirmed.
We anticipate quite a crowd when the Toasters show up, but like always, well probably give that money all away to charity, Thibodeau said.
He credited Sniders talents for the early popularity of the video, which has a professional feel to it.
We were talking to Marc about helping us film some stock footage. We mentioned the idea to him, and he said hed love to be part of it, Thibodeau said. I was planning on shooting it with my Canon Elf, but once Marc was onboard, our goofy little project turned very pro.
What started as a whim truly has caught on among Skas loyal following, which continues to grow nationwide.
As of March 17, Brew Minions had been viewed 7,400 times on Vimeo.com and another 700 had seen it on YouTube.com. And thats after just one week online.
It was a blast, and now weve got people wondering if there are more episodes, Thibodeau said. Its possible, but Im not saying anything else.