Billings Brewery Hosting Adult Pinewood Derby Race During Craft Beer Week
There are few things more predictable than adults taking a wholesome childhood activity and thinking, “Cool… but what if we added beer?” Enter the Adult Pinewood Derby.
Read More: The Unusual Law Against Pet Rats In Billings, Montana
From Cub Scouts to Craft Beer
The Pinewood Derby dates back to 1953, when Cub Scout leader Don Murphy organized the first race in Manhattan Beach. His goal was simple: create a hands-on activity that younger kids could enjoy after his son was too young for the larger Soap Box Derby.
The idea was simple... Small wooden cars, gravity-powered, racing down a track.
Within a year, Boy Scouts of America adopted it nationwide, and it quickly became a rite of passage. Kids (and let’s be honest, their parents) have been sanding, painting, and obsessing over tiny wooden race cars ever since.
Fast forward 70+ years… and those kids are now adults with disposable income, competitive instincts, and access to YouTube tutorials on how to dominate a Pinewood Derby.
Which Brings Us to the Adult Pinewood Derby in Billings
Meadowlark Brewing is leaning into that nostalgia with an Adult Pinewood Derby on Tuesday, May 12, from 5:30 to 8:30 PM. It’s exactly what it sounds like:
Build (or resurrect) your derby car, and race it against other grown-ups.
This 21+ event is part of their Craft Beer Week lineup and will also benefit Scouting America. Participants and spectators can enjoy a fresh Maibock release on tap, and you can “chat with the faces behind the beer” at Meadowlark Brewing.
As a kid, I wanted to be a Boy Scout. My parents said no, probably because my mom didn't want to drag us around to meetings and such. I wanted to do Scouts for the outdoor stuff, but I really wanted to be a Scout so I could have a pinewood derby car. Now, here is my chance.