CAMDEN — There's no chance a blizzard is going to get in the way this time. The "Down the Chute Beer & Wine Challenge," originally scheduled for Feb. 8 during the 2013 U.S. National Toboggan Championships, is back on track Saturday, May 11, at the Camden Snow Bowl Lodge on Barnestown Road, from 3 to 7 p.m. The afternoon will feature samplings of Maine made beer and wine, as well as plenty of food and fun to help kick off summer.

For the admission price, participants receive a "First Eva' Down the Chute Beer & Wine Challenge" souvenir glass and tasting tickets, which will be exchanged for samples of beer and wine from six Maine breweries and three local wineries. We checked in with the participating breweries and wineries to see what they plan to offer. Note: more brewers will be adding their descriptions later today.

BREWS

Andrew's Brewing Company: "We'll offer our English Pale Ale, a traditional style English ale, with medium body, and amber in color. It has a mix of hoppy, earthy, malty aromas and flavors. This is our flagship of the fleet. Most popular with a good lobster dinner! We'll also have Summer Golden Ale, which is deep gold in color and well attenuated with a light malty palate.  It has a hop character of medium bitterness with notes of grapefruit and slight earthy tones.  A great beer to enjoy on a hot summer day after mowing the lawn."

Sebago Brewing Company: "We're looking forward to doing this at the Snow Bowl, having talked for years about having a brewers event there. We're going to be offering The Frye's Leap India Pale Ale, a medium bodied American IPA with strong hop flavor and aroma as well The Sebago Summer Hefeweizen, a traditional unfiltered Germany style wheat beer."

Penobscot Bay Brewery: "We're offering Red Flannel Ale, a hearty, full-bodied brown ale with a sweet aroma, rich malty flavors from the Special B roasted barley and Perle hops for bittering. At 42 IBUs and 8 percent ABV, this is aptly named for the red flannels displayed on the label that keep you warm and toasty. Also on tap, Building 5 Rye IPA. This India pale ale has great copper color and lacey head. It’s spicy with a hint of orange in the nose that quickly gives way to the peppery bite of rye and a soft nuttiness. A 'winnah' of a brew that started out at the Maine Homebrew Competition and continued as an all-around favorite. It is 70.5 IBUs and 7 percent ABV."

Shipyard Brewing Co: "We'll be serving Monkey Fist, which is the genesis of a new generation of IPA. The traditional elements of a classic English IPA have been redefined by American craft beer innovation. Monkey Fist is edgy, aggressive and unique in style. This beer is brilliant copper in color and exploding with Warrior, Glacier and Cascade hop character but able to maintain a beautiful balance. We'll also have the Shipyard Summer Ale. In 2010, this traditional American wheat beer was named Best in the Northeast in the United States Beer Tasting Championship.  It also received a silver award at the 2007 Los Angeles County Fair. With its inviting golden color and mellow malted wheat flavor, Shipyard Summer Ale is sure to please those looking for a clean, cool taste sensation on long, hot summer days. It's what we call the perfect lawn mower beer!"

WINES

Winterport Winery: "We're offering three wines. 1. Applause, a sparkling pear and almond is a wonderful aroma of almond with an applause of bubbles to tingle your palate. It is luscious on the nose and delectable to sip. It’s like no other bubbly around. Named for the round of applause it received upon first sip." 2. Cranberry, gently tart, and 'smackin’ good' with a smooth finish. It’s a great sweet-tartness of cranberry that was voted the Best Fruit wine in New England in 2011 at the Big E and remains an area best seller. 3. Taxi Cab, a cabernet sauvignon with a full 'fare' of fruit along with soft tannins and a great mid-palate structure to balance the oak notes."

Breakwater Vineyards: "We'll have a pinot noir and riesling; both are dry and pair well with all the local seafood and cheeses here in Maine.  We'll also have Bees Knees Mead, made from some of our own Maine honey.  The name is whimsical and means sweet and good, just like our honey!  All these wines are perfect as we enter into the warmer months of the year."

Cellardoor Winery: "We'll be offering three wines, 1. Monti al Mare, a balanced blend of Sangiovese and old vine sinfandel that is full of ripe, concentrated flavors of cherry, raspberry and Amaretto, ending with a warm, spicy finish. It goes great with lasagna or other Italian dishes. 2. Perfect Stranger, this Cayuga wine has bright aromas of juicy pear and crisp green apple, ending with a refreshing sweet and tart finish. Enjoy with a cheese plate, crackers and your favorite antipasti. 3. Sweetheart, this 100 percent Concord grape wine bursts with aromas and flavors of fresh grapes on the vine, while on the palate there is a harmonious balance of sweet and tart. Serve with poultry at the dinner table, or as a wine spritzer."

Organizers say that they to recoup their losses from the February cancellation, and hopefully be able to donate to a great cause in memory of great friends and Rotarians Ken Bailey and Don Gross. All net proceeds, after losses have been paid, will go to support the Ragged Mountain Foundation in the memory of Bailey and Gross, both strong supporters of the Toboggan Championships and the Ragged Mountain Ski Area.

Hot dogs and soft drinks will be available for sale. The State of Maine Cheese Co. will be there handing out samples and the Rotary Interact club will be selling pretzel necklaces. Down the Chute is open to people aged 21 and older, and all IDs will be checked. There will also be a $5 entry level fee for designated drivers. Tickets can be purchased for $20, in advance, at BrownPaperTickets.com, or at the door for $25 until they run out.

For more information on the Down the Chute Beer & Wine Challenge, contact West Bay Rotary at 691-9204, email westbayrotary@gmail.com or visit the event's Facebook page.