The atmosphere was filled with conversations about beer, brewing and bluegrass music at DG’s Tap House last Thursday. It could have been the plethora of beers on tap, the unique sound of Mary & the Giant or, most likely, the free supply of beer courtesy of Boozetime Brewery.

Kelly Bevins, former ISU student and Ames resident, supplied four kegs of his homemade brew at DG’s in an effort to get his emerging Boozetime Brewery out of the basement and to the people of Ames.

“Everyone liked the beer,” Bevins said. “I got the reaction I wanted.”

The reaction he wanted may have been an understatement. As soon as the band started playing, Bevins tapped his fist keg of raspberry wheat. It ran dry within the first nine minutes.

He followed up with his Irish cream stout, an English Indian Pale Ale and another pale ale, rounding off his beer supply around midnight.

How was the beer? Better than just free, people from the Ames community and many ISU students enjoyed the beer and were happy to have been able to get it at a bar.

“It’s good,” said Allie Murphy, senior in animal science, referring to the raspberry wheat. “He’s been trying to get his beer to more people who don’t come to his place after hours.”

Many of the people in attendance were close friends of Bevins and had watched his brand grow from an experiment to a fully-fledged operation, aside from the license.

“It’s been really awesome to see them start off with simple brews, then make it up to DG’s,” said Jess Truby, senior in pre-liberal studies. “You gotta credit Bevins and his team. They worked hard. The sky is the limit. Hopefully things work out for getting their license.”

Justin Mayfield, cajon player and vocalist for Mary & the Giant — who describes their sound as “Midwest,” a complex blend of pop, bluegrass, funk and rock — was thrilled to be back in Ames for the event.

“We come here, and we have people who legitimately care about our music, our style. To come back here is rejuvenating,” Mayfield said.

He continued to praise the welcoming Ames music community and how the scene feels “like my hometown.”

Overall, Bevins said that the night was a success, but he was hoping for a larger turnout.

“The step that I’m trying to make is by far beyond this. I’m trying to get my license, which is expensive and difficult,” he said.

Bevins plans to continue on his path to success and next hopes to earn his brewing license and get his beer into local taps and shelves.