When: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. or 3:30-7 p.m. Sunday

Where:Off Square Brewing, 11000 Delaware Parkway, Crown Point

Tickets:$40 adults; $10 ages 12 and younger

Information:219-310-8898; face book.com/offsquarebrewingOne of the most popular events at Off Square Brewing in Crown Point is the Crawfish Boil.

“We have always liked to have different events that you don’t find around here,” said Barb Smrecansky, general manager of Off Square Brewing.

“The first year we had it, it sold out, and it’s sold out ever since. We have such great, loyal patrons and they look forward to it.

“If it’s something that sells out and we get good attendance, we make sure to bring it back every year.”

Smrecansky recommends buying tickets in advance at event.ontaptickets.com/events/crawfish-boil-5-22-2022 for the fourth annual Crawfish Boil on Sunday.

“We don’t sell tickets in-house,” she said. “It’s only online. Tickets are available there.”

Crawfish Boil shirts, though, are on sale at Off Square Brewing.

This year’s event has a new format featuring two seatings due to demand.

“Everybody came at the same time, but this time around we’re doing two different seatings just to alleviate the line,” said Smrecansky, of Crown Point. “That’s the only thing we’re doing differently.

“We’ll only have so many people here at one time. Other than that we just do the same thing because everybody loves it.”

The Crawfish Boil was the brainchild of Dave Hellwege, of Valparaiso, and Phil Logan, of St. John, who run the day-to-day operations of Off Square Brewing, which they own with their wives, Michelle Hellwege and Deedee Logan, who are both principals at local schools.

“It’s a great time,” said Smrecansky, who was previously sales and event manager for Off Square Brewing.

“It’s actually our owners, Dave and Phil, cooking [at] the Crawfish Boil. They are the ones slaving over the pots that the crawfish get cooked in. We get them shipped from Alabama.”

As for the correct way to eat crawfish, she said, “You pinch the tail and suck the head. That’s basically the saying.”

Crawfish Boil tickets include unlimited crawfish with all the fixings such as potatoes, corn on the cob and sausage; a collectors cup; a drink of one’s choice; and live entertainment by The Gerry Hundt Trio, which describes itself as playing “Chicago blues and selections from American roots-music repertoire.”

“They performed last year,” said Smrecansky about the band, which currently features vocalist and guitarist Gerry Hundt, who lived in Chesterton for 10 years; bassist Aaron Whittier; and drummer Rick King, who all live in Chicago’s Bridgeport community.

“We just feel they’re a lot of fun. They’re really great entertainers. Gerry entertains all over in different capacities, such as Gerry Hundt’s Legendary One-Man Band.”

Another annual offering that Off Square Brewing is preparing to present is a festival at Bulldog Park, 183 S. West St., Crown Point.

“We are actually getting ready for our third annual Beer, Bacon & Bourbon Fest on Aug. 20th,” Smrecansky said. “We’ve had it at Bulldog Park every year.

“It’s local craft breweries. We try to do local distillers too because there’s a lot of distilling going on. We have bacon-inspired dishes from all of our food vendors.”

Off Square Brewing’s menu includes mains such as mac and cheese, and carnitas bowl, and sandwiches such as diner double burger, pulled ham sandwich, spicy chicken sandwich, smoked French dip and Italian cold deli sandwich.

“The best thing about coming to Off Square is it’s not just a restaurant where we’re trying to turn tables,” said Smrecanky about Off Square Brewing, which chooses one charity per month to support.

“Come for the experience. Even though we brew our own beer, anybody’s going to be able to find a beer that they like. We have 15 to 18 beers on tap at one time and a scratch kitchen.

“Everything’s homemade. Our menus change seasonally. Our spring and summer menu just came out.”

Off Square Brewing offers wood-fired pizza including sausage, veggie, Margherita, Philly chicken, BBQ brisket, meat lover and build your own.

The menu also has starters such as pretzels, coffee rub wings, chicken taco dip and hot wings, and salads including Greek, broccoli green bean salad, house and chopped.

“We have a beautiful outside facility with a fire pit,” said Smrecansky about Off Square Brewing’s pet-friendly patio.

“At any given time one of the owners might pull you off the floor and you might get to see a beer we haven’t even put on tap yet.”

Jessi Virtusio is a freelancer for the Post-Tribune.