Ah, listen to the birds. It is spring at last. The flowers bloom, the days get longer, the bunnies breed, and local brewers release their annual batch of Herbert’s Legendary Cask Fest Ale (a.k.a. Herbert’s or the Herbert’s). Tomorrow night (Tuesday, March 23rd) is the official release party at the Rogue Issaquah Brewhouse. The Herbert’s will also be available at select locations around Seattle this week and at the Washington Cask Beer Festival this weekend (see details below). Quantities are limited at each event and it usually goes fast.
What is cask beer? We found an article on Wikipedia that serves as an introduction to the world of cask-conditioned beer.
This very special beer, which is made annually for the Washington Cask Beer Festival, is named to honor Washington craft beer legend Herbert (Bert) Grant. Essentially, a group of brewers get together and work as a team to produce the annual offering, adding their own unique perspective to the original recipe. It is a recipe that matches the character of the man and the passion he had for very hoppy English-style ale.
This tradition has been taking place since Bert Grant’s death in 2001. Each year’s version of Herbert’s Legendary Cask Fest Ale takes on a life of its own, displaying the character of the brewhouse in which it was made and the brewers who were involved. Always different yet always the same, it never fails to be an inspirational tribute to the man.
This year the collaboration took place at Rogue’s Issaquah Brewhouse, under the direction of Dave Hutchinson. Now, the beer is ready to be released.
Here are the details about this week’s events:
Herbert’s Legendary Cask Fest Ale: Official Release Party – Tuesday, March 23rd. 5:00 p.m. Rogue Issaquah Brewhouse.
Cask Fest Preview Party I – Thursday, March 25th. Enjoy casks from Big Al Brewing and Big Time Brewing, plus Herbert’s Legendary Cask Fest Ale. 6:00 p.m. The Latona Pub.
Cask Fest Preview Party II – Friday, March 25th. Enjoy casks from Anacortes Brewing, Black Raven Brewing, and Elysian Brewing, plus Herbert’s Legendary Cask Fest Ale. 6:00 p.m. Brouwer’s Cafe.
Washington Cask Beer Festival – Dozens of brewers serving a vast array of cask conditioned beer. Gravity not gas. There are two sessions. Online tickets are sold out. The only chance you have to get tickets is at one of the following ticket outlets. They’re going fast, so it would be best to call them before you make a special trip.
Elliott Bay Brewing Co.
4720 California Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98116
(206) 932-8695
Harmon Restaurant & Brewery
1938 Pacific Ave.
Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 383-2739
Hale’s Ales Brewery
4301 Leary Way NW
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 706-1544
Pike Brewing Co,
1415 1st Ave.
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 622-6044
Redhook Ale Brewery
14300 NE 145th St.
Woodinville, WA 98072
(425) 483-3232
The Beer Authority
12716 Lake City Way, NE
Seattle, WA 98125
(206) 417-9629
We had the following breweries participate in brewing Herbert’s:
2 Beers
Georgetown
Schooner Exact
Snipes Mountain
Snoqualmie Falls
There are two slightly different versions. One that was dry hopped with Amarillo hops, which will be served at the Cask Fest and at the brewhouse tonight. And the other one is dry hopped with Ahtanum hops, which will be served at the Latona and Brouwer’s.
Hutch, thanks for the additional info! I can’t wait to try them both.