We are once again reminding you that you need to consider your parking and transportation plan for this year’s “Mother of all Fathers Day beer festivals.” As we originally reported here, parking will be a bit tricky this year and you are encouraged to use the shuttle buses the festival organizers are providing.
Let’s face it, if you’re reading this blog you are probably a beer geek. Well, here’s a really good option. Go on Friday night. Unofficially, that’s beer geek night at the festival. Not only will parking be free on Friday night, but the brewers will be bringing out their most interesting and creative beers. For example, the other day I was fortunate enough to sample the cask-conditioned Pinetop Red Ale from Elliott Bay Brewery, which had been conditioned using fresh hemlock needles. You will only get this beer at the Friday night session of the Brewers Fest. (Read about that beer.)
Friday night is a 21+ event, so no kiddies allowed. If you sometimes get a bit annoyed by the hording masses that show up on Saturday and Sunday afternoon and interfere with your beer geek experience, this is the answer for you. (Remember the line at Laughing Buddha’s booth last year?) Friday night will offer you a smaller crowd, no kids, and select breweries serving select beers. There will be live music and food vendors as well. And there are no parking issues on Friday night!
Get the details at http://www.washingtonbeer.com/wabf.htm
Note: On Friday night, there are good thing like what was mentioned above, but there are also downsides…
One is that only Washington brewers will be there on Friday (this year lots are from out of state), and not all brewers from WA will be bringing something special for Friday.
Also note that a brewery might be listed with say 4 beers and also a special Friday beer. Now it’s possible that they only have equipment to serve 4 beers at a time, so on Friday they’ll only have 3 beers and the special Friday beer.
So as a beer geek, I want to go on Friday, but I also want to go again over the weekend to try some of the other beers that won’t be pouring on Friday.
Note: On Friday night, there are good thing like what was mentioned above, but there are also downsides…
One is that only Washington brewers will be there on Friday (this year lots are from out of state), and not all brewers from WA will be bringing something special for Friday.
Also note that a brewery might be listed with say 4 beers and also a special Friday beer. Now it’s possible that they only have equipment to serve 4 beers at a time, so on Friday they’ll only have 3 beers and the special Friday beer.
So as a beer geek, I want to go on Friday, but I also want to go again over the weekend to try some of the other beers that won’t be pouring on Friday.
You point is well taken. I just wanted to make sure people knew there were options. I know that some people are more freaked out than other by the parking situation. It would be a shame if people miss the event because they have parking/transportation concerns.
You point is well taken. I just wanted to make sure people knew there were options. I know that some people are more freaked out than other by the parking situation. It would be a shame if people miss the event because they have parking/transportation concerns.