Results from last weekend’s Washington Brewers Festival

We just received some results from the Washington Beer Commission regarding totals from last week’s Washington Brewers Festival.

Attendance

Although the exact numbers are not yet known, we do know that attendance was approximately the same as last year. Impressive, considering the weather. While Sunday’s weather was sub-prime at best, Friday’s weather was nothing short of sublime. Friday night’s crowd was larger than anticipated—it appeared to be the largest Friday night crowd in festival history.

Top Token Collectors

The top token collectors (by brewery) were:

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1. Black Raven Brewing (by a landslide)

2. Schooner Exact Brewing

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3. Northern Lights Brewing

4. Foggy Noggin Brewing

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5. Diamond Knot Brewing

To call it a landslide is an understatement. While other booths may have enjoyed the occasional line, the backup at Black Raven was enormous all weekend. The Coco Jones Porter is worthy of the attention. That’s the Black Raven beer we heard most people talking about.

Schooner Exact brought a lot of different beers. No doubt the Seamstress Union Raspberry Wheat was a big hit, but my favorite (with a name I shouldn’t repeat here) was the blend: two parts Raspberry Wheat and one part Brown Ale. Sinfully delicious.

To be sure, Diamond Knot makes great beer, but their charge into the top five was certainly aided by the fact that Michael Wilton (guitar player for Queensryche) was pouring his Whip Ale at the Diamond Knot booth on Friday night. (Diamond Knot brews Whip Ale to Wilton’s specifications.) Pictured below is Don Webb of Naked City Brewery and Taphouse with Michael Wilton of Queensryche.

WABL

The festivals are always a good time for WABL (Washington Beer Lovers)  to attract new members. Last weekend 102 new WABL members signed up and 136 renewed their memberships.

Buzz Beers

Perhaps the most buzzed about beer of the weekend was Big Al Brewing’s Peanut Butter Imperial Stout. In the end, it proved worthy of the buzz. Throughout the weekend, a total of seven beers were rotated through the Buzz Cart. I was fortunate enough to sample 5 of them.

I felt a louse for going back for seconds of the Peanut Butter Imperial Stout. I mean, there were so many people who wanted to try this beer and, although Big Al did bring two kegs, supplies were limited. Though I felt a tiny bit of guilt and shame, it was just too good to resist.  I’m weak that way.

Here’s the complete list of Buzz Cart beers:

Friday 5pm – Fremont Brewing Mystere de L’ete le Deuxieme

Friday 7pm – Baron Brewing Dirty German

Saturday 2pm – Elliott Bay Brewing Blended Brett Beer

Saturday 4pm – Anacortes Brewery Bourbon Barrel Broadsword

Saturday 6pm – Elysian Brewing Rosemary’s Baby

Sunday 1pm – Big Al Brewing’s Peanut Butter Imperial Stout.

Sunday 3pm – Odin Brewing Thor’s Intrigue

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