As we posted the other day, we are giving away a pair of tickets to this weekend’s Washington Winter Beer Fest. Click here for details.
It’s a big change that festivalgoers will not even notice. Washington Winter Beer Fest is now operated by the Washington Brewers Guild. That organization is therefore the beneficiary. Previously, the Washington Beer Commission operated the event. I know it is confusing, but the two organizations have similar but distinctly different missions. One is a trade organization and the other is an official state commodities commission. Guild. Commission. Two different entities.
So what does that mean?
Essentially, it means that attending Washington Winter Beer Fest now more directly helps Washington’s brewers and breweries. The Washington Brewers Guild is a trade organization committed to three things: fostering a spirit of community amongst the state’s breweries, promoting the overall quality of Washington-brewed beer, and representing the interests of breweries and beer drinkers. On the other hand, the Washington Beer Commission is a state-sanctioned commission tasked with promoting and marketing Washington beer and the Washington brewing industry.
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Like I said, similar missions. The primary difference, the Commission is strictly forbidden from dabbling in matters of politics and policy. Washington has an Apple Commission, a Wheat Commission, a Potato Commission, and is the only state in the nation with a Beer Commission. That’s great, but when someone threatens to change liquor laws in a way that negatively impacts breweries and beer drinkers, it is the Guild that stands in opposition. The Guild arm wrestles with legislator and policy makers, and while that activity does indeed promote Washington beer, the Commission cannot in any way support the Guild in those battles.
And so it is up to us, fellow beer drinkers, to support the Washington Brewers Guild by attending Washington Winter Beer Fest. Washington’s breweries work hard to provide us with good, fresh, local beer and this is a great way to show you support the Guild’s mission.
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Here’s more information about the event:
2014 WASHINGTON BREWERS GUILD WINTER BEER FEST
Friday, Dec. 5, 5-9PM and Saturday, Dec. 6, 12-4PM & 5:30-9:30PM, Hangar 30 at Magnuson Park in Seattle
(Seattle, WA) November 30, 2014- Washington Brewers Guild will present the annual Winter Beer Fest. Now in the second year at the historic Hangar 30 the festival features 50 Washington Brewers and over 130 different beers and for the first time a couple of local ciders. This festival is for the BIG beer lover with additions of sugar and spice and everything nice!
SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW or SUGAR AND SPICE!
As the craft beer scene has grown in Washington, fast approaching 250 breweries in the state, it is nice to know that some things never change. The Winter Beer Festival has some of the longest running winter offerings in the country as well as some of the newest. In addition many of the brewers have gone to the kitchen adding extra layers with the use of sugars, spices and fruit.
· Old favorites that have been brewed for decades include Redhook’s Winterhook, now in its 30th year, Pyramid Snowcap, Hale’s Wee Heavy and Pike Old Baudy.
· Some of our newest brewers will pour their take on the winter season with a Belgian style dark ale from Lantern Brewing, Tamarind Berliner Weisse from Outlander Brewing and an English style winter warmer from Stoup Brewery.
· Brewing with spice and fruit as well as pumping up the warmth with sugar or molasses is a tradition that goes back centuries. The Winter Beer Fest offers an amazing array of these beers including, but in no way limited to, the Cranberry Frost of Foggy Noggin Brewery, an Imperial Oatmeal Stout from Boundary Bay Brewery that includes licorice and toffee, a barrel aged Belgian from No-LI Brewhouse with tart cherries, OMG Cookies from Hilliard’s Beer with oatmeal, molasses and ginger or how about Zippy Lemon Abbey Ale from Snoqualmie Falls Brewing.
· A complete list of 2014 Winter Beer Fest Participating Breweries and Beers is available online at http://washingtonbrewersguild.org/Events.html.
The Winter Beer Festival will host one session on Friday, December 5 from 5:00PM to 9:00PM and two sessions on Saturday, December 6 from Noon to 4:00PM and 5:30 to 9:30PM. $25 in advance or $30 at the door, if tickets are still available. Advance purchase is recommended. Separate tickets are required for each session. Admission includes a commemorative tasting glass and six 5 ounce samples. Additional tokens may be purchased for $1.50 each. Tickets are available online at wwww.washingtonbrewersguild.org and at select ticket outlets. This is a 21-and-over-only event.
WASHINGTON BREWERS GUILD 2014 WINTER BEER FEST
DATE: Friday, December 5th and Saturday, December 6th
HOURS: Friday Session 5:00PM to 9:00PM
Saturday, Session 1: 12:00PM to 4:00PM, Session 2: 5:30PM to 9:30PM
Doors open 15 minutes before each session begins.
Taps close 30 minutes before closing each session. Separate tickets required for each session.
LOCATION:
Hangar 30 at Warren G. Magnuson Park
7400 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, Washington
ADMISSION: $25 advance tickets or $30 at the door, if still available. Admission includes a commemorative tasting glass and six 5 ounce samples. Additional sampling tokens available for $1.50. Must be 21 years old or older and have a valid ID to be admitted. Designated driver admission is $5 and available at the door only.
Tickets sales are online at www.washingtonbrewersguild.org and at select outlets.
FOOD: Several Food Trucks will be on site to satisfy and compliment the hearty beers.
Theo Chocolates, www.theochocolate.com, will be sampling chocolate. These rich winter brews pair exceptionally well with the deep and intense flavors of Theo’s hand crafted confections.
Taylor Shellfish Farms, www.taylorshellfishfarms.com, will be sampling oysters during the festival. Stouts and Porters with their dark roast flavors have been a traditional accompaniment to these briny delicacies.
BENEFICIARY: Washington Brewers Guild is a non-profit organization whose mission is to build a community of brewers, promote the quality of craft beer in Washington and protect the interests of brewers and beer drinkers.
Anyone who gave tickets to deserving beer lovers would be especially anointed by the Beer Gods and Goddesses. And someone who donated a ticket to the incredibly hard working Miguel Jimenez at Rainier Valley Food Bank would be giving a truly worthy donation at the toughest time of year for food bank staff. I’m just saying…