Story by Kendall Jones, via Washington Beer Blog.
This weekend (Sept. 23-24), the Washington Beer Commission invites you to join them for the Inland NW Craft Beer Festival at Avista Stadium in Spokane. The event features beers from 41 craft breweries as it takes over the ballpark, the home of the Spokane Indians minor league baseball club.
Among the 41 breweries involved are many breweries which do not ship product west of the mountains, so this event is an opportunity for westsiders to try beers from the likes of Perry Street Brewing, Bellwether Brewing, Daft Badger Brewing, Hopped Up Brewing, and many others. Also, some westside favorites will be there, like Fremont Brewing, Silver City Brewing, Diamond Knot Brewing, etc.
Friday, September 23rd, 5:00 to 9:00 (21 and over only, no kids)
Saturday, September 24, from noon to 6:00. (All ages)
This will be the event’s third year at Avista Stadium. Friday night will be for 21 years and older and new this year, a family friendly Saturday, with a kids play area on the grass in short right field!
In addition to the nearly 120 creative craft beer selections lined up along the outfield wall, there will be live music from the stage near second base and great food selections as well.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Admission includes a commemorative tasting glass and your first six 5 oz. sample tastes. Additional tastes a just $2 each or three additional tastes for only $5.
Online tickets and complete event details at washingtonbeer.com.
Here is the list of 41 breweries along with the beer they intend to pour at the festival:
7 Seas Brewing
1) Rude Parrot IPA
Loud, sassy, and relentless, the Rude Parrot has an insatiable appetite for hops! Brewed with Vienna, light Crystal, and a touch of Honey malt, this golden hued IPA is aggressively hopped with Simcoe and Citra hops. A big juicy, tropical fruit, citrusy hop aroma yields way to an off dry, pleasantly bitter finish. 5.9% ABV / 75 IBU
2) 253 Pilsner
This NW Pilsner pays homage to those local brewers who came long before us, a shout-out to our home, the 253. Our NW spin on a classic pilsner-style lager. Brewed with NW Pale and Pilsner malt, hopped with Sterling and Cascade, this brew is 100% WA. An extremely refreshing, dry, and crisp authentic Pilsner with that classic mineral, cracker like finish. Executed with precision, patience, and care, yielding a truly premium Pilsner. 5.2% ABV / 32 IBU
Badass Backyard Brewing
1) 5050 Amber
American-style amber ale with medium maltiness and caramel character. Brewed with Centennial and Hallertauer hops which produce medium hop bitterness, flavor and aroma. 5050 is a snowboarding trick, best completed after a pint of 5050 Amber on a nice pow day. Also delicious on a hot summer day, enjoy! 7% ABV / 38 IBU
2) Daring Diva Razz Wheat
This raspberry wheat has the inviting aroma of fresh-picked raspberries and an enticing red hue. The flavor of the raspberries lends a tartness that balances the full-bodied wheat profile and malt sweetness. Bigger than most traditional fruit beers, Daring Diva Razz Wheat adds an extra kick to its dry and effervescent finish. Cheers! 6.5% ABV / 21 IBU
Bale Breaker Brewing
1) Topcutter IPA
Our flagship IPA is a well-balanced yet aggressive West Coast IPA that showcases Yakima Valley hops at their finest. Late additions of Simcoe®, Citra®, Ahtanum™, and Mosaic™ give this beer its complex citrus, fruity, and floral aroma and flavor. Named for a unique piece of farm equipment that removes hop vines from the trellis during the annual hop harvest, Topcutter IPA delivers loads of hoppiness all year long. 6.8% ABV / 70 IBU
2) Bottomcutter IIPA
Double dry-hopped with homegrown Yakima hops, Bottomcutter IIPA may be light in color but is packed with citrus and pine hop character. This Imperial IPA is brewed to finish dry, perfect for the combination of Citra®, Simcoe®, and Equinox™ hops. As the bottomcutter is a tractor that leads the topcutter through the fields during harvest, this beer will lead to a new appreciation for our valley’s hops. 8.2% ABV / 100 IBU
3) Surprise Selection
Something New! TBD
Bellwether Brewing
1) Honey Hop
Honey Hop brings ancient brewing and modern brewing into one beer. This modernized version of an ancient Celto-Nordic beer (called braggot; think ale-mead hybrid) boasts a smooth, creamy mouthfeel from generous use of blackberry honey (51%-49%, malt-honey) and is hopped like an IPA with various English and American hops. 8% ABV
2) Wind on Sea
Many cultures have used spruce in various beverages medicinally. Being high in vitamin C, it was especially important for Viking sailors to stave the onset of scurvy. (We make no medicinal claims for this beer.) The base beer is a malty scotch ale, hopped very mildly just for some balance. Over 10 lbs of fresh, tender spruce buds per barrel were added throughout the brewing process, from mash to late boil additions, for a well-rounded, full spruce character. It has been maturing since April so everything is nice and smooth and wonderful. This beer is likely give you an accent and a full beard. 8.7% ABV
3) Teh Higgelstein
We took elements of different styles for this fall seasonal ale. A single-hops pale ale using jarrylo hops, German malts for an Oktoberfest tradition, and a specialty blend of German and American yeasts. The result is an inviting hybrid of session IPA and Märzen styles in one beer. 4.5% ABV
Bennidito’s Brewpub
1) Sigrid’s Kolsch
Northwest style German Ale. 4.7% ABV
2) Checkerboard Pale
Northwest Pale Ale. 5.5% ABV
3) Red Citra
Single Hop IPA with Citra Hops. 6.3% ABV
4) Good Karma Double IPA
Very big boy, this will chase away the bad ju-ju. 9.2% ABV / 100 IBU
Big Barn Brewing
1) Golden Pumpkin Ale
Harvest moon and frost on the pumpkins, these autumn images come to mind when enjoying a glass of our GOLDEN PUMPKIN. The mix of deep rich earth tones and the shine of a harvest moon come to life as the color and character of both are captured in this beer proclaiming fall. This beer is balanced with a perfect paring of 2-row barley, caramelized farm fresh pie pumpkins, cinnamon, molasses, ginger and clove, as well as real vanilla.
2) Black Dog Stout
This is a special release Syrah-Turkish Oak Barrel aged version of our Black Dog, collaborated with Patit Creek Cellars for a local twist on beer world meets wine world! 9.3% ABV / 28 IBU
3) Blackberry Porter
This porter does great justice to our brewery’s farming roots. Our farm-fresh blackberries make their appearance via the addition of our homemade blackberry syrup just at the end of the boil. A hint of blackberry on the nose is followed by the wonderful body of the porter that is enhanced by the subtle presence of the blackberry that makes this beer so fantastic. 7.2% ABV / 37 IBU
4) Peach Wit
Summer time delight with the light summer-fresh flavor of tree-ripe peaches. Again, the secret to this perfect fruit infused wit is real fruit, Big Barn Fresh! 5.8% ABV / 10 IBU
Black Label Brewing
1) Honey Blonde
Light bodied Ale with Local Honey added to provide a sweet, refreshing beverage
2) Tropical Thunder IPA
A very floral IPA using Citra, Amarillo and Sirachi Ace hops that give this beer its name.
3) Espresso Stout
Using locally roasted coffee to make 6 gallons of Espresso in a 4 bbl batch gives this beer a very distinct flavor that enhances the darker malts making for a very powerful yet pleasant Stout!
Boundary Bay Brewing
1) Cedar Dust
Brewed with four varieties of big hops, all bred and grown in WA state, Cedar Dust IPA has a distinctive herbal pine, citrus aroma. The addition of Mosaic hops, provide subtle blueberry undertones followed by a spicy, earth mouthfeel. Smooth and naturally carbonated, it has a unique blend of malts (including a secret dark malts!) which provide just enough backbone to balance it’s big hop character. 6.5% ABV / 66 IBU
2) Pilsner
Our Pilsner is a light, honey-colored lager with subtle bitterness, a boutique of “noble” hop aroma and flavor. Malts locally sourced from Skagit Valley Malting and from Weyermann in Germany create the delicious malt-backbone. The dry, crisp and refreshing finish makes our pilsner one of the finer enjoyments, especially during the summer months. Na Zdraví! 5% ABV / 40 IBU
3) Citraweiss
Boundary Bay’s kettle-soured Berliner Weiss is brewed with a modern nod to the traditional tart Weissbier of Berlin. Citraweiss is a sharp, clean-sour with natural haze from locally-grown ‘club’ wheat from Skagit Valley Malting. Being fermented with German ale yeast and a house blend of Lactobacillus bacteria creates the distinguishing tartness of this Berliner Weissbier. With a hefty dry-hop of Citra hops (one lb. per barrel), this refreshing and sessionable seasonal, packs a citrusy punch. 3.3% ABV / 4 IBU
Daft Badger Brewing
1) Badger’s Bounty IPA
Citrus, pine, and grapefruit on the nose. Satisfying sweetness with a quick dominance from the hops creating a drying and pleasant bitterness. Grapefruit tartness on the end as the balance between grain and hops compete for the end result. 8% ABV / 80 IBU
2) Scotch Scotch Scotch Scotch Ale
This beer has a deep, rich, dark color– as we as a malty full-bodied flavor. It’s bright on the tongue with the slightest hops bitterness– finishing with a smokey, peaty essence. 8.5% ABV / 18 IBU
3) Final Mile Golden Ale
This is a nod to the Coeur D’Alene Ironman athletes. It is made with honey malt and munich grains. Syrian Golding hops and Chinook provide the slightest bitterness. This is a crisp beer with a honey orange finish. 5.5% ABV / 25 IBU
4) Huckleberry Hound Ale
This beer features fresh North Idaho huckleberries in massive proportions. This is a delightfully refreshing beer, that will hit the spot after a long day of work or a day in the great outdoors. 5.5% ABV / 25 IBU
Diamond Knot Craft Brewing
1) Industrial IPA
Full bodied imperial IPA with a lot of depth. Malty with a smooth piney finish. Dangerously drinkable! 7.9% ABV / 85 IBU
2) Blonde Ale
Need a break from all the hoppy IPAs? Our Blonde Ale is grain forward and light, with a kiss of domestic Noble hops. Sunshine in a glass! 4.2% ABV / 13 IBU
3) Fog Bank Fall Ale (Seasonal)
This Märzen inspired ale pours reddish amber in color with bright, crisp flavor and a complex malty body. 5.6% ABV / 25 IBU
Elysian Brewing
1) Space Dust IPA
The hopping is pure starglow energy, with Chinook to bitter and late and dry additions of Citra and Amarillo. 8.2% ABV / 73 IBU
2) Night Owl
Our Original Pumpkin Ale. A very drinkable pumpkin ale—brewed with seven and a half pounds of pumpkin per barrel and spiced in conditioning with ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice. Both roasted and raw pumpkin seeds are in the mash, with pumpkin added to the mash, kettle and fermenter. 6.7% ABV / 18 IBU
English Setter Brewing
1) Belton Orange
An orange backed Amber with a smooth subtle taste of orange.
2) Busted ESB
A nice Extra Special Bitter with a smooth, slightly hoppy finish.
3) Chukar Nose Amber
Smooth Amber with a nice malt/hop finish.
4) Red Setter Retriever
Caramel bodied beer with a clean, smooth finish.
5) Llewellin Porter
A lighter version of our Porter. Great for the hot summer days without filling you up.
Everybody’s Brewing
1) Country Boy IPA
Dry, Clean, Crisp. This beer is loaded with 3 different hops to provide the wonderful aroma and flavor. Golden in color, with grapefruit and citrus notes in the finish. 6.2% ABV / 80 IBU
2) Local Logger Lager
Refreshment at it’s finest. This beer is crisp, clean, with a light golden color. Saaz hops help provide the true lager taste. 4.8% ABV / 28 IBU
3) Hoppy AF
Double India Pale Ale. This finely-tuned blend of Citra, Galaxy, and Chinnok hops is bursting with dank, juicy, hoppy aromas. Double dry-hopped for big flavors of citrus, stone fruit and melon. This beer is definitely Hoppy AF! 7.5% ABV / 85 IBU
4) Sprinkles
An American Sour Red Ale brewed with Hibiscus Flowers. Dark pink to red in color, this beer is clean and crisp with a balanced acidity that accentuates aromas of honey, roses, and Riesling grapes. 4.5% ABV / 1.2 IBU
Fish Brewing
1) Beyond The Pale Ale
Medium bodied pale ale with a rich & complex malt character. 2015 World’s Best Beer, World Beer Awards. 5% ABV / 35 IBU
2) Dark & Dry Apple Cider
The assertive tartness is balanced with hints of caramel & brown sugar. 5% ABV
3) Cocoa Nib Russian Imperial Stout (tapping at 6pm Friday)
Here’s a big 13% stout brewed with licorice and molasses. This huge roasted malty beast is complimented with rich chocolate and hop bitterness, with added cocoa nibs. 13% ABV / 70 IBU
4) Black Cherry Barrel Aged Black Lager (tapping at 1pm Saturday)
Our Bakke Hill Black Lager aged in Oak and “soured” with tart cherries. 5.5% ABV / 25 IBU
5) Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark & Dry Apple Cider (tapping at 3pm Saturday)
Our Dark & Dry aged in Jack Daniels Barrels. 5% ABV
6) 10 Squared (tapping at 6pm Saturday)
10 different hops, 100 IBUs, and 10 percent alcohol, brewed originally for our 10th Anniversary. 10 out of 10! 10% ABV / 100 IBU
Fremont Brewing
1) Moscow Mule Interurban IPA
Our classic Interurban IPA infused with Ginger and Lime to create a special Moscow Mule Edition of Interurban! 6.2% ABV / 80 IBU
2) The Brother Imperial IPA
The Brother is inspired by our desire to thank Brothers everywhere. Without our Brothers, we would have taken the blame for everything as children, wouldn’t have known the inside of an ambulance, and never understood the true fear a good ghost story can cause a young child. This Brother is appropriately big, intimidating, and unbalanced with unrestrained quantities of hops for a head slap of beery ferociousness. 8.5% ABV / 1 Billion IBU
3) Field to Ferment CENTENNIAL
Brewing is the craft of blending science with artistry then introducing the mystical. Field to Ferment exemplifies this adventure. We brew this fresh hop ale throughout the entire hop harvest in Yakima using each of four hop varieties as they are harvested. In order of harvest, we will brew with fresh Centennial, Simcoe,™ Citra,™ and finally Mosaic™ hops. Field to Ferment represents a colossal collaboration between the brewery and our hop farmers. 6.0% ABV / 50 IBU
4) Field to Ferment SIMCOE
Brewing is the craft of blending science with artistry then introducing the mystical. Field to Ferment exemplifies this adventure. We brew this fresh hop ale throughout the entire hop harvest in Yakima using each of four hop varieties as they are harvested. In order of harvest, we will brew with fresh Centennial, Simcoe,™ Citra,™ and finally Mosaic™ hops. Field to Ferment represents a colossal collaboration between the brewery and our hop farmers. 6.0% ABV / 50 IBU
5) Boat Kolsch
We use locally grown and malted Copeland Pilsner malt from Skagit Valley Malting Company in this refreshing and quaffable Kolsch. Boat has a rich bready malt character and crisp, clean hop presence. Enjoy. 4.5% ABV / 20 IBU
6) Cowiche Canyon Fresh Hop Ale
Cowiche Canyon Fresh Hop Ale is brewed from select organic hops grown in the Cowiche Canyon of the Yakima Valley which are harvested and placed into our kettle within 24 hours, creating a unique, once-a-year beer. We make Cowiche Canyon ale in partnership with hop-growing wizards from the Yakima Valley in an effort to expand the organic hop industry in Washington State … Because Organic Hops Matter! A portion of all sales fund the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy. 6.0% ABV / 50 IBU
7) Cucumber Sour Weisse
Sour Weisse is touched by lactobacillus through a traditional souring process where we let this naturally occurring bacteria – found on all barley – have free reign of the wort in the kettle overnight before we boil it and ferment with our house yeast. It’s like a lactobacillus playground (until we kill them during the boiling process). This all-natural process lowers the pH of the wort giving it a pleasant tartness. We then ferment out any residual sugars with our house yeast so the beer finishes dry and delicious … just like you <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/72x72/1f642.png" alt="