By Nate McLaughlin / Special to The Herald
What year is it and how many breweries are in Washington now?
It’s 2017 and there are 355 breweries that call Washington home, with an average of one new brewery opening every 11 days. Nearly one-third of those breweries — 130 to be exact — will be pouring more than 500 beers this weekend. That’s a far cry from the festivals of the past.
Over the past eight years, I’ve poured for Baron Brewing, Firestone Walker, Twelve Bar Brews and, the last four years, my own brewery, Justice Brewing. But this year will be the first time I’ve been able to just attend the festival and not have to work.
About 30 new breweries will be pouring at the festival this year. Among them is Snohomish’s Scrappy Punk Brewing. Don’t miss out on its Coconut Blonde, a crisp and refreshing beer with excellent coconut flavor. But there is also a list of beers pouring that I’ve never enjoyed. Here are my top picks … hopefully there will be some left on Sunday.
Beardslee Brewing’s Blood Orange Blonde
Black Raven’s 5×6 American Wild Sour
Crucible’s Pineapple IPA
And the selection of hazy and juicy IPAs that I’m really loving:
Fremont Brewing’s Head Full of Dynomite Hazy IPA
Chainline Brewing’s Flowtron Smoothie
Ravenna Brewing’s Azzacca Shasta IPA
3 Magnets Brewing’s Smoothie series
This year’s festival is a double-edged sword for me. I love this festival and I love serving our beer to everyone in attendance, but this is the first time I’ll get to enjoy the day with my 3-year-old son.
If you stopped by our booth sometime in the past few years, you’ve seen him in a puppy costume, passed out on a blanket in a tent or strapped to Mom’s back asleep. That reminds me: The craft beer industry in Washington is one giant family and the Washington Brewer’s Festival is a great time to celebrate both the pioneers and the parents out there over one massive weekend.
See you Sunday!
Nate McLaughlin is the owner and head brewer of Everett’s Justice Brewing.
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