BrewFest: not your Daddy's lager

On August 13, 2011 4-Corners.Org will be hosting its first annual 4-Corners BrewFest at the Innis Arden Clubhouse at 1430 NW 188th Street from 3-7 pm. 

Tickets can be purchased at Beach House Greetings at 626 Richmond Beach Road or online from Brown Paper Tickets. Admission includes ten 5 oz. tastes, food, and live music by the Bellingham blues-rock ‘Takes All Kinds’. 

With 20 local craft brewers on hand pouring award winning lagers, stouts, pilsners, and ales, some may be ones that you already know well – established favorites like Hale’s Ales, Mack and Jack’s, Maritime Pacific, or Georgetown Brewing. Others you may not be as familiar with yet – a situation you’ll definitely want to correct after tasting what they have to offer. To get you geared up, here is the first of a series of sneak peeks at some of the brewers and beers that will be on tap.

Diamond Knot Brewing of Mukilteo, WA - Diamond Knot has been handcrafting NW ales since 1994, and is Snohomish County’s oldest continuously operating brewery. Diamond Knot operates several full service establishments in Mukilteo and Camano Island that offer a unique interactive dining experience: the Diamond Knot Brewery and Alehouse at 621 Front Street (Mukilteo); the family friendly Diamond Knot Lincoln Ave at 403 Lincoln Ave (Mukilteo); the Diamond Knot B2 Taproom at the brewery, located at 4602 Chennault Beach Road, Mukilteo; and the Diamond Knot Camano Lodge at 170 Cross Island Road (Camano Island). 

Diamond Knot will be pouring the following beers:

• India Pale Ale – ABV 6.2%, IBU 40.  Copper-colored with a malty character upfront. Intensely bitter with hints of grapefruit and cedar imparted by heavy-handed additions of Galena and Columbus hops.
• Blonde Ale – ABV 4.2%, IBU 13.  Based on a pre-prohibition lager recipe, this is a perfect summer session beer. Very light, yet surprisingly complex, due to the diverse grain bill. Vanguard hops lend a slightly spicy herbal finish.

Naked City Brewing of Seattle, WA – Naked City Brewing is a 4 barrel direct fire brewhouse with four 3 barrel and two 8 barrel fermenters. Naked City currently pours the majority of its beer in its taproom alongside a rotating selection of other craft beers. Naked City also features a full restaurant. The Naked City Brewery and Taphouse is located at 8564 Greenwood Ave N in Seattle. 

Head brewer Don Webb will be bringing the following beers to 4-Corners BrewFest:

• Hoptrocity Rye IPA – 7.4% ABV, IBU 95.  15% rye malt lends a spiciness that accentuates the intense Centennial, Simcoe, and Amarillo hop profile. Tasty.
• Pastime Pale Ale – ABV 6.3%, IBU 47. Brewed with Surachi Ale and Falconer’s Flight hops, Pastime is clean and refreshing with the perfect level of malt sweetness. Not to be missed.

Silver City Brewing of Bremerton, WA – Silver City was started in 1996 by co-owners Steve and Scott Houmes as a brewpub/restaurant in Silverdale, WA and it remains a locally owned and operated family establishment. In May 2010, Silver City opened their new production facility in Bremerton, WA. Silver City’s selection of artisan beers have resulted in more than 50 local, national and international awards including numerous Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals at the prestigious Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup, and the North American Beer Awards. Their tasting room is located at the Silver City Restaurant, 2799 NW Myhre Road in Silverdale. 

In addition to their old fashioned root beer, Silver City Brewing will also be featuring the following beers:

• Ridgetop Red Ale – ABV 6.0%, IBU 15.  This Red Ale Rocks! Full-bodied and smooth with a sweet caramel flavor balanced with Northwest Liberty hops for a refreshing finish. Gold Medal, 2009 Great American Beer Festival – Irish Red Ale Category
• Whoop Pass Double IPA – 8.5%, IBU 85.  Without a doubt, the boldest and hoppiest mother of a brew Silver City has ever created. More than 50 lbs. of Washington State Cascade and Columbus hops are added to a single 15 barrel batch!

Gallagher’s Where-U-Brew of Edmonds, WA – Since 1995, Gallagher’s Where-U-Brew has been a brew-on-premises that specializes in helping its clients make and bottle their own beer, wine, cider, and rootbeer. Gallagher’s also has a rotating selection of their own beers on tap. Their taproom is located at 180 W. Dayton Street #105 in Edmonds. 

Along with some of their rootbeer, Gallagher’s will be featuring the beers:

• Galley Mac Amber – ABV 5.3%, IBU 50.  An Amber Ale with little bite and a dry finish. Always a crowd favorite.
• Cut Your Grass Blonde – ABV 5%, IBU 10.  A Light Blonde Ale with a slight maltiness to it. The another great summertime beer.
• Faceplant Winter Ale – ABV 6.5%, IBU 30.  A full bodied Winter Ale with caramel notes and a smooth finish.

4-Corners BrewFest is a fundraiser for 4-Corners.Org, a 501(c)(3), a nonprofit comprised of and supporting the neighborhood associations of Richmond Beach, Richmond Highlands, Innis Arden, and Hillwood – all of whom share a common intersection at Richmond Beach Road and 8th Avenue NW (hence, the “four corners”).