2nd Annual 4-Corners BrewFest another huge success

Photo courtesy 4-corners BrewFest

By Lisa Surowiec

For the second straight year, the 4-Corners BrewFest was nothing short of amazing.  This year's theme - Bluegrass and Brews - and the complimentary pretzel necklaces also contributed to the success.

Quite simply, the weather was perfect, the music was lively, the crowd was festive, and the beer was tasty.  

Photo courtesy 4-corners BrewFest

Most importantly, 4-Corners BrewFest raised nearly $10,000 for New Beginnings - a battered women's shelter - and the four neighborhood associations that comprise 4-Corners.Org: the Richmond Beach Community Association, the Hillwood Community Network, the Richmond Highlands Neighborhood Association, and the Innis Arden Activities Committee.  Additionally, it provided a great excuse to get together, meet your neighbors, and have a good time on a Saturday afternoon.

All told, nineteen brewers - from Everett to Escondido - served the thirst throng on the Innis Arden Clubhouse's back patio some of the best craft beer on the planet.  

Photo courtesy 4-corners BrewFest

Returning brewers from 2011 included American Brewing and Gallagher's Where-U-Brew (Edmonds), Big E Ales (Lynnwood), Naked City Brewing, Fremont Brewing, Emerald City Beer Company, Lantern Brewing, and Georgetown Brewing (Seattle), Diamond Knot Craft Brewing (Mukilteo) and Silver City Brewing (Silverdale).  This year also featured a number of new faces, including Lazy Boy Brewing (Everett), Brickyard Brewing and Twelve Bar Brews (Woodinville), 192 Brewing (Kenmore), Elliott Bay Brewing, Hilliard's Beer, and Pike Brewing (Seattle), 7 Seas Brewing (Gig Harbor).  

And as luck would have it, a late cancellation allowed an appearance from Stone Brewing (Escondido, CA) which has twice been named 'The Alltime Top Brewery on Planet Earth' by Beer Advocate magazine.  

Photo courtesy 4-corners BrewFest

Food was provided by Richmond Beach's own Full Moon Thai Cuisine, Flying Dragon, and Gino's Pizza and Pasta and supplemented by grilled bratwurst and sausages from RBCA former president and resident grill master Ed Adams. And a collection of bluegrass players from in and around Shoreline kept everybody's toes tapping in between tastings.

Photo courtesy 4-corners BrewFest

2012 also featured some of the closest competitions when it came time to hand out the hardware.  Gig Harbor's 7 Seas Brewing took home the trophy for the fastest blown keg with its Balz Deep Double IPA. The brewers that poured the most beer included American Brewing, Fremont Brewing, and Big E Ales. And in the 'People's Choice' competition the Golden Growler was awarded to Gallagher's Orange Mango IPA, which narrowly edged last year's winner Big E Ales' Blackberry Ale and Fremont Brewing's Dark Star Imperial Stout.  Other crowd favorites included offerings from Lantern Brewing, Emerald City Beer Company, Hilliard's Beer, and Georgetown Brewing.

Photo courtesy 4-corners BrewFest

In the end, however, one of the best things about 4-Corners BrewFest was that it is a true collaboration between all four neighborhoods. The 2012 BrewFest Committee included Chip Erickson and Lisa Surowiec (Richmond Highlands), Pete Bouchard and Afia Menke (Hillwood), Bill Montero (Innis Arden), and Steve Kerr (Richmond Beach). All of them put in countless hours to pull it off. Each neighborhood also contributed volunteers on the day of the event. Lastly, 4-Corners BrewFest also received generous support from local business Whidbey Island Bank, CleanScapes, and Beach House Greetings.

Of course it's never too early to start thinking about next year. A 3rd Annual 4-Corners BrewFest is already in the works for 2013 on Saturday, August 10th. If you'd like to be part of the 2013 committee, feel free to contact Steve Kerr. We're always looking for fun people who don't mind rolling up their sleeves (and enjoying a cold one after a job well done).