Brew Five Three Questions with Gini Sommer of Tacoma Arts Live
Gini Sommer manages the breweries and ciders for Tacoma Arts Live’s annual Brew Five Three Beer & Music Festival at Chambers Bay in University Place. She’s been the administrative and volunteer manager at the former Broadway Center and now Tacoma Arts Live forever, but you’ll see her big smile at Brew Five Three Saturday, Aug. 10 as she walks the giant lawn checking in with the brewers and cidermakers. She thrilled to have 30 or so regional breweries and cideries for beer nerds and novice drinkers alike, as well as the delicious local restaurants and live entertainment — all against the stunning backdrop of the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains.
Peaks & Pints will join the Brew Five Three drinking crowd Aug. 10, right after we record with the local Grit & Grain beer podcast, which precedes bands The Pazific, PLU’s Steel Band, and Walker Sherman on the main stage. First, we want to know what we’re drinking that day. Hey Gini! Could you please answer these Brew Five Three questions. …
PEAKS & PINTS: Are there new breweries and cideries at Brew Five Three this year?
GINI SOMMER: Yes! I’m bringing in Fast Fashion, Ilk Beer, Victor-23 Brewing, 23rd Ave Brewing, Samuel Smith from England, Offset Ciderworks, and Whitewood Cider. All the bands are also new this year. And, we’ll have vendors again. Oh! Underberg will have a booth, too.
PEAKS & PINTS: As you know, Brew Five Three benefits Tacoma Arts Live’s arts educational programs that serve 40,000+ students, teachers, and parents annually in the South Sound. How does Brew Five Three fit in the organization’s arts-driven mission?
SOMMER: Breweries and cideries overflow with art — from the recipes to the labels and then the tasting. Each piece of the process is an art and when done well bring community together. Brew Five Three fits Tacoma Arts Live’s vision: A South Sound community that honors all cultures and enjoyed shared prosperity. I’ll tell you art is also bringing so many different breweries and cideries together with a variety of product.
PEAKS & PINTS: You’ve also been on the Tacoma Beer Week Committee since 2016. How is this year’s version shaping up?
SOMMER: This year is going to be one of the best years. We have our first ProAm competition, several family friendly events, WSET beer class, and so much more. It will be hard to choose what to attend. Our six-person volunteer team is working very hard to keep Tacoma Beer Week the best beer week.
Brew Five Three is one of many events happening during Tacoma Beer Week 2024, which runs August 9-18.
BREW FIVE THREE BEER & MUSIC FESTIVAL, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, Chamber Creek Regional Park, 6320 Grandview Dr. W., University Place, $10-$60 at tacomartslive.org
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
