Event Information

Capes on for beer and cider strangeness

It wasn’t as cold as year’s past, but it wasn’t warm either last night at the 15th Annual Strange Brewfest, especially those wearing tights — which were many folks. The annual wacky winter beer and cider festival in Port Townsend, Washington honored the women and men in the Pacific Northwest’s brewing industry, dubbing them “strong, badass superheroes” with a superhero theme. Most breweries and cideries pouring donned some type of superhero costume with several civilian sippers representing Batman, Superman and whatever blue face guy was.

The rest of us bundled up and stuck close to the open-fire food booths.

The event’s attendees, except the DDs — who did a great service by driving our inebriated evil villain butts back to our temporary lairs — made liberal use of the 100ish strange — and we do mean strange — beers at the event. With the addition of hearty food items consisting of Spanish paella, burgers and pizza, we warmed ourselves from the inside out.

Of the 100 beers and ciders there from 36 breweries and ciders, we managed to sample a little over half of them. If we do the math, that adds up to, mmm, a lot of beer and cider. A lot of strange beer and cider. Bushel & Barrel Ciderhouse poured a Coconut Curry Saffron Cider. Fish Brewing brought a Carrot Cider with Beet Foam. Urban Family Brewing offered an Ouey Goey Duck Stout. All three, as well as Fremont Brewing’s Samoa Cookie Dark Star, Top Rung Brewing’s Orange Creamsicle and Pelican Brewing’s Grapes of Mash, were delicious. Many were just too strange. Even after being there for four hours and tasting beer pretty much nonstop, there was still a lot left untouched.

Thankfully, the 15th Annual Strange Brewfest continues today beginning at 1 p.m. and running through midnight at the American Legion Hall along Port Townsend Bay. Tickets are $35 per person.

We’re headed back today with the goal to figure out what the hell is Propolis Brewing’s Pickled Piper’s Pink Petal Power.