Sunday, August 21st, 2016

Tumwater Artesian Brewfest 2016 recap

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Let’s be honest, there’s no better way to spend a Saturday than with a craft beer in one hand, a hula hoop in the other, and a gaggle of thirsty friends hanging out on a grassy field in sweltering heat. Right?

That’s exactly what went down at the fourth annual Tumwater Artesian Brewfest yesterday at the Tumwater Valley Golf Course Driving Range, among food trucks, and all the super-size beer pong, human version of foosball and DJ dancing you could handle.

Top breweries from Washington and Oregon showed up with their best summer brews, plus an Oktoberfest from O-Town Brewing, Night Owl Pumpkin Ale by Elysian Brewing, Overnight Felon Black Ale by Wet Coast Brewing, S’more Stout by Base Camp Brewing, Coffee Stout and Watchstander Stout by Ghostfish Brewing, Coco Jones Porter by Black Raven Brewing, The Black Porter by Der Blokken Brewery and many Scotch Ales.

Olympia Beer, which helped put Tumwater on the map, was also on tap.

Hundreds cast their votes for the best sippers at the festival. The bronze went to Olympia Beer. Portland Cider Co. grabbed the silver for its Mojito Cider made with fresh mint, lime peel and a touch of lemon. The Tumwater Artesian Brewfest crowd awarded gold to Wild Ride Brew  in Redmond, Oregon, for its Nut Crusher Peanut Butter Porter, which smells like peanut butter and tastes like peanut butter.

Cheers to another Tumwater Artesian Brewfest. Raise a glass to next year!