Seattle International Beer Festival

So we went to the Seattle International Beer Festival today and it was a good time. There's nothing like drinking outside on a fine Sunday afternoon to get your spirits up and keep you going on. As it was Jake's idea, he was there, of course, and we were joined later in the afternoon by Greg, who did a fine job of drinking his share as well.

Unlike Hops on Equinox, the tasting glass was 4 oz., not six, but they gave us 15 tickets for happy hour, not 9, which is a possible 60 oz. of beer, if one were to only play the one ticket beers. Being a bit more veteran at this, we played more 2 and 3 ticket beers, with a most pleasant outcome.

Also unlike Hops on Equinox, the beers weren't all on draft. In fact, they had a lot of uncommon beers in bottles. On the one hand, it's nice to have a large selection of crazy brews to choose from, but on the other hand, as Jake made a point of saying, if we wanted to drink crazy beers from bottles, we could just go to down the street to Bottleworks — also, according to Greg, with a tasty selection of chocolates.

We had a couple bottled beers, but mostly drafts, and while I didn't take notes this time, here is my finest recollection of the tasty brews of the day (Note that some of these are labeled with the importer as well as the brewery, which may or may make them easier to find. I certainly don't know crap about it):

Schneider Weiss (Manneken-Brussel) - Shit. I totally can't remember anything about this beer. I think it was sweet-ish? I remember a favorable impression. Man, this review is going to be worthless, isn't it? Wait, I remember! It was banana-y! Or was it the one that was super gingery? Fuck. I wish I could remember which was the gingery one.

La Folie (New Belgium Brewery) - The man said it was conditioned in oak casks, and so warned me that it would have a vinegary taste to it. He wasn't goddamn kidding. It was like someone took apple cider vinegar and mixed it in my porter. I was a bit displeased about it. My translator tells me that "la folie" means "the madness". No kidding.

MYSTERY BEER (New Belgium Brewery) - Jake had a pull of this and then they were out, so we didn't get any, which was just as well, because from the sip I had of it, it tasted just like the La Folie. I don't know what the deal was with the MYSTERY BEER, but a few breweries had this, and the servers were all, "No seriously, I don't know what it is."

Dinkelacker Dark (Spaten West) - Sweet and dark and tasty. Not a porter, but I suspect it to be one of those dark ales that I adore.

18th Anniversary Pilsner (Deschutes Brewery) - You know, all pilsners taste the same to me. I don't even like them. I don't even know why I bother tasting them. Greg said the same about some other pilsner.

Sirius Cream Ale (Lagunitas Brewery) - Tasty. Even the head was tasty. Malty. Mm. I was pretty happy about it. I should try more imperial cream ales. Wait, was this the one with ginger galore? Damn.

Our Beersel Kriek (D & V International) - Cherry beer. Very very cherry. It was almost like cherry cough syrup, but it was beer. It was even red. Maybe a bit too sweet.

St. Bernadus Triple (D & V International) - Uh, I don't really remember this, but I think it was good. Maybe this was the ginger one.

Scotch de Silly (Global Beer Network) - Super sweet and malty. It was like they threw a sugar mill and a malt factory in the wort and then forgot to ferment it. 4 oz. of this stuff was more than enough. Never ever buy a pitcher.

La Gnomette (B. United International) - Another pretty sweet brew, but definitely not as sweet as the Scotch De Silly. This, you could probably split a pitcher with three friends, but I wouldn't go any further than that. Lighter, but felt heavy going down.

Hitachino Japanese Classic ( B. United International) - Cedary. It's actually made with cedar and the taste really comes through and hits you. Drink a few pints and you'll be immune to the ravages of moths.

Kasteel Triple (Wetten Importers) - It was tasty. Another worthless review.

Lindemans Peche (Merchant Du Vin) - We've had many bottle of this fine fine lambic, but there is something about trying the draft. Fresh! and tasty!

Ginger Spiced Mead (Mountain Meadows Meadery) - This was a very gingery mead (but not the beer I'm trying to remember) and quite tasty.

Kastelanski Mead (Stawski Importers) - This was so imbued with the very soul of honey, it was like a thousand bees screamed little deaths with every sip. But it wasn't too sweet, I don't think. But I expect meads to be sweet, so mmm.

Okocim Porter (Stawski Importers) - You know how much I love porters, and even though it was a hot day, I had to try one. It was really good stuff, and I was quite pleased with it.

We also had some quite delicious barbecue and bratwursts. There was a much more satisfactory food situation at this brewfest than the other we attended earlier this year. It's too bad that the Summer Brewfest got cancelled this year. it would've been another great one to go to.

At least there's the Fremont Oktoberfest to still look forward to.

And here's a third sentence in a row I've ended a preposition with. Hey!