Strange Brewfest on tap for this weekend

Published 1:30 am Thursday, January 23, 2020

PORT TOWNSEND — The 16th annual Strange Brewfest this weekend will offer a wide selection of unusual beers and ciders from Washington breweries and live music.

Strange Brewfest will run from 5 p.m. to midnight Friday and from 1 p.m. to midnight Saturday at the American Legion Hall at 209 Monroe St. The event is for adults 21 and up.

Tickets of $40 per person include admission to both days, a souvenir tasting glass, five tasting tokens and access to the live music that is planned, organizers said.

Off-season boost

More than 2,000 people are expected to attend the two-day festival, something that also provides a boost to the off-season for the hotels, restaurants and shops in Port Townsend, said Janet Emery, coordinator and crew boss.

Thirty-seven breweries serving dozens of unique beers and ciders are expected at the event, including local breweries such as Port Townsend Brewing, Discovery Bay Brewing and Propolis Brewing, Emery said.

The five bands that will perform are Snug Harbor and LoWire on Friday, and the Lucky Brown Band, Babycakes and Joy in Mudville on Saturday; Emery described the bands’ styles as “danceable funk music.”

Other entertainment includes fire-spinners and chainsaw artists, Emery said.

This year’s theme is “Strange Brew,” from the 1983 film of the same name, and attendees are encouraged to dress up as their favorite character in the film in hockey jerseys, flannel shirts or ski parkas, Emery said.

“It should be interesting how many plaid shirts show up,” Emery said.

The event is put on through the efforts of coordinators Emery, Nina Law, Ric Peregrino and Marilyn Kurka, as well as more than 30 volunteers, Emery said.

Vendors will collect tasting tokens, which will then be weighed and the top three will be awarded prizes.

The overall award for “The Funkiest Beer” will be determined by a ballot vote by attendees, Emery said.

Some of the memorable beers that Emery has encountered in past festivals are a chocolate cherry stout, a geoduck stout and a maple beer with a waffle garnish.

“I think some of the things that appeal to brewers is they can come up with something crazy,” Emery said.

Sixteen of the vendors will be set up inside the American Legion hall, while the remaining will be outside in a fenced and tent-covered area, Emery said.

Emery was proud of the fact that for the 10 years that she has been involved, organizers have not had any issues that have needed law enforcement response.

“I have a great crew,” Emery said. “My head of security, Dan Stein, is amazing. We’ve never had to call the police, never had any problems … it’s amazing.”

There was a slight concern early in the week, as the glassware for the event was in Kansas and trapped in a snow storm, but it was successfully delivered on Wednesday, Emery said.

“It’s been kind of insane this year. It’s been one thing after another,” Emery said. “But everything is coming together at the end.”

Emery’s favorite part of the event is “standing up on stage and looking out into the crowd and seeing everyone smiling and enjoying themselves.

“There will be good beer, good cider and good times,” she promised.

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Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5, or at zjablonski@peninsuladailynews.com.