For craft beer fans, it’s all coming together. After months of gray and rain, the sun is finally out, the days are longer and many of us are comfortable gathering in large groups again.
This summer promises to be a great time to get out, grab a beer or two, and, as any good craft beer nerd knows, argue over the tasting notes. Here’s a look at some events this summer to mark on your calendar:
Big summer for 5 Rights
Starting with this weekend’s 7th Anniversary celebration, the Marysville brewery will be very busy this summer. 5 Rights owner R.J. Whitlow rarely rests, and he’s overhauled his brewery so significantly during the pandemic that some fans may be surprised if they show up to the brewery to celebrate its 7th birthday this weekend.
5 Rights has come a long way since its early days in the Whitlow’s garage. The brewery is no longer just the small indoor taproom it originally moved to in 2019. Last year, Whitlow and company expanded into a large space next door and built an outdoor pavilion. They’ve also taken over a small kitchen in the new space and have been running occasional tasting menus as they ramp up production.
The anniversary celebration will be over the Fourth of July weekend and will include special releases and a collaboration with Skookum Brewery. 5 Rights will release this year’s version of its Boom City FAB IPA and 2021 Tax Man Pauper Maker Bourbon Barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout. There will also be a New Zealand Pilsner, a collaboration with Skookum. Later in the month, 5 Rights plans to release its second anniversary collaboration, a West Coast IPA made with Adam Frantzen of Sound to Summit Brewing.
Later this summer, 5 Rights plans to hold its first annual Sour Fest on Aug. 4-6 at the brewery. Along with a fruited gose collaboration beer with Seattle’s Reuben’s Brews, Whitlow plans to have a large selection of wild ales on tap curated from breweries in Washington, Oregon and California. There will also be a special brewer’s experience event with Bill Sobieski, the owner and head brewer of Wild Barrel Brewing, an award-winning wild and sour ale brewery in San Marcos, California.
Fuller’s vs. Foggy Noggin
In the last two weekends of July, Bothell’s Foggy Noggin Brewing, which specializes in making British-style beers, will host a pair of British beer experts to talk about historical beer styles, share fun stories and, of course, taste some beers.
The first event will be a night with Ron Pattinson on July 24. The well-known British beer historian, who last visited Foggy Noggin in 2018, will regale attendees with beer stories and taste test six historical AK Styles British ales.
The other event will feature John Keeling, who was head brewer at Fuller’s Brewery in Chiswick, England, for 37 years. The event is July 31 and is billed as Fuller’s vs. Foggy Noggin with Keeling walking attendees through a tasting of four Fuller’s beers and four Foggy Noggin beers brewed in the same British style.
For more information and to purchase tickets, go to foggynogginbrewing.com.
Two big beerfests returning
Beerfests, despite the long lines and small pours, have been a welcome return for craft beer fans in 2022. Two large local beerfests will be pouring plenty of local beer this August.
After putting on a smaller version of its beerfest last year during the pandemic, the Upper Left Beerfest is set for Aug. 12-13 in downtown Everett. It will again be coupled with the Food Truck Festival. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased through July 15 online at upperleftbeerfest.com, or at local Everett breweries.
The River’s Edge Brewfest is returning Aug. 20 at Stocker Farms in Snohomish. More than 40 craft breweries, distilleries and cideries will be serving at the festival, which will also include food trucks, lie music and lawn games. Tickets can be purchased at riversedgebrewfest.com.
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