The 10 brews to spend your tokens on at Upper Left Beerfest

Downtown Everett promises to be hoppin’ this Saturday.

Along with the third annual Upper Left Beerfest taking over Hoyt Avenue between Everett and California avenues, the Everett Food Truck Festival will be just up the street on Hewitt Avenue and the Everett Makers Market will be hosting a craft fair on California.

Oh, and if you want to work out in preparation for that future beer and food, there’s the Everett Yum Run 5K at 10:30 a.m. The run starts and finishes near Wetmore Theatre Plaza.

The big draw remains the Upper Left Beerfest. There will be live music at the festival Friday and Saturday, but really it’s all about the beer and cider. There will be nearly 20 breweries and cideries at the festival this year. Here are 10 don’t-miss beverages on which to spend your tokens.

10 Weeks of Sunshine IPA, Scuttlebutt Brewing: This summer release from the stalwart Everett brewery flew under the radar a bit, but if you missed it before, don’t miss it here. A sessionable IPA made with five gorgeous hops, including Ekuanot, Mosaic and Citra, this beer has slight notes of tropical fruit, melon and citrus.

Hop Pink, Crucible Brewing: Head brewer Dick Mergens’ Pink Drink creation, a light raspberry sour, has become this Everett brewery’s flagship beer. Hop Pink is a play on the original. A double raspberry sour dry hopped with Mosaic hops, Hop Pink is nearly twice the alcohol content and triple the fun.

AstroNut Peanut Butter Porter, Lake Stevens Brewing: Head to the stratosphere with this peanut butter delight from brewers Brock Duerr and Jason Parzyk. Made with 6 pounds of dehydrated peanut butter per barrel, this porter is creamy and smooth.

Up & To The Left IPA, At Large Brewing: Just down the street, this Everett brewery doesn’t have to roll its kegs too far to set up shop at the Upper Left Beerfest. So why not try its newest creation, an appropriately named hazy IPA made with Mosaic and a rarely used New Zealand hop, Wai-iti, giving it flavors of peach and apricot.

Czech Magnet, Whitewall Brewing: This beer has already won big in Everett, having taken Best in Show at the 2019 E-Town Throwdown, a competition of Everett-area homebrew clubs Greater Everett Brewers League and Beer Renegades of Everett Washington. Based on the recipe of homebrewer Brad Brown, this Czech-style amber has rich malty flavors and caramel notes mixed with light herbal and spicy hop character.

Steel My Sunshine, Dreadnought Brewing: Sometimes you want a beer that tastes like a beer. After all the hazies and pastry stouts, take a break and ask for this California Common from Monroe’s lone brewery. Showcasing a firm malt backbone and light hoppiness, this will help level out your palate. If you must have a hazy, grab Dreadnought’s Green Manalishi Lime Milkshake IPA.

Looks Like Jacob, Middleton Brewing: Well, it’s official: Geoff Middleton has sold out. Never one to compromise and follow the trends, Middleton has been hawking his “sold out” series this year and this Blackberry Mojito Milkshake IPA was a recent offering. Good thing, because his promise to use real fruit is a great addition to the hazy culture.

Mirror Images, Bosk Brew Works: If you don’t get to Woodinville often, make sure to stop by Bosk’s tent and grab this German-style kellerbier. Hop forward with floral and herbal notes, this unfiltered golden lager is crisp and dry with a mild malty finish.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch Cherry Bomb, Soundbite Cider: A mash-up of semi-sweet cherries and spicy Southwest peppers, this cherry cider from the first Everett cidery will throw your tongue a serious change-up after all that beer.

The Black Note, Herb’s Cider: If you didn’t know, this cidery from Bellingham was started by Tim “Herb” Alexander, drummer for longtime alt-rock band Primus. Try their newest creation, a blackberry cider made with organic Pacific Northwest apples and blended with blackberry.

If you go

The third annual Upper Left Beerfest is Aug. 23-24 in downtown Everett. The beerfest is 4 to 8:30 p.m. Friday and noon to 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $20 for one day or $35 for both and include a commemorative glass and tasting tokens. There will be live music, the Everett Food Truck Festival is happening down the street and the Everett Yum Run 5K is at 10:30 a.m.