Drinking all the beer.

It’s summer! Even here in the Pacific Northwest, the sun is out and the temperatures are rising. That can mean only one thing, or maybe multiple things, but it does coincide with the 2012 Seattle International Beerfest. SIB is one of my personal favorite annual events in Seattle. There is usually an eclectic mix of people enjoying a common love of liquid goodness.

Starting SIB off with The Stoic from Deschutes brewery in Oregon.

This year the festival features a mouthwatering array of brews from all over the world including incredibly rare offerings such as the Samuel Adams Utopias. But beyond the beer, there are
numerous amazing local food vendors on hand to provide cheeses, nuts, tortas, hot dogs, and more. My personal recommendation for a good snack is the cured meat and cheese pairings on a stick from Mt. Townsend Creamery.

It’s no secret that I am a fan of the darker beers, and there are far too many porters and stouts for me to try over the course of the weekend. If you can only make one day of the festival and need to taste with the 10 tickets you get with entry, allow me to suggest the Mad Viking Cognac IRS, the Two Beers Ascension, the Zhiguli Grande 12%, the Double Mountain Ferocious Five, and the Wingman P-51 Coconut Porter. If you have the time and money to spend, then there is more than enough variety in the over 210 beers from more than 15 countries to keep even the pickiest of beer connoisseurs happy.

The festival runs July 6-8, so if you can still make it today or tomorrow then you should be doing that immediately after reading this blog. The new location is spacious with both indoor and outdoor seating. The entire event is pet friendly and plenty of people bring their furry friends. It’s also a benefit for Pet Cross which means you’re drinking for a good cause. I have already enjoyed two days of beer, food, and live music and I greatly look forward to a third. Entry is $30 at the door and gets you a commemorative tasting glass and 10 tickets. Additional tickets are available at the festival for $1 each. If you’re there on Sunday, feel free to say hi and grab a seat to chat about beer with me.