It was about 3 p.m. – three hours into the Tacoma Craft Beer Festival – when the din of thousands of beer-fueled conversations drowned out the roar of traffic and passing freight trains.
The 43 different brewers showing off their wares were filling glasses so fast a heady aroma of hops hung over 21st Street Park, despite the breeze coming off the Foss Waterway.
“It’s great beer and great weather; it’s great for the Boys & Girls Clubs and it’s great for Tacoma,” said Ken Thoburn, leaning in close to be heard over the noise.
“We love our product,” Thoburn said. “We love doing what we do, and we love doing it in Tacoma.”
Thoburn is the owner and brewer at Wingman Brewers, the newest brewer at the annual festival, which took place from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday.
Like most of the other brewers – some from as far away as Canada, Colorado and California – Thoburn donated the beer he poured. In all, there were more than 80 different beers on tap.
Nearly all the brewers are based in Washington, which at last count had 153 licensed breweries. Several were local brews, including Wingman, Harmon, Engine House No. 9, Fish, Silver City and 7 Seas.
All profits from the event are going to the Boys & Girls Club of South Puget Sound.
“It’s going to be a significant contribution,” said Roxanne Wolfe, who organized the event, along with her business partner Bennett Thurmon and Chris Miller from The Red Hot on Sixth Avenue.
“People are coming in so fast, I think we’re going to sell all 4,000 tickets,” she said.
The $30 admission included a 5.5-ounce glass and 10 tastings, which add up to around three and a half pints.
Heather McClung, the president of the Washington Brewers Guild, was doing her best to deal with a line of about 30 people lining up for tastes of Schooner Exact beers, which she and her husband Matt produce in Seattle.
“The Tacoma Festival is spreading the word about the caliber of breweries that Washington turns out,” McClung said.
“Most people don’t realize it, but Washington has more breweries than any other state in the country except California,” she said.
“It makes sense we should have a thriving brewing culture because all the ingredients are right here,” McClung said. “Washington’s hop production is the second-highest in the world.”
The thousands of beer drinkers at the festival ranged from beer experts to those who simply know what they like.
“That’s what’s so great about this,” Thoburn said. “Beer is a great thing because you don’t have to know a lot to drink beer. Everyone can find something they like.”
Rob Carson: 253-597-8693
rob.carson@thenewstribune.com
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