Eight years Elysian Brewing has hit the mark with one hugely successful beer festival. For myself I have been to the last four and as they use the new brewery ground this has become a terrific event. I loved that they have added upwards around 60 different pumpkin or squash flavored beers available. Sure they added a few others here and there as they had surprise beers brought out for the pumpkin beer seeking fans. When the Russian River three year old special pumpkin sour came out just hold on there was a rush of sour geeks headed for this.
I was a huge fan of the following:
Cascade Brewing – Pumpkin Smash – Barrel aged NW Style Sour ale 11.4% Aged in Rum Barrels.
Elliot Bay – Kill Bill 3 – Blend of Pumpkin ale spiced with cinnamon, cloves, ginger and nutmeg – 8.3%
Puyallup River Brewing – Gourdy Wow! – Belgian farmhouse brewed with tons of pumpkin puree and spices. 9.3% Tasty beer in tribute to a great beer friend.
Ninkasi/Elysian collaboration – Hopsquash – Jamie Floyd came up to Seattle and help brew a Pumpkin IPA 150 lbs of pumpkin with the 65ibus this was a terrific beer. 6.8%
Bainbridge Islan dBrewing – Whisky Jack – Pumpkin ale aged in Bainbridge Organic Distillers wheat whisky barrels. Big whisky and pumpkin flavors along with a super dry finish. 6.5%
Now there were tons more pumpkin beers to talk about and all were very tasty. Elysian brings out so many pumpkin beers they could have the festival with just there own. So for them to add others brewer’s beers make it that much better. Pumpkin carving, music, great beer and terrific pumpkin beer people all seeking a great beer while hoping the rain will not hit. This is a wonderful event and I for one having volunteered for a session was glad to do so. Sure I was beat at the end but I had a blast talking great beers with all. I am already getting ready for next years event with a costume in mind. This festival for me brings on fall and you can see that soon the winter beers are going to take over.
Thank You Elysian for a super festival. Cheers until next years Pumpkin fest.
