Winter Beer Fest

Last weekend May and I went with our friend Eric to the 4th annual Winter Beer Fest at Hales Ale Brewery in Ballard. Who can pass up an event with that name? We started our adventuresome evening by hoping on the nearby #5 bus and taking it to down to Fremont. We climbed out and walked a 1/2 mile in the brisk evening air to the Hales Brewery backdoor. We joined a few work colleagues from Expedia who called ahead and mentioned there was a long line to get in. Thankfully, by the time we arrived it was a short wait.

All in all it was a fun event where you could try local winter beers, but way too crowded. My usual style is to go to each beer brewer booth and try a sip of their suds, I mean that's the whole point, right? Unfortunately, the lady (most likely owner) of the Big Al brewery made a very snarky comment that we "tried" two of their beers and then instructed her staff not to let us sample any more.

Well, let me be the first to tell you Mrs. Big Al, this household is boycotting your beer and spreading the word! Hope it was worth it.

My favorites:

• #1 Lazy Boy, Mistletoe Bliss
• #2 Lazy Boy, Dubble (Naked City private label)
• #3 Whoop Pass, Double IPA
• #4 Chuckanut, Schwarbier
• #5 Northern Lights, Winter Ale (newbie brewer)
• #6 Red Hook, Double Black Stout

See the full beer list here.