WABL Anniversary Party

Last Saturday, Lush C and I ventured to the Washington Beer Lovers (WABL) 4th Anniversary party. We’ve only been WABL member since last December, so this was our first time at their annual event. Since it was located at Seattle Center, we were able to easily take public transportation, a wise decision.

Old and New Friends - by Lush C

We arrived about 45 minutes early and the line to get in was already about 20 beer drinkers deep. We heard that people line up early for the event, but wow! When the doors opened at 4pm the crowd of 300 eagerly entered, grabbed their tasting glass, scurried to get a table, and rushed to get their first beer. On tap for the evening were 13 beers, many of them specially brewed for the occasion, from great Washington Brewers.

WABL really took care of us.  There was plenty of good food and even a birthday cake. Throughout the evening the emcee and new Executive Director of the Washington Beer Commission, Eric Radovich, raffled off items including t-shirts, beer gift packs, growlers and gift cards from Washington Breweries. The most touching moment of the evening came when we all raised a glass to recently lost Washington Brewer Guild members – Brian Sollenberger , Dick Young , and Jim Quilter.

An empty taster glass.... not mine - By Ron Matthews

The BEER was the reason we were all there. My favorite for the evening was Chuckanut Brewing’s Foreign Stout. I also enjoyed the Peach Pit Wit from Black Raven Brewing, Two if by Sea Brown from Schooner Exact and Two Beers, Dick’s Danger Ale, and Diamond Knot’s IPA. The biggest beer of the evening would have to go to the Oak Aged Jaywalker by Walking Man Brewery. An Imperial Stout aged in Oak barrels and coming out at 12%abv. One quote I heard was “it is as if a keg of Guinness was smuggled in a Johnny Walker Barrel”.

All in all we had a great time. We talked to old friends, met some new ones and had some great beer!