Washington Brewers Fest 2018

As the longest serving member of the Washington Beer Commission, I can definitively say that these changes are a result of our being a quasi-governmental agency that is unique in all the country and our change in token policy this year is a result of pushback from our Liquor Cannibis Board (still chuckle at the name change).

I understand the frustration but I ask for understanding...our state LCB is generally a good group to work with but we still fight every day with over zealous elements that don’t believe that beer festivals should be family affairs.

 

And, just as a point in fact, the sessions are broken into four hour sessions, os that’s 11 4oz pours over the four hour session or roughly three 12oz cans over four hours. We will talk to the LCB after this year and see if we can improve the policy for next year...it may still work out to not be a big deal...

 

Fair enough but the two events are hardly similar. Imagine staffing up for three days of fans of many thousands of visitors each day...and the WBC is granted the “privilege “of running these events by being a sort of governmental agency or Commission more accurately, exactly like the Hop or Grain Commission. Staffing is amazing, witness the one violation over all these years and 100s of thousands of visitors and the LCB chose to crack down because of a few zealous agents who don’t think Beer Festivals should be family friendly....

 

Great thread! Don't be so grumpy Hal . Thanks for the valuable insight Tex!

 

I got the impression that you choose which session to attend with your ticket, either the first session or second session. You don't get to stay for both unless you buy another ticket.

It really does sound like you'd be better off just going to a couple breweries.

 

To the best I can recall, the Father's Day fest has never had "sessions" the way, say Caskfest or Belgianfest do. FDF has always been open door all day.

 

This has always been the draw of FDF for me. I get to try beer from so many of the small breweries around the state that we don't otherwise see. It seems like something is getting lost in translation here.

 

Maybe you should ask WABL.

 

The Winter Beer and Cask Festival have separate sessions, but they're run by the WA Brewer's Guild, not WABL.

 

Hearsay: the LCB is working on smart wristbands that turn a different color when you hit 0.08 or 4 hours (whichever comes first) for 2019.

 

If that's true (is that even possible?), that would be almost certainly be the death of this particular festival (and probably any other fest that instituted such bracelets). I can't speak for anyone but myself, but don't most people attending a beerfest do so with the expectation of getting at least a little buzzed?

 

The wristbands can measure BAC through the skin? Can you measure BAC through perspiration?

 

WABL doesn't put the fest on, WBC does.

 

I figured “hearsay” would give it the right amount of (non)credibility, but “satire” is more accurate.

 

It won't stand up in court, but, cops have flashlights with alcohol detectors built in. On the user end are a couple LEDs, one red, one green, and the can use that as a "guideline" whether or not to give a field sobriety test. I'm a bit surprised BAC wristbands aren't in use yet. Cost and ease of use seem likely reasons why.

 

FULL MEA CULPA: Washington Brewer’s Fest is NOT split into two sessions. Chalk this up to responding on the Forum late at night...totally my bad.

We did change the token policy this year and I know it may suck for some folks but we have come under intense pressure from the more evangelical elements of the Cannibis Board (still fun for me...) for our all ages/family friendly policy but fuck them. If they can’t figure out that parents drink beer around their parents and it’s about fucking time that we teach them how to do it responsibly, then that’s a boat they can sink in all by themselves or move to fucking Alabama (sincere apoligies to all from Alabama...that was a reference to the antiquated liquor policies in that beautiful state) but as a Texan who left for the PNW to escape the shit religious policies that result in “abstinence” birth control, no access to abortion, no families at beer festivals, etc....I’m done with the niceness).

And, so...again, I was wrong about the two sessions...the policy of 8 tokens with an additional 3 for purchase is our attempt to stave off the fuckers at LCB who want to shut us down. We have many friends at LCB and while most are wonderful, they are still subject to the BS from the more evangelical elements...and that gives evangelicals a bad name....the fight is not over and your comments will give us ammo to push back next year.

Please, do not stay away because of this policy. Attend, enjoy and support Washington craft brewers in our relentless quest to provide more and better beer to our amazing supporters...and tell the LCB to back off. We are not the problem.

Now, back to movie night with the kids and I’m sorry for any confusion.