PORT TOWNSEND — The first Strange Brewfest outside of the auspices of its founder was more successful than the sponsors had imagined.
“We exceeded all expectations,” American Legion Commander Joe Carey said about the event hosted in the legion hall this weekend.
“At our peak, the entire place was at capacity.”
The Strange Brewfest was first held at Water Street Brewing in 2005, and the future of the event was in doubt when the bar closed over the summer.
Water Street Brewing co-owner Mark Burr said he hadn’t given the event any thought until Carey approached him with the idea of moving it to the legion hall.
Burr and business partner Nina Law lined up 24 breweries and the entertainment, and the weekend turned into a success.
“Out of 400 people here on Saturday night, there were only four who caused any trouble, so we had to ask them to leave,” Carey said Sunday.
The security team, headed by Darrell McFarland, anticipated trouble and calmed people down before excessive rowdiness became an issue, according to Carey.
This year’s event was set up as a benefit for the legion but turning a profit was never a sure thing.
At about 4 p.m. Saturday, the money taken in covered the investment and everything afterward was a profit.
At that point, Carey said he felt a sense of relief.
Carey estimated about 1,200 people participated in this year’s Strange Brewfest over the weekend.
The $25 admission price included four 8-ounce beers, with additional glasses for $1.50 each.
“A lot of the beers you drink here, the brewers make specially,” said Shelley McDowell of Port Townsend. “You can’t get them anywhere else.”
There was a variety of darks, lights and specialty brews, including such unusual items as a ginger cider from Eaglemount Ciders in Chimacum.
Shelly Ament of Sequim said she isn’t a beer connoisseur, “but there are a lot of interesting, creative beers you can try here. I feel bad that I am inside on a day like this instead of exploring outside,” she said.
“But you can’t beat good beer and good music.”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
