Beer, Dads & the Outdoors: Back Together Again

Seattle beer enthusiasts who sulkily attended last year’s lame, cramped Washington Brewers’ Festival at Fisher Pavilion have reason to rejoice: The former Summer Microbrew Festival returns to St. Edward State Park this Father’s Day weekend.

We’re not exactly sure why the macro microfest pulled up stakes from St. Edwards in 2006 and changed its name. Bold Hat Productions announced the Summer Festival’s cancellation, citing a "shifting of focus toward charitable community events." (Their site, curiously, has been “undergoing revision” for some time.) That seems legitimate enough, but we heard at last month’s Hale’s Mug Club meeting that the "guy" responsible for booking breweries at the park (someone from Bold Hat? someone else?) was sucking their proceeds dry. Apparently this guy was pretty much raping the brewers, so last year they turned around, kicked him in the balls, and signed a (presumably more lucrative) deal with Seattle Center.

Great for brewers, not so great for attendees of the new-look fest, who were crammed into the overly fluorescent Pavilion and the ridiculously small, roped-off grassy area outside. The keg toss was still held, but it lacked excitement and an interested audience. State-fair food was still available, but there were fewer choices and no tables. Despite the fantastic proximity to Seattlest’s apartment (we walked there and stumbled back), we were not pleased with the fucked-with vibe of the fest. Neither were the patrons we spoke with.

To whoever’s responsible for breaking the legs of brokering a new deal with the St. Edwards “guy” and returning this event to its sprawling outdoor glory, this locally brewed ale is for you. If it’s you, McMenamins, pulling strings to raise beer lovers’ awareness of the serene site and contemplating a Kennedy School-style takeover, we’ll go ahead and make it a Hammerhead. We’ve always thought it’d be nice not to make that drive back to civilization after five hours of sun-drenched drinking.