Local brewers step on the platform of a mash tun at Lumberbeard Brewing on the morning of April 22. They take turns pouring malt into the massive metal vat for the beginnings of a collaborative hazy IPA dubbed 509 Brew Parade (6.2% ABV).
The roughly 40 barrels produced will be distributed and offered on tap and in cans at the 29 participating breweries from May 17-25 as part of Spokane Craft Beer Week.
Libation enthusiasts may recall Spokane Craft Beer Week from when it was conceived by Matt Hanson from Whistle Punk Brewing in 2019.
"[It] was essentially just reaching out to all the breweries in town and saying, 'Hey, we're doing a designated week to celebrate craft beer. We're encouraging you all to come up with different events and things that will bring people into your taprooms,'" recalls Adam Boyd, the director of brew operations at Garland Brew Werks.
The pandemic put an end to the weeklong event, until a few local breweries including Humble Abode, Garland Brew Werks and Whistle Punk started talking about bringing it back — more robust and engaging.
"We called a meeting at Whistle Punk. I reached out to every brewery I could find in the Spokane area and pretty much everyone showed up," Boyd says. "So everyone was behind it, everyone had the energy."
Humble Abode Brewing co-owner Matt Gilbreath, one of the forerunners who hoped to bring the event back, was inspired by similar craft brew festivals (like Seattle Beer Week) where brewers collaborate on brewing a single beer.
One of the initial challenges was thinking of a brewery large enough to host the brewing operations for 509 Brew Parade. Luckily, Lumberbeard has a 20-barrel brew system and a canning line to boot.
"We have the second-biggest brew system in Spokane," says Bret Gordon, the president and head brewer of Lumberbeard Brewing. "It'll make a lot of beer. We're going to make a double batch for this beer because there's [nearly] 30 breweries, so there's a lot of breweries who want this beer."
Hannah Gordon, the marketing and design manager at Lumberbeard Brewing, came up with 509 Brew Parade's can design. The magenta label has bold yellow print and depicts the Monroe Street Bridge, Spokane Falls, and sprigs of lilac and wheat.
Even the ingredients behind 509 Brew Parade are representative of the Inland Northwest. LINC Malt and Cold Stream Malt & Grain Co. donated all the locally grown malt, and the three hops varieties (Citra, Azacca and El Dorado) were donated by Roy Farms, based just outside Yakima in Moxee.
"The hops that we kind of chose are definitely leaning toward like the citrusy, tropical kind of aromas and flavors," Boyd says. "It should be a very juicy beer."
Some of the standout flavors are reminiscent of pineapple, mango and limeade.
It's hard to imagine dozens of brewers coming together to decide on a single beer recipe. Boyd says a small committee headed the decision-making process before weighing in with the group.
"I think hazy IPAs are very popular. Especially in this region, any IPA you kind of can't lose with," Boyd says. "Hazy IPAs also give us an opportunity to really focus on the hops as an ingredient."
Spokane Craft Beer Week starts on May 17, kicking off the same day as the Lilac Brewfest, which will take place at the Gesa Credit Union Pavilion at Riverfront Park from 1-5 pm. There will be 35 local breweries pouring craft beer for patrons to sample, and local musical acts will be busting out live tunes: General Machinery Company Band (noon-1:30 pm), Andy Rumsey and Phil Brannon (1:30-3 pm), and Snacks at Midnight (3-5 pm).
General admission is $35 in advance and $40 at the door, and includes seven tokens for a 5-ounce pour each and a tasting glass. Designated driver tickets are $10, and VIP tickets are $50, which include entry at noon, 10 tokens and more perks. For more information, visit spokanelilacfestival.org.
You can try 509 Brew Parade at Lumberbeard's tent, or head to any of the participating breweries' taprooms for a taste during the week.
Some proceeds from the collaborative beer will benefit the Spokane Lilac Festival Foundation, which holds the annual Armed Forces Torchlight Parade in downtown Spokane — this year taking place after the brewfest on May 17 at 7:30 pm.
"We've asked every brewery who is purchasing the minimum amount to donate a minimum of $100 back to the [Spokane Lilac Festival Foundation]," Boyd says. "We think it's a great organization. It's such a key element of Spokane history and part of our tourism and everything else that we want to support it, too."
In an industry faced with many challenges, from low profit margins and changing consumer behaviors to the struggles of a post-pandemic economy, events like Spokane Craft Beer Week can help revitalize the local brewing scene.
To ensure that this recalibration of Spokane Craft Beer Week is not only a success, but the first of many to come, Boyd hopes to form a more organized Spokane Brewers Guild where breweries can continue to work together on special events.
"That's kind of the focus moving forward," Boyd says, "let's create an organization where we're trying to recapture this kind of collaborative nature a few times a year and give Spokane a few big, great beer events to look forward to."
OTHER CRAFT BEER FUN
On top of pouring the collaborative beer, some participating breweries will hold special events and limited beer releases.Lumberbeard Brewing is selling limited barrel aged beers from May 17-23. On May 18, Wishing Tree Books will have a book fair in the tasting room. On May 19, from 5:30-8:30 pm, there will be a chess night with all ages welcome.On May 20, from 7:30-9 pm, join for a trivia night. Then, on May 21, from 5:30-8 pm swing by for a cribbage tournament. Vinyl sellers will be setting up shop in the taproom on May 22, from 6-8:30 pm, with a wide selection of records to choose from.
On May 20, from 6-8 pm, join for a free game of craft beer bingo at Garland Brew Werks with prizes for winners.
Humble Abode Brewing will release four small batch beers at both locations for the week.
On May 20, from 6:30-8:30 pm, test your spelling skills with an adult spelling bee at Perry Street Brewing.
Buy a limited edition 19.2-ounce can of a Bert Kreischer Juicy IPA at No-Li Brewhouse on May 21, from noon-9 pm, and earn one raffle ticket per can for a chance to win tickets to The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival and more.
Just in time for summer, Badass Backyard Brewing is releasing a pineapple wheat beer on May 22.
If you’re a teacher and looking to grab a pint, head over to Genus Brewing & Supply on May 22 from 2-8 pm for $1 off beer, cider, mead and wine pours. From May 23 at 4 pm to May 25 at 5 pm, order a flight of six beers ($15) made in collaboration between teams of local homebrewers and breweries. Vote for your favorite!
TT’s Old Iron Brewery will hold a Hazefest from May 22 at 3 pm to May 25 at 9 pm, where people can sample and vote for their favorite hazy IPAs from various Spokane breweries.
Create your own personalized Four-Eyed Guys Brewing tie-dye merch on May 22 from 4-6 pm. The class is $22 and includes supplies.
Emrys Beer & Mead Works, Bellwether Brewing, Hat Trick Brewing, the Grain Shed and Perry Street Brewing are partnering to create beer and slider pairings on May 22 from 5-8 pm at Emrys.
The head chef and head brewer of Uprise Brewing Co. will curate a six-course beer and dinner pairing May 22, from 6-9 pm.
Brick West Brewing Co. will hold the 3rd Annual Pilsner Picnic on May 24, from 2-6 pm, for a tasting event that features nine pilsners from local breweries.
For a beer-tastic twist on the classic pinewood derby, Perry Street Brewing will trade in the wooden cars for beer cans on May 24, from 5 pm-8 pm. Bring your own can and get building for the race!
SPOKANE CRAFT BEER WEEK PARTICIPATING BREWERIES
- 45 Degree Brewhouse
- Badass Backyard Brewing
- Bardic Brewing & Cider
- Bellwether Brewing Co.
- Black Label Brewing Co.
- Bottle Bay Brewing Co.
- Brick West Brewing Co.
- Emrys Beer & Mead Works
- Flatstick Pub
- For The Love of God Brewing
- Four-Eyed Guys Brewing Co.
- Garland Brew Werks
- Genus Brewing & Supply
- Hat Trick Brewing
- Humble Abode Brewing
- Iron Goat Brewing Co.
- Lumberbeard Brewing
- No Drought Brewing Co.
- No-Li Brewhouse
- Perry Street Brewing
- Precious Things Fermentation Project
- Snow Eater Brewing Co.
- Spokanite Brewing Co.
- The Grain Shed
- TT's Old Iron Brewery
- Uprise Brewing Co.
- West Plains Brewing
- Whistle Punk Brewing Co.
- Wildland Cooperative
For more information and to see daily specials and events, visit spokanecraftbeerweek.com
