CFWAY Homebrew Festival

So yesterday (04.05.08) was the 1st Annual (?) Cure For What Ales You (CFWAY) Homebrew Fest. Overall I’d say it was a smashing success.

CFWAY 6

Things were suppose to run from 1-5PM, so I figured I’d get there around noon with plenty of time to set-up and get organized. I showed up around 12:15 and felt late. The back room was already laid-out and filled-up with brewers, great. I then saw that the next adjoining room over they were starting to set-up tables too. So I put my stuff over there, it definitely felt like I was off to the side instead of being in the middle of the action, oh well. I brought along a cooler with 20 of my Belgian Dubbel style beer and a smaller cooler with 4 each of my Belgian Tripel style and my Imperial Stout, Vader. The Dubbel was my featured beer that I was slinging all day long and the one that was entered into the competition they had. The Tripels I leaked out at about 3:30 and the Vaders at about 4:00. I had a little wipe-off board in front of my cooler so I could adjust what it was I was serving. The Dubbels lasted almost until the end and the Tripels and Vaders basically were disappearing as they hit the table.

CFWAY 5 CFWAY 3 CFWAY 2 CFWAY 4 CFWAY 1

I got to try some cool beers yesterday, but not as many as I would have liked, mostly I couldn’t get out from behind my area. But some of the beers I got to try were a Belgian Single, an Imperial IPA, a Vanilla Porter, a Licorice Stout, a 14% Imperial Stout, a Smoked Porter, a Coriander Amber, and a couple different Ciders. It appeared as if there were many different levels of experience showcased at the event, some guys I talked to had just started homebrewing in January of this year and others appeared to have been homebrewing their entire lives. One guy had a massive set-up where it looked like he had six different kegs poring, wow.

Again, overall it was a really good time, only one minor flaw that stands out and that was my own fault – no food and water. I had arrived around 12:15 like I said and hadn’t eaten anything at that point nor drank or brought a lot of water. So after several hours of sampling, working, and not drinking any additional water my body needed a break and was in desperate need of some food to keep functioning properly. Basically I ran out of beer at about 4:30 and I was going to clean-up my stuff and then come back in and try to enjoy myself before the fest was over. Well I guess with the lack of water, food, and being weighed down with my coolers and such I had a rough time getting out of the place. Fortunately I had a bunch of friends there who were willing to watch out for me and cover my back, and before I knew it I was taking a break, enjoying a chicken pita sandwich, and a bottle of water. After that I was feeling much better. Next year, they need to provide free water and I need to remember to eat, one of those things I often forget.

But to end on a super positive note, as I was leaving to load up my stuff I was informed that I couldn’t leave (which I wasn’t planning to) because I had just won Best of Show! Wow, that took me off guard, in a good way of course. I don’t know if they made announcements or what, but I sure didn’t hear anything. As a prize for Best of Show I received gift certificates to How Do You Brew, Xtreme Brewing, Iron Hill Brewery, and a pound of hops of my choice – I took 8oz. of Cascade and 8oz. of Centennial – time for some C-Hop Pales Ales! Again, overall it was a really great time and I hope they continue to do it next year and the years following.

7 Responses to “CFWAY Homebrew Festival”

  1. Garrett Says:

    Dude, congrats again on the win. Very cool and well deserved. I’m sure it won’t be the last time you win BOS…

  2. eric hebert Says:

    Thanks for coming out again man, everything was great. Sorry about the water – that was my fault (we had it all over the other room). Other than that and a few other details, the event went smoother than I imagined. Leanred a lot about how to run an event like this and we’ll be sure to do things way better the next time 😉

    Congrats again on the best of show!

  3. Garrett Says:

    Shoot. I just realized my posts have been pointing at the FSB blog. Hopefully I’ll get that corrected going forward.

  4. Craig Birkett Says:

    Hey Congrats on Best of Show!! I was the guy standing to your left with the double IPA. It was a great day out! That Vader was da bomb! Keep on brewin’!

  5. Brian Says:

    Hey Craig, I’m glad you stopped by the website. Great job on the IIPA too, and that was one of your first brews ever, right? If so, you’ve got a lot of potential. Hope to see you around. Thanks!

  6. EMitch Says:

    best in show? check. next up? best in world!

  7. Mike Says:

    Just catching up on all the stuff that happened while I was away, and this was a great find. Congratulations!

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