The 8th of October marked the beginning of many great festivals being held in Tallahassee. It started off with Brewfest which was a blast for craft beer enthusiasts. I waited to attend Brewfest for about a year and I couldn't have been happier with the turn out. To have the ability to pay a onetime entrance fee and try nearly a hundred different beers gave me a feeling similar to Charlie finding that golden ticket. I was furious last year that I wasn't able to make it. I didn't think that it would have sold out but sadly I was wrong. Everyone that I knew who went couldn't stop bragging about an experience I missed out on. I missed a world of beer, but this year, I got my ticket and there was nothing stopping me from making it to that festival.
I made all the appropriate arrangements in regards to rides and what time to leave. I got there early enough to find parking so I didn't waste time not tasting the hoppy nectar of the gods. This festival was in its fifth year and it was put on by the Tallahassee Sunrise Rotary. Each year, they have upped the ante by adding vendors and helping some lesser known brewers get their name out there. Brewing beer is an art, rivaling wine making, and I feel that any brewer, no matter the size, has the ability to put out an amazing product.
The festival started at 5 PM (4PM for the VIPs) and with the large number of different possible beers to try, my game plan was to first try every pale ale known to Brewfest. Only after completing that task, I moved on to the witbiers and hefferveisens. I tried some stouts but I didn't want to push it. Those are some really heavy beers. They're almost a meal in a bottle.
One thing that I love about craft beers is that they're made to be enjoyed in moderation, not thrown through a funnel on the patio of your friend's house. Responsibility usually is in tow with the beers that aren't the run of the mill beers like Natural Light and those other cheap beers that can be bought in packs of 24 at a gas station.
Some of my favorite brewers that were in attendance were Bell's Brewery and Stone Brewery. They make a few of my favorite IPAs (India Pale Ales) like Two Hearted Ale, Arrogant Bastard, and Stone IPA. The thing about IPAs is that they're very hoppy, which has a strong taste of citrus and can range in bitterness. The Two Hearted Ale is my favorite beer all around. It's not too hoppy and, to me, it has somewhat of a sweet citrus flavor. I suggested to everyone I came across to try Two Hearted Ale. Some weren't into it, because they were not into hoppy beers, but that just left more for me. As far as beers go, IPA's generally have higher alcohol content so you should keep that in mind when consuming them. Ordinarily beers have an ABV between 3.5 and 5%, but these tend to be in the upper 5's all the way up to 7% or 8%.
I didn't forget to eat something prior to the festival, but some of my friends did. Fortunately. there were a lot of food vendors present and ready to help those in need of nourishment. The food was not included in the entrance fee, but there were many options such as nachos, hot dogs, pulled pork sandwiches, and pretzels which accompanied the beer selection well.
Keep a look out for other fall festivals coming up. There are many of them from food festivals and outdoor festivals to Spooky events!
Tags: Ale, Beer, Brewery, Brewfest, Event, Festival, IPA, Stout, Tallahassee
Pedro SemperteguiPedro Sempértegui is a recent graduate of Florida State University's English department. After growing up in the quiet suburb of Coral Springs, Fl, he moved to the capital to pursue writing. Since Tallahassee's nightlife has introduced him to new music, awesome food, and delicious microbrews, it's only right that tries to pass on that knowledge.
