Bothell set to host the first beer festival in the city Oct. 18

Bothell Assistant City Manager Peter Troedsson wanted to bring an event to the city that would bring residents together.

Bothell Assistant City Manager Peter Troedsson wanted to bring an event to the city that would bring residents together.

The Bothell Beer Festival will take place from noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 18 on Festival Street (101st) between Main Street and 183rd Street in historic downtown Bothell. The event features a dozen local breweries, Carolina Smoke BBQ and live music provided by Commander Mojo and the Horns of Discontent as well as The Dogtones.

“We’ve been working on the downtown redevelopment of Bothell, where the goal is to build a vibrant downtown with things that would attract visitors and bring residents to the city,” Troedsson said. “This event falls perfectly in line with this initiative.”

Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. The ticket price includes admission to the event plus a mug and six tastings, additional tastings are available for purchase. The event is sponsored by the Bothell Chamber of Commerce and the City of Bothell

“This is the first event like this in the city and my hope is that it will be successful and become an annual event,” Troedsson said. “There are a lot of appreciation in this area for the local and regional wineries and wine tasting rooms. There are a lot of beer enthusiasts in the region, but the availability for them to get together in the local area and celebrate beer is an untapped possibility.”

A dozen local breweries are participating, including McMenamins which is renovating Bothell’s art deco-style Anderson Building into a 70-room hotel and brewpub. Foggy Noggin Brewing has brewed a beer specifically for the Bothell Beer Festival: BB14 is an English Pale Ale that uses a special hop blend from Crosby Hop Farm.  Eighty percent of the hops in the beer are added very late in the brewing process to create big hop aroma and flavor. Other participating breweries include Dirty Bucket Brewery, Brickyard Brewing, Lazy Boy Brewing, Mt. Pilchuck Brewery, Beta Brewing, Triplehorn Brewing, 192 Brewing Co., Twelve Bar Brews, Salish Sea Brewing, and Hi-Fi Brewing Co.

“This event is for residents, but we are happy to invite in anyone that wants to come,” Troedsson said.

The festival ends at 5 p.m., but the party goes on. The Hop & Hound on Main Street will be the official ‘After Party’ where select beers that were featured at the event will be on tap.

Those coming from out of town can make it a weekend getaway at one of eight nationally branded hotels in Bothell.  A few of those hotels are offering up special discounted room rates exclusively for guests of the Bothell Beer Festival.

For tickets and more information, go to www.bothellbeerfest.com.