I hadn’t been to the Raley Field Brewfest in two years but I saw a groupon for the VIP package that ended up being cheaper than the normal admission so I had to jump on it and boy was I glad that I did. Not only was the beer delicious, they set up all the breweries along the warning track of the outfield. In previous years they were all set up along the concourse and when one brewery had a long line it would block the entire walkway. Put a couple of those lines together and it was a hassel weaving your way through all the people. Opening up across the entire outfield was not only a fun experience to be out on the grass but also made the Brewfest much more enjoyable.
Some of the key standouts for me were:
- Firestone Walker Double Jack (Imperial IPA)
- High Water Brewing Campfire Stout
- Uncommon Brewers Bacon Brown Ale
- Placerville Brewing Ale Dorado
The Campfire Stout was especially a treat with graham cracker and marshmallow flavors mixed in a nice dry stout. I’ll be on the lookout for bottles of that one around town.
I had a lot more than that, I know I only had three of my eighteen tickets left at the end, but my note taking did not continue through the night so I’ll have to chop the rest up as great beers that I hope to have again soon.