Step 1. Get There and Get Home: Safely
If you're planning to have a great time drinking beer at a beer festival, plan also on not driving home. There's a shuttle service running from the Tacoma Dome Station, which links to local and regional buses and the LINK Rail. And the railing around the dock is basically a giant bike rack, so why not ride there? (Last year I arrived early and they let me lock up indoors to a boat trailer. I understand that boat has now been removed to make room for more brewers. YES!)
If possible, you may want to ride a bike with a back seat. You never know who else may need a safe ride home after last call. (Yes, that's my bike. No, that's not me.)
Step 2: Bring a Snack
The standard for beer festivals is the pretzel necklace. It's cheap, effective, and virtually hands-free. However, there's still time to whip up a batch of Matt's Favorite Cookies.
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| Hint: Tape the recipe card inside your cabinet by the oven. |
These pair well with most ales and are quite tasty. I always recommend making a double batch to share with your friends. Or to trade them for beer tasting tokens.
Step 3. Show Your Colors
C'mon,it's a beer festival! We're celebrating one of the most amazing inventions of all time, so put on some lederhosen or a toga or a funny hat...
This ancient form of haberdashery dates back nearly four decades. I had Grandma train me in the Ways of the Can Hat and now it is time to unleash their awesome power! Expect to see a few of these in the Canned Beer Garden at TCBF on Saturday. BTW, if you haven't tried craft beer in a can, now is the time. There are some great beers available now in cans, including those made by our local boys 7 Seas Brewing from Gig Harbor.
I'll be posting more pictures and a full review after the festival. Any other tips to share?
