Submitted by Tumwater Artesian Brewfest
Olympia Beer is an important name to folks in Tumwater. It has been a few years since the last whistle was heard from the brewery (2003), but a new era of craft beer is alive and well. Now, we celebrate the proud tradition of brewing and build toward the future of our community with the annual Tumwater Artesian Brewfest on August 20.
At the 2016 Tumwater Artesian Brewfest, over 45 craft brewers from around the Pacific Northwest will bring their best to celebrate with us. Join friends for some well-mannered frivolity on Saturday, August 20 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Tumwater Valley Golf Course—in the shadow of the former brewery.
Sip craft beer and cider, savor a variety of local foods, and play for fun or to win one of many games and contests. You’ll also have the option to explore the history and experience the future where we help grow the craft beer, cider, and spirits movement.
This unique event offers tons of backyard games and activities. Try not to topple giant Jenga, earn bragging rights beating your buddies at super-sized beer pong, test your strength with a stein-holding contest and your agility with a hardy game of human foosball. You might even win some cash in the golf ball drop. All this, while sampling an award-winning pale from Fish Brewing, your favorite IPA from Freemont Brewing, a gluten-free brew from Seattle’s Ghostfish Brewing, or a refreshing cider from Portland Cider Company (just to name a few).
Grab some Tailgate Barbeque, Big Daddy’s burgers and fries, a light Greek meal at Athena’s Food Truck, or some tempura and chicken skewers from the Egg Roll Hut. For something on the sweeter side, pick up some granola or cookies from Brewmaster’s Bakery, which makes tasty treats from spent grain used in brewing.
Want to help support the event? Volunteer. Sign up online and bring a smile and great attitude and get free entry, a t-shirt, and our gratitude! Check out the website at www.tumwaterartesianbrewfest.com or find us on Facebook for more information about the fun to be had at this (ages 21 and over) event and other activities related to it.
Tumwater Artesian Brewfest celebrates a legacy
In 1902, German immigrant – by way of Montana – Leopold Schmidt, renamed his brewery to Olympia Brewing Company and coined the timeless tagline, “It’s the water.” The brewery was located on the banks of the Deschutes River in, you guessed it, Tumwater! The pure artesian water that Schmidt chose for his beer is the very same water that enticed early pioneers to settle in Tumwater and where Salish people before that heard the tum-tum heartbeat of the falls, from which Tumwater gets its name. The Olympia Brewing Company became the area’s largest private employer for several decades. Mythical water-loving trickster “Artesians” were used in the company’s marketing to add a twist of fun to their campaigns. Their legacy now lives on as we revitalize the former brewery.
A new era for the Brewery
To build on this legacy of brewing, partners are now collaborating to turn Tumwater and the surrounding area into a thriving hub that grows Washington’s craft beer, cider, and spirits movement. We call this the
Craft Brewing and Distilling Center. This visionary geographic hub will have an education center, business incubators, brewers, distillers and cider-makers, restaurants, hotels, and places where people convene to refine and grow their craft. Impacts from the hub will ripple across the supply chain and many sectors, including specialty agriculture. Redeveloping the old Olympia Brewery and preserving the iconic Old Brewhouse (donated to the City this year) is also a focus of the project. Together, these partners and business entrepreneurs are bringing “Brew” back to the community.
Help us build this future and join us to Bring “Brew” Back at the 2016 Tumwater Artesian Brewfest on August 20.
