Hundreds turn out for Poulsbrew

A little over 500 people turned out for Poulsbrew, Poulsbo’s first-ever beer festival.

“The event far out exceeded our expectations,” said Denver Smyth, owner of Western Red Brewing and one of the coordinators for the event.

While for some the event began at 1 p.m., for everyone else the event began at 2 p.m. though a cue began to form well beforehand.

General admission was $25 with a commemorative glass and 5 taste tokens. For the designated drivers the admission was $10 and they could pick their glass on the way out. Additional tokens could be purchased for $2.

Attendees could also pick up some cool shirts, both long and short sleeves.

Nine breweries from all over the Kitsap Peninsula showed up along with various food vendors.

“Hales Ales bringing their double-decker bus was an awesome and unexpected addition,” Smyth said.

The bus proved to be a popular place as seating became limited and when it looked like the sky would open up.

Poulsbrew was also a chance for fans of Sound Brewery to get their last batch of choice brews since its brewery’s closure over a month ago.

“It was nice to have Sound Brewery out here for one last hoorah,” Smyth said.

The event was put on as a fundraiser for the Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce as a replacement for its “Poulsbo Uncorked” fundraising event that ended a few years ago.

“I believe we have finally found our replacement in Poulsbrew,” said the Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce’s Dakoda McKennon.

Both Smyth and McKennon noted that the only challenges that they faced during the event were good challenges due in part to the unexpected amount of people.

According to Smyth, one of the challenges they faced was running out of the special event glasses as well as some minor miscommunications regarding tents and power generators.

In response, they handed out glasses from WRB and were able to borrow some equipment from the folks who run Viking Fest.

“The response for the event was fantastic and we are certainly planning for a second event next year and will be brainstorming ways to make it bigger and better,” McKennon said.