Keeping Washougal Weird

Annual Weird Beer on the River festival highlights local brewers’ most outrageous combinations

By Tori Benavente, Post-Record staff writer
July 6, 2017 10:30 am
News, News

Mike Scott, lead brewer at 54? 40' Brewery, stands next to the mashton machine, where the process of brewing begins. The brewery will serve a hotdog flavored beer at the Weird Beer on the River event this weekend. 54? 40' Brewery is located at 3801 S. Truman Road, Washougal. (Tori Benavente/Post-Record)

By Tori Benavente, Post-Record staff writer

Looking for a way to enjoy the nice summertime weather, stay local and maybe try something a little out of the ordinary? Well, you’re in luck, because the Weird Beer on the River event comes back to Washougal for its third go-around this weekend.

More than 30 brewers will showcase at least 60 “weird beer” concoctions from 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, July 7, and from 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 8, at the Port of Camas-Washougal’s Marina Park in Washougal.

54? 40′, a Washougal brewery, has crafted a hotdog-themed beer for the show.

“We don’t know if it’s going to be any good or not, but I think that’s kind of the point of the deal,” said Mike Scott, leader brewer at 54? 40′.

Scott said brewers at 54? 40′ boiled about 75 hot dogs in aged beer, then blended the liquids with the brewery’s award-winning Kascadia Kolsch to create the hotdog infused beer, which they’ll hand out at this weekend’s festival.

Scott added that he believes the event appeals to people because it sounds crazy and different, and gets them excited to see what kind of creative beers the brewers will come up with.

“It’s fun for the brewers too, because it’s not such a huge beer commitment,” Scott said. “We can really go way out in left field without worrying. If it’s bad, it’s bad. People are just going to laugh about it.”

The brewery also will bring a keg of its Kascadia Kolsch, 54? 40”s most popular beer, in case the hotdog beer is undrinkable.

Hosted by CDM Caregiving Services, the Weird Beer festival will donate proceeds to CDM’s capital campaign for a new building, CPM Executive Director Eric Erickson said, adding that it will be hard for brewers to top last year’s “Grandma’s Bathroom” brew, a potpourri-flavored beer that definitely met the “weird” requirement.

Erickson said event organizers are hoping for good weather this year, so people can enjoy the beer as well as the giant yard games, DJ and food vendors that also populate the annual Washougal event.

“It’s such a great location, it’s really just spectacular when the weather’s nice,” Erickson said.

Attendees will be able to gulp weird beers and play giant versions of Jenga, Yahtzee, Cornhole and ring toss.

Admission is $20 at the door, and comes with a souvenir glass and six tasting tokens. Each sample will cost one token, and additional tokens cost $1.

Designated drivers will be admitted for $5.

Advanced purchase of tickets for $17 is available at CDMcaregiving.org.

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