Funky beers aren’t for everyone. Your uncle Jimbo, for example, is probably not going to be super into that barrel-aged brett-fermented saison you’ve been saving for a special occasion. An ice cold Lucky, though? Now you’re talking Jimbo’s language!
But for those of us who are funkophiles, this weekend has been circled in our calendars for months.
Farmhouse Fest returns to UBC Farm this Saturday for its fourth annual celebration of the “funky, the fruity, the estery, the tart, the dry, and the sour.”
This year’s event features 58 breweries and cideries pouring some pretty wild stuff, literally.
Among the highlights of this year’s lineup is Dageraad’s gold medal-winning Entropy No. 6, a barrel-aged Belgian-style blonde ale fermented with a brett-forward mixed-culture (8% ABV). I was under the impression that No. 6 was done and gone, but I guess Dageraad owner Ben Coli squirrelled some away just for this weekend. I guarantee this will be your last chance to try this exceptional beer.
Abbotsford’s Field House will be pouring its Cuvee Blanc Farmhouse, a mixed culture ale conditioned on 300 pounds of Pinot Noir pomace (8.5% ABV).
One of the great things about Farmhouse Fest is its strong import presence, including 14 American breweries, beers from Sweden and the UK, as well as Belgian superstars Cantillon, Gueuzerie Tilquin and t’ Verzet.
In addition to the beer, there’s a healthy contingent of wild-fermented ciders, too, including some traditional Basque-style offerings from Spain and Chile you’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.
If you’re still hoping to snag tickets for this Saturday’s event, unfortunately you’re SOL, it was sold out months ago. Tickets for next year’s event go on sale March-ish and sell-out pretty much instantly, so keep your eyes peeled and better luck next time!
- The 4th Annual Farmhouse Fest Invitational takes place at UBC Farm (3461 Ross Drive, Vancouver) from noon to 6pm (11am VIP early entry) this Saturday, July 7, 2018. For more information, visit FarmhouseFest.com.
