10th Annual WASHINGTON CASK BEER FESTIVAL

The Washington Beer Commission presents the 2009 Washington Cask Beer Festival on Saturday, March 28th with two sessions from 12-4pm, and 6-10pm (separate tickets required for each session) at the Seattle Center Fisher Pavilion. This year the Cask Festival celebrates its 10-year anniversary. The event was conceived when a group of Washington brewers got together, wanting to introduce cask-conditioned beer to the local beer-drinking population. Ten years later what started as a small beer tasting for a handful of beer connoisseurs has become one of the most prestigious beer events of its kind, that draws cask beer enthusiasts from all over the region.

The Washington Cask Beer Festival has become a major highlight of the Pacific Northwest beer festival scene. The event features 60+ one-of-a-kind handcrafted cask-conditioned beers from the region's most innovative microbreweries. Also serving is Herbert's Legendary Cask Festival Ale, a special cask beer brewed collectively by the Washington brewers in memory of Bert Grant, a legendary Washington beer icon. To commemorate the festival's 10-year anniversary in 2009 there will be 10 different versions of the Herbert's brewed by 10 different breweries/collaborative groups. It is craft brewing in its finest form and is fascinating to see how different brewers interpret the same recipe and add their own twists.

Seattle Center Fisher Pavilion is located at 305 Harrison St., Seattle, WA 98109. Tickets are $35 in advance or $40 at the door, and includes a souvenir cup and all sample tastes. Must be 21 years old or older and have a valid ID to be admitted. Designated driver admission is $5 and available at the door only.

Tickets are on sale online and at select outlets. The event is expected to sell out so advance purchase is strongly recommended.

WABL members will enjoy exclusive advantages including a $5 discount on tickets, special WABL tasting glass and "WABL Beer," a special beer brewed by a different Washington brewery for each Washington Beer Commission festival that is available exclusively to WABL members.