From chocolate infused dark beer, to cranberry infused pink beer, to light beers and everything in-between, the 2nd Annual Williams Lake Craft Beer Festival offered a whole lot of options for beer connoisseurs to consider.
The event was held Saturday evening, Feb. 20 in the TRU gymnasium.
All 425 of the $75 tickets to the event were sold the day they went on sale Dec. 7, 2015 making the event a very popular fundraiser for the Cariboo Foundation Hospital Trust, which purchases needed equipment for Cariboo Memorial Hospital.
“This event sold out in eight hours and has become the most sought after ticket in town,” said event co-chair Adele Hamilton.
Hamilton said 18 craft brewers from all over the province were represented at the event and had 52 varieties of craft beers on offer.
Granville Island Brewing from Vancouver, Spinnakers Brewers and Guest Houses from Victoria, Barkerville Brewing from Quesnel, Innis & Gunn of Edinburgh, Scotland, Whistler Brewing from Whistler and more were there to share their creations.
The evening included a small glass in which to sample the offerings and take home, appetizers, and free rides home afterward, or to one of three local restaurants and pubs offering a 10 per cent discount on food.
There was also a silent auction and a trophy awarded for the Fan Favourite beer.
Red Collar Brewing from Kamloops won the Fan Favourite trophy with their Doppelbock brew, Hamilton said.
The brewery describes Doppelbock as a clean German lager featuring dark roasted malt flavours with minimal hop bitterness.
The sweet characteristics of this beer are nicely balanced with a very slight hint of alcohol warmth.
Hamilton said the event raised $20,000 for the Cariboo Foundation Hospital Trust which is currently raising funds for a new ultrasound machine for Cariboo Memorial Hospital’s emergency department.
The silent auction, featuring baskets of items donated by craft brewers all across the country raised $1,500.
“It was a really lovely evening,” Hamilton said.
She said everyone had a good time, there were no complaints from police, and the brewers were very impressed with the support they received from the 48 volunteers who were very knowledgeable and helpful.
“Everyone had a good time and all the brewers want to come back,” Hamilton said.
Tickets for next year’s event go on sale the first Monday in December, 2016.