Thank you to EVERYONE who participated in this year’s Rails to Ales Brewfest! The ballots have been counted, and you have chosen this year’s top beverage makers!

Congrats to BEST OF SHOW winner Georgetown Brewing Co. of Seattle,

who’s Manny’s Pale Ale gleaned the most votes for the Best Brewer Award!

Manny’s is described as, “A careful selection of Northwest hops, premium barley, and our unique yeast give this ale a rich and complex malty middle with a snappy hop finish. It’s truly a micro that finishes crisp, clean, and smooth.”

Georgetown Porter (many know it by another name) also received a large number of votes, contributing to Georgetown’s Best Brewer title. Description, “This is an exceptionally flavorful medium bodied porter. We use tons of Chocolate, Munich, and Roasted Malt, then blend it with Centennial and Northern Brewer hops to create what we’d like to call Roasted Chocolaty Goodness. Mmm.. porter.”

Taking the Best Non-Beer category is Fox Barrel’s Pear Cider!

About the pear cider, “This delicately balanced cider is like biting into a ripe pear. The hand crafted subtlety of this 100% natural beverage pays homage to finer French ciders. Our remarkably versatile Pear Cider is consistently awarded gold medals at national and regional competitions.” Apparently Rails to Ales Brewfest tasters agree, as the long lines and being the first keg of the day to blowout attest!

Giving these guys a real run for their money were Iron Horse Brewery from Ellensburg, Deschutes Brewery from Portland, and Kona Brewing Co. from Honolulu.

We also have a sincere apology we were asked to convey from the owner of Alpine Brewing Co. out of Oroville, WA for not being able to attend this year’s Brewfest due to a back injury just days before the event. He was very disappointed as he was looking forward to visiting with brewfest fans again. This year’s champs better watch out next year as Alpine’s brand new Hefeweizen took best of show in Leavenworth earlier this year!

Here is the Program for this year’s Brewfest – Band Schedule and more inside!

(Click on the preview to view full screen, then when done, press the ESC key)

It’s Brewfest Day!!

Hey, if you live more than 20 miles from the South Cle Elum Depot and you missed the online pre-sales of the Brewfest tickets, get a message to us with your contact info and how many you need, and we’ll set them aside with your name on them for you up until 5p.m. today (Saturday July 10th). So you won’t have to worry that you’ll drive all that way only to find the event sold out. After 5 p.m., they go back up for grabs, so be sure to let us know if you’re running late. You can message us here on our contact page on the brewfest site at http://www.railstoalesbrewfest.com/rtab/category/contacts/

Or leave us a message at 509-674-2006

Please leave us your name, number of tickets, where you’re coming from and a contact phone number.

Hey Brewfest Fans – we’re just days away from this year’s Rails to Ales Brewfest this coming Saturday (July 10, 2010).

A full list of all 41 beers and ciders that the 19 brewers and hard cider makers will be bringing has been posted at the updated Breweries Page.

We have also posted the Free Parking / Shuttle Map for online viewing and/or download to printout before you come to the event. The shuttles run continuously during the event, stopping at each location approximately every 15 minutes up to 7 p.m, then switching to “return drop off mode”, stopping at only the designated stops where passengers need to go. There are stops for each of the Cle Elum lodging partner hotels/motels, the event parking lots, as well as additional stops at the Maverick’s Casino parking lot and the Cle Elum Shell station/Subway shop where the Airporter Shuttle drops off passengers. The Roslyn library stop will be visited once each hour, beginning at approximately 3:40 p.m.

If you are coming from Ellensburg, you can catch a ride for $5 each way on the separate Airporter Shuttle (a third party service not affiliated with the Brewfest, so you will need to book your ride with them separately. See their website for full details and to arrange your ride with them. They do require that fares are paid ahead of time, so plan ahead if you would like to use their service.) The Airporter Shuttle Ellensburg pick up location is the Quality Inn and the Cle Elum drop off spot is the Cle Elum Shell station/Subway shop on First Street. Visit the Airporter Shuttle’s website for full details.

Welcome to the Rails To Ales Brewfest, held at the South Cle Elum Depot,  the second Saturday in July each year.

This year’s Brewfest will be on Saturday, July 10, 2010, from 4-10 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online or at local Ticket Outlets.

For Brewfest Twenty-Ten, 19 Breweries & Hard Cider Producers, 2 Wineries and 5 Food Vendors. The entertainment lineup of 3 live bands stars Vicci Martinez, Eden and (the band) Free Beer@Exit 80

The 2010 Rails To Ales Brewfest is proud to announce the entertainment lineup for this year’s event, which has been expanded from 2 groups in previous years to 3 bands this year. Tacoma’s Vicci Martinez will be making a stop on her nationwide tour to headline the Brewfest. Cle Elum band Eden, and Roslyn band Free Beer at Exit 80 will round out the musical performances.

Learn more about this year’s entertainers, with videos and links to their sites for music samples by visiting our Entertainment page.

Purchase Discounted Advance Tickets

Securely online at Brown Paper Tickets agency

Still only $15.00 each ($20 at the gate, if any are left. Limited to 1500 tickets total)

The Brewfest planning committee meets at the Depot in South Cle Elum on the first Thursday, of each month at 6:00 p.m. unless rescheduled. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Brian Lee for directions and more information, and to get on the emailing list for schedule updates. If you have ideas for this year’s event, please feel free to send those as well.