BY Doug Mackey

With its gobsmacking views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, Chambers Creek Regional Park will again host Brew Five Three, Tacoma’s 11th annual outdoor summer beer and music festival, this summer. Folks aged 21 and above (and their dogs of any age!) are invited to attend the one-day event on Saturday, August 10. Featuring over 30 Northwest breweries pouring beer, cider, and mead, Brew Five Three will also offer live entertainment, local food vendors, and an all-important water truck, keeping attendees hydrated—as a buffer against both the diuretic beverages and the summer heat.

Presented by Tacoma Arts Live, the community event is “for people just to learn about the art form of beer and cider—because I consider it an art form,” says Gini Sommer, TAL’s senior manager of admin and volunteers. It’s a chance, she says, to “just be outside, have a beverage, learn about something you might not know about, and meet new people.”

If you’ve never attended Brew Five Three over the past decade, Sommer encourages newbies to “get your tasting tokens, walk in, find a brewery or cidery that either you’ve frequented many times and try something new they’re providing, or say (to yourself): ‘I like IPAs, so I’m going ri gi try a sour,’ or ‘I’m going to go try a cider I’ve never had for the first time.’”

“So just go try something new,” Sommer adds, “because instead of spending five dollars a piece to experiment with a beer at Peaks and Pints or Pint Defiance or Beer Star, you can actually do it for the low price of a tasting token: two dollars each.” Attendees may purchase eight additional tasting tokens in advance for ten dollars, with limited availability.

As always, each year offers something new to festival-goers. The entertainment lineup includes the engrossing guitar work of singer/songwriter Walker Sherman, PLU’s joyous Steel Pan Band, and the booty-shaking funk music of Pazific, which closes out the day. Though food, water and entertainment service will span the entire event duration, alcohol service will stop at 4pm. “That will give people extra time to sober up some—drink more water, eat more food, and then dance to that lovely funk music,” Sommer says.

Every year also brings “different sponsors that hand out merchandise,” she continues, “For the first time ever, Merchant du Vin will be slinging their beers—I believe from England and Belgium—but we haven’t completely settled on it. We’ll also have some new vendors, and more of them, and a coffee cart.” In addition to those offering beer and cider, booths dispensing mead and Underberg will be present on the park’s expansive lawn. (What’s Underberg, you may ask? It’s herbal bitters that helps with digestion when, say, you’ve gone overboard at the food stalls.)

Returning from last year will be a live episode of the Channel 253 Network’s beer-themed Grit and Grain podcast, and the Peterson brothers will again man a booth talking about their movie Rainier: A Beer Odyssey, whose Tacoma premier will be Sunday October 12, at Blue Mouse Theater as part of this year’s Tacoma Film Festival. (Don’t miss the opportunity to pose for photos with a giant wild Rainier!)

As always, attendees are encouraged to bring refillable water bottles (though compostable cups will be available at the water truck) and sunblock. First-aid stations will also offer sunblock, and at least one shade area will be onsite for a cool respite from the sun’s rays.

Tickets for Brew Five Three are on sale now. Full admission tickets include a tasting glass, and eight tasting tokens, and each token may be exchanged for a four-ounce pour. Sommer encourages carpooling, noting it affords better “drinker-to-designated-driver ratio!”

Though a fine time is guarantees for all, Tacoma Arts Live is reaching for even higher ground. “The vision of our company,” Sommer concludes, “is a South Sound community that honors all cultures and enjoys shared prosperity. And how better to do that than with a beer festival?”

Brew Five Three will be at Chambers Creek Regional Park from noon to 5:00pm on Saturday August 10. Regular tickets are $55 until August 9. Tickets onsite are $60. Discounted tickets are available to designated drivers (a mere $10). Valid ID is required for entry, and parking is free.