Cheers to the 10th Beerfest

ERIC WELCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 months AGO

Matchwood brewer Cole Hooper chats with an attendee in front of "Ester the Tiny Tap Truck."
Photo by ERIC WELCH

Local band RFB entertains festivalgoers.

SANDPOINT — As the temperature rose Saturday, attendees of Beerfest at the Beach were chilling with a little help from local brewers.

The 10th edition of the annual event was organized by the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce and featured nine regional businesses and 24 different beverages on tap.

“We’re throwing this as a community event to raise money, but also to bring the community together,” chamber director Mickey Quinn said of the purpose of the event.

Beerfest is enabled each year by the participation of dozens of local volunteers. On Saturday, 30 members of the community donated their time. “It takes an army to put it on,” said Quinn.

In addition to setting up and taking down the event, volunteers helped throughout the day by pouring beer. Under Idaho state law, retailers cannot serve patrons at an event with a non-profit alcohol permit.

Volunteer Lyle Hemingway, who poured at the Matchwood Brewing Company booth, was thrilled to be a part of Beerfest. “It’s wonderful. Meeting a lot of people, making people smile — we like that.”

While Hemingway served drinks, Cole Hooper, a brewer at Matchwood, chatted with attendees in front of “Ester the Tiny Tap Truck.” The repurposed airport utility vehicle was purchased from Boeing in a 2021 auction and has been modified to carry kegs and include six taps.

“I drove it down here from downtown. It’s so awesome,” Hooper said with a laugh.

Also represented at the event was Brewscape Beer Co of Hayden. Dan Pearce, a self-described “beer geek,” was happy to make the trip north for the day.

“When is it ever an issue going to Sandpoint on a nice sunny day? Drinking beer and hanging out — it’s not a bad workday.”

Local beer and wine enthusiasts will have plenty of opportunities to gather throughout the summer. Kaniksu Land Trust is hosting “Pairings in the Pines,” a food and wine event in the Pine Street Woods on July 11. Later, Schweitzer will host Northwest Winefest on July 20-21 and Fall Fest, a four-day beer festival, Aug. 30-Sep. 2.