Looking Back at the 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

D.J. | June 3, 2015 | Beer events, Beer to do list, Beer Travel | 1 Comment

With more and more beer festivals joining the beer circuit every year it’s an uphill battle to make each festival unique and appealing. Across the country there are a few that have met this challenge and have strong notoriety and consistently push the envelope. One such fest is the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest. Held each year in the brewery’s hometown of Paso Robles, California this is one of the hottest beer festivals in the country. Tickets sell out within minutes and the beer offerings put forth are simply amazing.

This past weekend Firestone Walker Brewing hosted its 4th Annual Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest (FWIBF). After attending this well organized festival for the past two years it’s difficult to imagine a better quality beer festival in all of the United States. It is definitely up there with the annual Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beers held in Chicago, Illinois along with the granddaddy of them all, the Great American Beer Festival held in Denver, Colorado.

What sets the FWIBF apart from the others is that the festival was truly designed for both the craft beer fan and craft brewer in mind. The brainchild of famed Firestone Walker Brewmaster, Matt Brynildson, he surely knows how to bring in the cream of the crop in all of craft beer.

Matt Brynildson on stage at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

“The Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest was born from a dream of creating a world-class festival featuring not only the best brewers in the world, but brewers whom we feel are leaders in the craft beer revolution,” says Brynildson. “This is a day where we can all put down our sales and marketing pitches and simply commune and share our beers and stories with people who are truly interested in craft beer.”

So what makes the FWIBF so special? It’s more than just the 50 world-renowned breweries that are in attendance, it’s the high quality beer that all of these breweries tend to showcase during the fest. Brynildson has a solid network of friends in the brewing industry to pull from and this he does this oh so well. Its pretty rare to see the founder of Russian River Brewing, Vinnie Cilurzo, pouring jeroboams of 6 year old Temptation to the delight of attendees that just happened to be at the right location at the right time.

Vinnie Cilurzo of Russian River pouring 2009 Temptation at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Another highlight of the FWIBF is that one of the main requirements is that a brewer is required to be in a booth pouring its beers throughout the festival. This is rare to see here in Oregon as most fests here rely on volunteers. Its great to see that the person pouring your beer is educated on what is being poured into your glass.

Beyond this its great that this all inclusive fest also features some of the 20+ top Central Coast restaurants and live music from acts such the Small Kicks and Jackie Greene. Plus the event is a fundraiser for the Paso Robles Pioneer Day Committee. This group is dedicated to the preservation of the unique history and culture of Paso Robles with 100 percent of the net proceeds going to Pioneer Day. This festival is also a great opportunity to show people from across the United States and around the world what Robles and all that the Central Coast has to offer.

Every year at the FWIBF attendees get to vote for the People’s Choice Brewery and People’s Choice Restaurant. 2015 winners include 3 Floyds for the brewery and Sugar Lips San Luis Obispo for restaurant.

Some of the top beers tasted this year include:

3 Floyds Barrel Aged Dark Lord Coffee Variant & Zombie Dust
Firestone Walker Barrelworks Feral Vinifera & Bretta Rosé
Russian River 2009 Temptation & STS Pils
Trumer Brauerei Dry Hopped Trumer Pils
Surly Todd the Axe Man IPA
Marble Brewing Red Light Lager
Revolution Brewing Café Deth & Fist City
Sierra Nevada Port Barrel Aged Narwhal
Birrificio Italiano Tipopils
Bagby Beer Of Kolsh!
Lagunitas Mango Daytime Firkin
New Belgium Pear Ginger Beer
Side Project Thicket
Boneyard Beer Femme Fatale Raspberry Tart

With well over 175 different beers pouring, all top-notch beers I beg anyone that attended to find a bad beer in the bunch.

I am definitely looking forward to the 2016 edition of the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest less than a year from now. Do yourself a favor and put this one on your calendar. But before we bid farewell to this year’s Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest, here’s a photo recap from the past weekend.

Video Showing the General Admission Entry at the FWIBF

Paso Robles Event Center and Home of the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest Banner

The crowd gathers before General Admission gates open at Noon at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

The crowd before the Noon entry at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Ian Greene and Mark Henion holding down the Boneyard Taps at the 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Festival.

Italy’s Birrificio Italiano Tipopils at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Bells pouring at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Germany’s BraufactuM Roog at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Cornhole at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Australia's Bridge Road Brewers at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest — Australia’s Bridge Road Brewers at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Ian Roberts & Dean Hudgins from Seattle's Pine Box and Adam Robbings of Reubens Brews at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest — Ian Roberts & Dean Hudgins from Seattle’s Pine Box and Adam Robbings of Reubens Brews at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Three Floyds at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest during VIP Hour

Dick Cantwell, formerly of Elysian Brewing, in the New Belgium Tent at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Festival Grounds at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Brewpublic's D.J. Paul drinking a 3 Floyds Big Tiddy Assassin at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest — Brewpublic’s D.J. Paul drinking a 3 Floyds Big Tiddy Assassin at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Firestone Walker 805 Trailer at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Bagby Beer at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Misting Tent at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Harvey's Honeyhuts at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest — Harvey’s Honeyhuts at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Jackie Greene on stage at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Jim Crooks, Jeffers Richardson and David Walker popping magnum's of Feral Vinifera at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest — Jim Crooks, Jeffers Richardson and David Walker popping magnum’s of Feral Vinifera at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Jeffers Richardson & David Walker pouring Feral Vinifera at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Jeffers Richardson pouring magnum's of Feral Vinifera at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest — Jeffers Richardson pouring magnum’s of Feral Vinifera at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Jeffers Richardson and David Walker with magnums of Feral Vinifera at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Jeffers Richardson and David Walker pouring magnum's of Feral Vinifera at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest — Jeffers Richardson and David Walker pouring magnum’s of Feral Vinifera at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Lagunitas Pouring Mango Daytime at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Sierra Nevada Tawny Narwhal aged in Port Barrels at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Firestone Walker Barrelworks Booth at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Land Rover at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Marble Brett IPA at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Trumer Pils at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Water on Tap at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

David Walker pouring a rare beer at the 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Boneyard Bus at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest Brewers Camp

Brewers Campground at Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Boneyard Bus at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest Brewers Campground

Bone Light pouring at 2015 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest Brewers Camp

Is Brewery Branding getting in the Taco Truck Business at FWIBF?

Entry to Firestone Walker Visitors Center

Inside the Firestone Walker Visitors Center

Firestone Walker Brewery Lid — Firestone Walker Brewery

The Brewers Tap inside the Firestone Walker Brewhouse

Tanks inside the Firestone Walker Brewery

Barrels used for brewing Firestone Walker Double Barrel Ale (DBA)

Brewing Firestone Walker Double Barrel Ale (DBA)

The Lion and The Beer on an Outside wall at Firestone Walker Brewery

Matt Brynildson with Davide Walker and Polly Walker inside Firestone Walker Barrel Room

Barrels aging inside Firestone Walker climate control barrel room

Helldorado straight from the barrel at Firestone Walker

Beer Traffic Control at Firestone Walker

The Taproom Firestone Walker — The Taproom at Firestone Walker

The Lion's Land Rover - David Walker of Firestone Walker — The Lion’s Land Rover – David Walker of Firestone Walker

Tags:Agostino Arioli, Birrificio Italiano, Collaboration Beer, Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Festival, FWIBF, La Piccola, Matt Brynildson, Paso Robles

About The Author

DJ

D.J. is a Portland, Oregon based writer that spent his formative years in the Midwest. With over 25 years under his belt of drinking beer at festivals across America and the world, he has developed a strong appreciation and understanding of craft beer and the industry that surrounds it. He can be found in any of the great breweries or beer bars that make Portland the best beer city in the world. His writing can also be found in the archives of Northwest Brewing News and can be followed on Twitter and Instagram at @hopapalooza.

One Comment

Angelo June 4, 2015

Great post Deej!