05/29/12 – The Old West Brew Fest

Words and Photography By: Stephen Williams

I love craft beer. To me, there is nothing more delicious than the diverse flavors derived from the combination of barley, hops and yeast. Over the last couple decades, American craft brewers have introduced us to and pushed the limits of every style of this refreshing, carbonated beverage and there is no better place to sample the goods than at a good old fashioned beer fest. Every spring, in conjunction with Old West Days, the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce holds the Old West Brew Fest on the Town Square, and if you’re a beer lover in Jackson, there is no excuse not to be there. Even a hangover from the Rotary Club’s Wine Fest, which always happens the night before, can’t keep a crowd from filling the tent on Deloney Street at 11:00am. Regional breweries line the walls of the tent with their finest on tap ready to speak to you about their craft and serve you up some samples.

To survive a beer fest, you need a strategy that will allow you to last through 5 or 6 hours of tasting without losing control, and it can’t involve spitting out the samples. My plan always starts with a good solid breakfast and a couple Redneck Mimosas (beer and a splash of orange juice) before I hit the fest. If you charge into a beer fest thirsty, you are in for long day. I always try and stick to a particular style so I can draw some comparisons from brewer to brewer. This year, I wanted to try as many wheat beers and hefeweizens as I could. These beers are high in flavor, and typically lower in alcohol, so they made for a perfect afternoon enjoying samples with friends. Check out my tasting notes from a few of the highlights below. Cheers!