Sumner Festival to Feature Exclusive Rhubarb Brews

On August 3 and 4, fans of craft breweries will have a chance to sample exclusive offerings by three local microbreweries.  The Rhubarb Barrel House at the will feature craft brews from Northwest Brewing Company, , y, and 7 Seas Brewery.  Music, food and a magical setting will round out the Barrel House experience.

The Rhubarb Barrel House will be open 3-11 pm on Friday, August 3, and 3-10 pm on Saturday, August 4.  Admission is $20 for 6 taste tickets and includes a Pilsner Souvenir glass.  Admission to the Rhubarb Barrel House without taste tickets if free but guests must be over 21. 

Northwest Brewing Company will be featuring such brews as rhubarb blonde, Midnight Ale, Mango Weizen.  Duo Brewing will be offering American Wheat Beer, Porter, and Belgian Golden Ale. The Belgian is made with honey from Heavenly Honey Farms in Puyallup.  Puyallup River Brewing Company will feature South Hill Pale Ale, Electron IPA, Fryingpan Cascadian Red Ale, Paradise Blonde Saison and Strawberry Rhubarb Farmhouse Saison.  7 Seas will be offering Cutt’s NW Amber Ale, British Pale Ale, Ballz Deep Double IPA, and Port Royal Export Style Stout.  Sumner’s own Dixie’s will offer all-American fare for food options, including food specifically offered to pair with the brews. 

Nothing goes with microbrews like music, and the Rhubarb Barrel House will feature a variety of performances.  On Friday, Doug Clerget from The Bachelorette will kick off the Rhubarb Barrel House Main Stage leading to Randy Linder’s Creedence Clearwater Revival Tribute and Party with May Day.  On Saturday, the Best Brew Battle will get things started before performances by The Diamond Experience, a Neil Diamond Tribute, and Ten O’clock Curfew. 

Puget Sound Energy will add to the atmosphere to the Rhubarb Barrel House with Light Up the Park, adding hundreds of white lights to brighten the event. The Rhubarb Barrel House is located in Sumner’s Heritage Park, which was built in 1995-1996 to include an area for dancing and a gazebo to replicate Sumner’s original bandstand on that location. Amy Ryan’s book The Sumner Story shows a picture of the Sumner Town Band, including Dr. Corliss whom she described “rendered guitar solos with excellence” in 1895.  One of Dr. Corliss’ descendants will be playing with MayDay. 

The Rhubarb Barrel House is one of many events making up the Sumner Art & Rhubarb Pie Festival, August 3-4 in Downtown Sumner.  Other events include the Great Rhu-Bate, the Great Rhubarb Race, Rhubarb Wood Carving Contest, Rhubarb RAW!, , Kid Valley, and more.  For more information, visit www.sumnerfestival.com.