Seventh Cabin Fever Brewfest brings 650

Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter | Feb 14, 20190

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People convene around a portable fire pit Feb. 9 as the evening gets underway at the indoor/outdoor Brewfest.

On a snow-draped seventh annual Palouse Cabin Fever Brewfest Feb. 2 no beer lines froze.

Organizers for the colder-than-usual indoor/outdoor event in Palouse made concessions for weather, adapting the layout of the brewers' canopies in case of wind, and sending a pickup to retrieve three kegs and taps from Bellwether Brewing Co. in Spokane.

Once underway, the evening went as planned.

"We just had to keep the beer flowing so it won't freeze," said volunteer Janet Barstow, a member of the town's "Brew Crew," which puts on the benefit for Palouse Community Center.

Of this year's sold-out 650 tickets, 60 were not used.

"We thought it would be a lot more, due to the weather," Barstow said. "It was awesome. It was a fun crowd. We were just so happy it went well."

Volunteers sold Brewfest stocking caps, brats and pretzel necklaces and handed out free popcorn. A total of 10 brewers participated, pouring samples of 33 craft beers from 3 to 8 p.m.

Winners were Anonymous IPA from Rants & Raves (Moscow); Maple Bar from Mountain Lakes, Spokane, and Spiced Peaches & Cream from Laht Neppur, Waitsburg.