OK, time to get off my butt and start posting some of the pictures from all of the great beer events in August. August is a busy month when it comes to beer, and given that my birthday falls in the later part it gives me excuse to try to hit up as many of the events as I can (which is why I have deemed the entire month of August my “birth month”). The month starts out with a bang at Brewery Ommegang with Belgium Comes to Cooperstown and then immediately steps up its game with the Festival or Farmhouse Ales at Hill Farmstead (followed by the largest bottle share I have ever seen in my life) and rounds out the end of the month with the Night of the Great Thirst at Ebenezer’s and the Tree House Anniversary dinner at Armsby Abbey. Let’s just say it was a busy month.

Some of the events at Hill Farmstead include more things than others. Some, like last year’s Harvest Festival include a handful of drink tickets and subsequent beers cost you an additional $5 for each drink ticket . With FoFA, all of the beer is included as well as new glassware, and I will never turn down new Hill Farmstead glassware. It’s my favorite style of glass and what I use to drink beer out of at home 99% of the time. The festival also marked the release of this year’s Vera Mae, Hill Farmstead’s saison brewed with dandelions harvested on their property, and the Grassroots’ collaboration with Anchorage Brewing Co., Arctic Saison. Lucky members of Collected Works also received their bottles and crate from Leaning Maples Woodcraft as well as had a little tasting of their own before the main event. Needless to say, this day was a big effing deal. Let’s get to the pics, shall we?

One of my favorite things about the festival was that everyone involved was a part of the beer industry. Local bar and restaurant staff all came up to pour, and even the brewers from the respective breweries showed up to pour their beers, like Chase from Prairie Artisan Ales.

Pouring West Ashley from Sante Adairius Rustic Ales.

Sexy shot of SARA’s Belgian Specialty Ale.

Mike!

Jeppe of Evil Twin and Chad of Crooked Stave. I smell a collaboration in the making…

The crew from Tired Hands.

The NJ crew and Dennis from Stone lookin’ good!

Paul from The Mule Bar gettin’ his pour on.

Shaun and fam enjoying a little White Buffalo.

Couple of shots of The White Buffalo

Some much needed grill action.

Couple shots of the goods from the Cellars at Jasper Hill.

Love this one of Scott from Three Penny Taproom. Looks as scruffy as a junkyard dog here.

Elise and Ruth having a chat over some Jasper Hill cheese.

Jeff from The Farmhouse Tap and Grill just being a damn boss.

Love the colors in this pic of Shaun and Bob. And Shaun’s facial expression.

The raffle for Mimosa and Ann.

Good to see Phil out from behind the taps and enjoying himself.

Shaun and a couple of beer geeks.

I wasn’t even trying to take this shot but damn, it turned out nice. Last line of the day before the end of the festival.

After the festival we headed back to our tent, already set up by The Show Sherpa. It cost $75 for two people and not having to worry about setting up your tent before the festival or worry about taking it down in the morning was perfect. The cots were comfy and even Kuma made himself at home. Jay from The Show Sherpa also provided a canopy and some tables for us to bottle share at, grills and a few other supplies. Money well spent and I’ll do this again the next time I see it offered.

As I said earlier, the bottle share afterwards was the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen. Bigger and more organized than even the bottle shares I’ve been to at Peg’s and Cigar City for Hunahpu Day (I’ll get to those pics… some day.) The first beer of the day, for me at least, was a hell of a way to start. Barrel Aged Everett.

Oh you know, just a 3L bottle of Jackie O’s Oil of Aphrodite.

Diego is one sexy son of a bitch.

Cedar Zhukov knocked my socks off.

Whole lotta NJ love was shared that day.

Great bunch of guys off to the side doing their own thing.

Kumquats killed it. Thanks Adam!

Zack trying to kill a few people with Double Black.

A little moment. And Almanac beer.

Best label ever?

Ruth and one of her favorite breweries, Oxbow.

Evan and one of the Barrel Select beers from Captain Lawrence.

Jay manning the grill. I think we’re skipping Parker Pie next year and just doing this instead.

Great shot of Joey and Jackie O’s Dark Apparition.

One last one just before the sun sets. Just god damn beautiful country up there.

This is one of the best festivals I’ve ever been to and definitely the one HF event I’ll try to hit every year. It’s well organized, the beers and people are fantastic and the bottle sharing is amazing. Everything top notch. This is the event I will look forward to the most next year.