This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. by Kirby Lindsay, Septemin The Seattle Press.You Did What?!?, or Oktoberfest, A Background.For more information, visit the website or call 206/633-0422. Spirit samplers (scotch and tequila) cost $10 for a self-guided flight of 5-quarter ounce tastes or $30 for 8-quarter ounce tastes of single malts, blends and vatted whiskies. General admission to Hop Scotch is $25 ($20 in advance) and includes tokens to sample beer and wine. He expects to see that with Hop Scotch, as it provides, “something new, something different,” and should be deemed worthy of rearranging a few plans He aims for the 3 rd weekend of September, and a ‘Fall feel,’ yet, “we are not a neighborhood festival anymore,” Megenhardt stated proudly, and last time the weather turned foul, “an audience came, in spite of the rain.”Įventually, a festival “hits a critical mass,” Megenhardt described, “people care about the festival,” and make plans to attend whenever it takes place. “What’s the weather going to be,” Megenhardt mused. Megenhardt does work to find the right date for Fremont Oktoberfest which, unlike Hop Scotch, takes place outdoors and faces a more serious problem. “What hurts festivals is if they take a year off,” he explained, such as the one-time possible cancellation of the 4 th of July Fireworks display on Lake Union. Otherwise, he seemed largely unconcerned about conflicts from other events. In general, “you don’t want to be on the same weekend as Bumbershoot,” Megenhardt admitted. Photo by Patrick Wright Photography, 2009 Hop Scotch provides a way for small vendors and discerning drinkers to meet and learn about one another. Hop Scotch covers two days and has room for everyone, provided they are 21 and over. Hops & Props only happens for 3 hours Saturday night – and sold out weeks in advance. No one checked, and as a result they’ve created some confusion, lost a couple of distributors (while gaining others), but don’t expect to see fewer attendees. One event they previously avoided, Hops & Props, a members-only gathering at the Museum Of Flight, this year takes place on the same weekend. In years past, Hop Scotch has been on the same weekend as the University District Street Fair, and Megenhardt admitted that they’ve deliberately chosen that. Bold Hat also organizes the Fremont Oktoberfest, Kirkland Uncorked and, this year, the Fremont Street Fair. “You always have competition in this town,” he said, about choosing a date. In shifting the date, Megenhardt didn’t fear losing attendees – or distributors. Ultimately, though, the festival raises funds – this year for the Seattle International Film Festival, coming May 20 – June 13.
In addition, they offer samplers of scotch and tequila, with experts on-hand, including Ari Shapiro, an authentic ‘Master of Whisky’, to discuss tastes and palette, and lead seminars. They offer samplings of over 60 handcrafted microbrews, import beers and small lot wines – specifically from new spring collections. It has also grown to be so much more than beer. Most people assumed Hop Scotch took place outside, because of its generously-large beer garden. “We call it the Spring Beer Festival,” Megenhardt said, “and this is still spring.” This year’s date change also came at the behest of the venue management, and moved the Festival up a week or two to April 23 & 24. According to Megenhardt, the date shift grew the audience exponentially. The event moved to Fremont four years ago, but the selected venue ( Fremont Studios – 155 North 35th) asked to move the date to May. “People thought it was going to be outside,” he said, as most people think ‘outdoors’ when they think ‘beer garden’. Phil Megenhardt, owner of Bold Hat Productions and Event Producer, explained that the first few years they had people show up bundled in coats, hats and gloves.
Originally called ‘Hops on the Equinox’, the festival took place around March 2st at Seattle Center. Over the seven years of the Festival, it has changed name, location and dates enough times that it may well become part of the fun of Hop Scotch. Photo by Patrick Wright PhotographyĪs Hop Scotch comes early this year – a change the organizers of the Spring Beer & Scotch Tasting Festival expect most fans, and new visitors, to take with equanimity. The crowd at the 2009 Hop Scotch Festival in Fremont Studios.
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