20th Elysian Great Pumpkin Beer Fest tapped into the communal greatness of the gourd

Beer lovers grab their pints and thirst to attend a beer festival. While there are events for cicerones and drinkers who love to parse the complexities of the hops, Elysian has always taken a different approach to its annual fall event. At the 20th Elysian Great Pumpkin Beer Fest, the greatness of the gourd was on full display, and everyone was ready to celebrate.

In the shadows of Seattle’s Space Needle, beer drinkers grabbed their tasting glasses and eagerly anticipated the tapping of the signature pumpkin keg. While that one moment might be the ultimate experience of the evening, it is one of many experiences that make this Elysian beer event far different than just another drinking festival.

Over the years, Elysian and its loyal fans appreciate that the beer brand is more than just any brew. From the creative names to the visually compelling imagery on the label, the anticipation prior to that first sip is just as important as the liquid in the can.

Every release tells a story. From the celestial hoppiness of Space Dust to the easy drinking Fields Lager enjoyed before a Seahawks game, the brewing team hums along with a passion to stand out in a crowd. Even if people might pause after that first sip of Mr. Yuk or long for the day when the Chucky inspired Wit could make a triumphant return, the reality is that Elysian will always surprise, impress, and make people thirsty for more.

As many pumpkin beer enthusiasts know, Elysian was a pioneer in this space. Long before pumpkin spices filled any and every pint, the Seattle based brewery knew that a seasonal brew that celebrated the harvest would have a loyal audience. When the flavor is balanced yet bold and never loses sight of the beer’s hoppy foundation, they would have a brew that would be highly coveted.

Since beer is often best enjoyed with others, the Great Pumpkin Beer Fest is that celebration of the harvest, pumpkins, and the fun of drinking beer. To be clear, this event is not for the person who wants to do a deep dive or have a long-winded conversation about hop growing techniques and their influence on the final product. It is time to grab a glass, drink beer, and have fun till the music stops playing.

This year, I was fortunate to attend both nights of the 20th Great Pumpkin Beer Fest. With an empty glass and beer tickets in hand, I started pursuing the 80 different offerings. From the tried and true Elysian favorites to specialty offerings from other brewers, the sheer amount was almost overwhelming. Although no one should have drunk every single beer, especially in a single night, being able to sample a hefty amount of the offerings was definitely doable.

While everyone will have a favorite beer from the event, the Great Pumpkin Beer Fest is not just about drinking beer. It is a celebration of people who love great beer but do not want to be pretentious about it. As seen by the crowds, the special event brought together people from every background, and they happily joined together over their love of a satisfying sipper.

This year’s theme was orange. Even though the color unity was quite apparent, the interpretation of that theme showcased people’s creativity. It was more than trying to win the annual costume contest. The outfits were a conversation starter. Personally, as I stood in line to fill my glass, I couldn’t help but ask people about their inspiration, how many times they had attended the event, and what was their favorite part of the night.

People’s responses varied but one fact unified almost every answer, it was about the community. While some people raved about a mead in the back corner or stalked their prime real estate to get the first pour from the tapped gourd, everyone was smiling, laughing, and enjoying the moment. There might have been a fortune teller foreseeing people’s aura, but no one needed to be psychic to predict that this annual event will always be a highly coveted ticket for Elysian fans.

Throughout both nights, many guests had attended the festival since the beginning. They would happily tell stories when the concept first started and how it evolved. The event space might be bigger, but the heart of the event remains. It is why these people will mark the date on their calendar and return time and again.

While I wove my way from beer tasting to special performances to even watching a pie eating contest, it was amazing to see that everyone felt unencumbered to celebrate being themselves. Whether they were wearing a full costume, a swatch of orange, or none of the above, everyone was welcomed with open arms and raised a glass to beer drinking.

People shared stories, made recommendations for the must have beer or cheered when someone won the carnival game. In some ways, that captures the free-spirit, creativity, and community that Elysian brews into each and every beer it makes.

Now that the 20th Great Pumpkin Beer Fest has smashed its pumpkins for the season, it is time to open another Night Owl at home and even enjoy a Punkuccino float on Halloween night. Even though my house is much quieter than that weekend in Seattle, one sip of those seasonal beers brings back all those amazing memories. It is time to smash another can in honor of the great gourd.