Snallygaster beer fest in D.C. to feature eight premier Belgian breweries

The Snallygaster Beer Festival in Washington, D.C. is one of the premier beer festivals in the U.S.A. This years edition, which will be held on Saturday, October 9th, will feature no less than 200 different breweries from around the world, and over 450 different beers.

The location is a beautiful one. I attended on a gorgeous autumn day in 2018, and the festival was a blast. This from the festival website: “With the Capitol building as our backdrop, Snallygaster lives smack dab in the heart and hubbub of DC on Pennsylvania Ave NW between 3rd & 6th – a location that provides a huge footprint to allow for fewer, quicker lines along with plentiful seating, shaded areas, restroom access and room to roam. As always, we strongly discourage driving to the event – for many reasons, not the least of which is that there truly is no parking to be had. Instead, take the metro or grab a cab. You’ll be glad you did.”

The festival is about more than just drinking beer. This from the festival website:
“450+ BEERS BY 200+ BREWERS
20+ FOOD TRUCKS & VENDORS
2 STAGES & VERY COOL BANDS
WINE, SPIRITS & FUN GAMES”

General admission tickets, called the Kraken PASS, are available here.

Among the breweries in attendance will be eight of Belgium’s most beloved: Brasserie d Blaugies; Brasserie Cantillon; De Ranke; Brasserie de la Senne; Brasserie Dupont; Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen; Brouwerij St. Bernardus; and Gueuzerie Tilquin.

Jean Van Roy, Brewmaster, Brasserie Cantillon, at Zwanze Day, September 25, 2021.

A few Brasserie Cantillon beers were enjoyed at the brewery in September 2021.

While the festival beer list is huge, I’ll just focus on the Belgian ones. I have visited all of the above breweries multiple times over the years, and in fact, was just at four of the eight in September. Three of the eight-Cantillon, 3 Fonteinen, and Gueuzerie Tilquin-are among the most highly regarded lambic producers in the world. Blaugies and Dupont are two of the premier saison breweries in the world, and De La Senne, De Ranke, and St. Bernardus are legendary breweries with a long heritage of producing stellar beers.