There are many ways to slice the awesome pie that is the Firestone Walker Invitational. I bet that you (yes, you!) have already picked out multiple breweries that you will be mapping out before the doors open to the 2019 version.
I have broken the list down into (4) categories: Untasted, New, Returning Favorites, Just Do NOT Skip and Line is too Long
Untasted – These are the breweries that I, personally, have not had beer from and are new to Paso Robles
Balter Beer – from Australia, lovely and simple can designs and a beer list that looks All American
Austin Pinthouse – not many Texas breweries in attendance.
Casey – Colorado beer returns to the Fest with their open fermentation beers
Great Leap – Chinese beer? Yup, this is great to see.
New – new to FWIBF but I have had in the past and will be visitin’ their booths
pFriem – You could argue they are the high flyers of Oregon
Odell – Old School but rarely seen. Will 90 Shilling be appearing?
Blackberry Farm – Saisons for days. Good combo with Fonta Flora
Returning Favorites – Don’t sleep on these breweries just because the names are familiar
Arizona Wilderness – If they had project in their name, they would be swamped
Sante Adairus – great saisons and experimental beers
Fonta Flora – great indigenous ingredient beers x2
Creature Comforts – there was a reason they had the fest collab beer
Do NOT Miss- They may be old school or overlooked but should NOT be
The Rare Barrel – I have not had a bad beer from them.
Russian River – STS Pils all day.
Barrelworks – special pours and always near the music stage
Lines TOO Long – may have the IT beers but can’t waste time in these lines
WeldWerks, Garage Project, Monkish, Trillium, Side Project