The Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Festival has become one of the most consistent and well organized festivals on the craft beer calendar and this year did not disappoint. The list of breweries and beers was mind blowing, the food choices were fantastic and varied and the music quite entertaining. While this year's event felt a bit more crowded, the crowds were well behaved, and though the lines could get quite long they were a lot of fun and it allowed one to slow down a bit and enjoy your beer. I've said it before and will say it again, this is my absolute favorite festival of the year and the organizers hard work should be commended. They take what must be an organizational nightmare and make it look easy.

The line to enter wrapped around the block!

You've got to move fast to get tickets.

Now you can drink and drink we did

Don't forget your glass

Adam Firestone greets guests with Firestone Walker and Three Floyd's collaboration beer Ol'Leghorn a delicious pale barley wine.

The Lion, David Walker, with his adoring fans.

Pouring Ol Leghorn

The beer, I can't say enough about the great beers and brewers who attended.

The food was great too

It was warm not as hot as last year, but the shade tents and misters provided welcome relief.

The crowds of satisfied craft beer geeks

5050 Eclipse aged on Pappy Van Winkle barrels, what!?

Even though the Bruery won the crowd favorite award, everyone had good things to say about Garage Project from New Zealand. The international brewers who attended the festival were all fantastic. This attention to world craft beer helps make this festival a special one.