With capacity limits and a takeaway option, Brouwer's Cafe announces details for the Hard Liver Barleywine Festival.

In a few short weeks, the Pacific Northwest region will have suffered the 1st anniversary of the coronavirus pandemic. What started for some as a punchline about a certain beer from Mexico, has resulted in countless thousands losing their lives, their jobs, and their homes. For those forced to work in-person instead of from home, each day is another day when they or a customer will contract COVID-19. And like the countless billions, they are mentally and physically fatigued, looking forward to a day when things are back to normal. 

image courtesy Brouwer’s Cafe

One of those who has suffered through this pandemic, while attempting to manage a business, is Brouwer’s Cafe. In the historic Fremont neighborhood, the award-winning public house has grown from a sit-down restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, to one with limited seating, online food and beer takeout. Through it all, owner Matthew Vandenberghe and his staff watch the weeks creep by, as seating capacities expand and contract based on the whims of state leadership. 

And as one of the few destination public houses in the country, known for not only their hospitality but their annual events, Brouwer’s Cafe has cancelled annual, in-person, events ranging from Back in Black, to Hopfest, to Big Wood. Unfortunately, 2021 also marks the first year that a perennial event, the Hard Liver Barleywine Festival, won’t be celebrated in person. Instead, the leadership at Brouwer’s is pivoting to something unique.

Starting February 25th and concluding on February 28th, Brouwer’s Cafe will have 12 - 16 barleywines on draft. Besides draft barleywines, Brouwer’s is offering a “Hard Liver: The Home Game”, which includes 6 to 8 bottled barleywines, with details still being completed before the February 21st pre-order. For the management, this decision is surreal.

Last year if you would have told us that the next event we’d hold after Hard Liver would be  Hard Liver again, we’d have to have cut you off from service. Unfortunately, that is exactly what  happened and soon after last year’s festival we all entered into a pandemic lifestyle that made  such events impossible for us to host. Well, though things remain tentative, we can see a light  at the end of the tunnel.

For those who choose to attend Hard Liver during the four days, there will be restrictions in place.

Because of capacity limits restricted to 25%, the max accommodation per table is six, and a max of three households at the table. Indoor seating will be capped at 5 per table and they will ask parties of six to sit outside. Also, unlike previous years, the staff will restrict “glass sharing” between table guests to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

We know there is a lot of sharing that happens at our festivals as  people aim to try as many of the offerings and this year. We simply cannot allow that to go on  this year; don’t hesitate to ask for an extra glass or two. 

Lastly, those who choose to get a take-home box of pre-sorted barleywines from Hard Liver, can purchase them on February 21st, via Brouwer’s Cafe’s online store. After, the first available day to recover them will be February 25th.

Giving the staff and ownership the last word, they had this share regarding this decision and what’s in store for 2021 and hopefully the future. 

We know it isn’t ideal and we wish we could burst open the doors like we used to, but this is  the best we can offer right now. We hope to see some of you that weekend for one of our  favorite events!

For more information on Brouwer's Cafe, visit https://www.brouwerscafe.com/. 

About Brouwer’s Cafe

We have 64 craft beers on draft, a selection of over 400 bottles from both the U.S. and abroad, an exceptional selection of Scotch and American Whisk(e)ys and a full service bar, and Belgian-inspired cuisine.

Our Belgian-inspired cuisine includes our versions of Belgian classics such as pommes frites (true Belgian fried potatoes), stoofvlees (a thick Belgian stew served on Frites), and the Belgian staple of moules-frites. We also serve a variety of sandwiches, such as our very popular lamb burger, which is ground in house. We also have a selection of salads, desserts, and a rotating specials menu.

We serve Seattle's Fremont neighborhood seven days a week, opening at 11 am. Our "Power Hour" is from 3 pm to 6 pm everyday and boasts a delicious selection of small plates and $1 off all draft beers and well cocktails.