Celebrate locally crafted brews, music and community this weekend at Vancouver BrewFest’s ‘Spring Edition’ charity event

VANCOUVER — The popular Vancouver BrewFest, usually held in the summertime, is back for a two-day “Spring Edition” this weekend. The Spring Edition Vancouver BrewFest, which features 70 beers from 35 craft breweries as well as cider, mead and wines, will be held from 4 to 10 p.m., Fri., March 17 and from noon …

VANCOUVER — The popular Vancouver BrewFest, usually held in the summertime, is back for a two-day “Spring Edition” this weekend.   The Spring Edition Vancouver BrewFest, which features 70 beers from 35 craft breweries as well as cider, mead and wines, will be held from 4 to 10 p.m., Fri., March 17 and from noon to 10 p.m., Sat., March 18 at Esther Short Park at 605 Esther St., in downtown Vancouver.   The charity event benefits four nonprofit groups this year: the Mount St. Helens Institute, which offers educational programs Pacific Northwest’s most active volcano; Northwest Battle Buddies, a nonprofit that connects wounded veterans obtain a service dog; Disabled American Veterans, a national veterans’ assistance group with a local Clark County chapter; and Second Chance Companions, a volunteer-run no-kill organization that helps place pets throughout Southwest Washington and the Portland metro area.

If you’re worried about the rainy weather, don’t be — the BrewFest organizers have already set up tents and heaters to keep BrewFest drinkers merry and warm throughout the two-day event.   And, while the BrewFest focuses on quality craft beers — many of which are made right here in Clark County — the event also boasts musical acts, a space to watch the first and second rounds of the March Madness basketball games, food vendors and more.   Tickets for the event are available online at vancouverbrewfest.com/tickets and range in price from $7 for designated drivers who aren’t planning to sample the beers, ciders, meads or wines to $30 for an “all star” pass that includes two-day entrance tickets, a pint glass, 20 event tokens and a free raffle ticket to win a big-screen television. For more information about the event, visit vancouverbrewfest.com/faqs.

Following are a few of the Clark County breweries that will be serving craft brews at this year’s Vancouver BrewFest, Spring Edition:   Brewery: Amnesia Brewing Address: 1834 Main St., Washougal Beers: Copacetic, an IPA and Milk of Amnesia, a stout beer Brewery: Trapdoor Brewing Address: 2315 Main St., Vancouver Beers: Hazed Up New England, an imperial IPA and El Sobrante, a milk stout Brewery: Fortside Brewing Address: 2200 N.E. Andresen Road, Vancouver Beers: Kanaka, a saison; Cocoa-fied, a firkin-style beer; and the Double Baked Porter Brewery: Old Ivy Brewing Address: 108 W. Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver Beers: Corn Star, a cream ale and Patio Pale Ale Brewery: Railside Brewing Address: 309 N.E. 76th Ave., Vancouver Beers: Railside Red Ale and Derailer, an imperial IPA Brewery: Mill City Brew Werks Address: 339 N.E. Cedar St., Camas Beers: Zech Bavarian Hefe and the brewery’s Kolsch-style beer Brewery: Heathen Brewing Address: 5612 N.E. 119th St., Vancouver Beers: Mighty Craic Irish Red, an Irish red ale and Carnage IPA To see a complete list of breweries, cider-makers and meaderies coming to this weekend’s Vancouver BrewFest, Spring Edition, visit vancouverbrewfest.com/the-brewers.