Houston Brewfests have historically fizzled out, had issues with paying vendors, or flat out failed, but that’s not the case for Wild West Brew Fest. Far from it.
Wild West Brew Fest is the longest-running Houston brewfest clocking in at eight years strong, and it’s with good reason. We had a blast last year, and we’ve been anxious for 2020.
We spent some time picking the brain of WWBF’s mastermind, David Loesch, on why WWBF has stood the test of time. A few Houston beer industry hard hitters helped by weighing in as well.
“The one thing I will say from my personal experience is that The Wild West Katy Beer Fest is over all our favorite event to participate in each year. The event has an amazing following of passionate aficionados who come out to say howdy to us year after year. We are always impressed with the dedication the leaders and volunteers show in their organization and thoughtfulness.”Troy Witherspoon VP of Sales at Buffalo Bayou Brewing
“My first interaction with WWBF was something that exceeded my expectations by far. Great crowd of craft beer lovers, easily accessible samplings, and just a well-thought-out and fun vent.”Randy Rodriguez GM at No Label Brewing Co.
There’s a festival just about every other weekend, but there’s not another Houston brewfest that has the loyalty of industry veterans like Troy and Randy. These guys have events of their own every other weekend, so committing to a big festival isn’t something they take lightly.
Wild West Brew Fest is clearly something special, and they’ve managed to keep that special feeling growing year after year. It’s partially due to the philanthropy of the event with every dollar being donated to worthy causes. Last year they gave another $100,000 to causes like Child Advocates and disaster relief as well as community organizations like FFAs, YMCAs, and school programs for Katy and Fort Bend ISDs. The giving total is over $800,000, and they’ll be at 6 figures soon.
They’re able to give away so much money because each year is better than the last, drawing out repeat attendees year after year – the Beer Chronicle team included. 2020 has something in store for every attendee. From the most upper-echelon of VIP to the regular attendee, this Houston brewfest is stepping up a notch (or several).
The goal is that every patron, no matter the ticket level, has a VIP experience, and the higher up the VIP ladder you climb, the more VI you feel.
How big is the Wild West Brew Fest this year? 130+ Breweries from more than 15 states 650+ Beers 5 Food Trucks 3 Massive Generators 1,333 Gallons of Diesel Fuel 2 Fuel Tankers 7’ Trophy for Best Brew and Best Bites 4 Commercial Dumpsters Full of Recycling 4 Bands 14,760 Square Feet of VIP 26,000 Square Feet are Climate Controlled
The farthest brewery in attendance is Kona from Maui, Hawaii, and the closest is No Label, just up the road. It’s clear that Wild West Brew Fest has exceeded the Houston Brewfest moniker and is becoming a “best in Texas” sort of event, so we had to ask…
Every year tops the last. How will this year be better than last year?
David explained with a calm, assured, tone, “It’s 2020, and we’re locked in with perfect vision – a new vision for what the Wild Brew Fest will be for Katy, and beyond, for Texas. We’re stepping up our game, and the VIP Hop House is going to be next level. Think Ritz Carlton or 4 Seasons. The silent auction will have the same level of service leaving our patrons with a feeling of importance and exclusivity, unlike any beer experience that has come before it.”
They’re stepping up the game for non-beer strikers as well, further making Wild West Brew Fest a destination.
The wine tent last year was well received, and it’ll be expanded this year. Cider options and hard seltzer will be making an appearance for those buzzing about something other than beer. We’re hoping to see some from BAKFISH.
Houston’s been growing year after year when it comes to beer, and there are a bunch of awesome bars and breweries where you can try dozens of beers, but there isn’t a single place in the Great State of Texas where you can try 650+ beers, so get your tickets now.
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Anthony's a Houston native, a Creative Strategist at https://ledgeloungers.com/, an adjunct instructor of Visual Communication at Lone Star College, and a UH Coog that loves good beer almost as much as he does his city. Anthony lives to help others and that's found a home helping some of the coolest breweries on earth with creative and marketing projects that can be seen on our Portfolio page. Fueled by hoppy lagers, sessionable IPAs, and gangster rap, he's ticked his way through H-Town, rocking the most unusual Nikes he can find. When he's not writing for us, he's with his family or very patiently rooting for the Rockets.
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