"Moooore Bourbon!"
Every year the Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival comes to National Harbor, and every year we countdown to its return. What's better than all the beer, bourbon and bacon you can handle? Nothing. This was my second year experience the greatness that is the Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival and once again it did not disappoint.
For those of you who have never been, BBBBQ is an outdoor festival that tours to a few cities primarily across the east coast. However, the last stop is in Nashville so I suggest that all of my Alabama friends check it out!!
It has unlimited tastings of 40 bourbons and 60 beers on tap, BBQ vendors, live rock and blues music, cigars, free samples, games, vendors and free giveaways.
There is usually a VIP ticket and a general admission ticket. We tend to do the VIP ticket because it includes two extra hours of admission (aka drunkenness) and access to the VIP tent, which includes free bacon and whole hog meat, a nicer bathroom, more beer tastings, and a bourbon ice luge.
Free tasting glass and "hands free" glass holder
VIP Tent
VIP Cherry bourbon ice luge
VIP delicious piggy and band
Main Stage
In the general area there are multiple tents with different beers on tap and different bourbons to try. You just go up to the vendors with your tasting glass and they will pour you some. This is the second year I've been, and they've never run out of any of the products. I am a new fan of honey bourbon and honey whiskey. I'm usually more of a vodka cocktail person, but this is great by itself with a little ice!
Last year there were free cigars, but this year you had to buy them all. There were, however, lots of free samples of BBQ sauce, hot sauce and other goodies.
Kevin and Jeff after trying the hottest hot sauce!
You can't really tell, but this is Firefly Sweet Tea + Lemonade + Bourbon = Deliciousness
The food is also amazing! I had a pulled pork sandwich and fries and Kevin had a brisket sandwich and fries. The BBQ vendor we went to had a bunch of different sauce styles from around the country-- including "Bama Pearl," which is their take on Alabama's famous white BBQ sauce.
Speaking of Alabama BBQ, I saw someone rocking a Big Bob Gibson's BBQ shirt and another guy wearing a Dreamland BBQ shirt. Represent!
For dessert, you can't get better than a fried Twinkie and a fried Snickers! They also had fried cheesecake, fried Oreo's and funnel cakes.
So bad, yet so good! Fried Snickers
Towards the end of the day the boys decided to go on a "one beer, one bourbon" drinking fest. Of course.
Shots!
Lastly, who wears a white shirt to a food and alcohol festival? At least he's representing the Crimson Tide with his elephant polo.
