As a beer nerd, attending the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest has been on my bucket list for a while, and finally this year the stars aligned for me to be in central California at the time of the event! This was the 13th year of FWIBF and it absolutely lived up to the hype.
The day was full of incredible beer, delicious food, fun live music, and relaxing vibes, all for a good cause! Proceeds from the festival benefit Paso Robles Pioneer Day, a local nonprofit dedicated to preserving the unique history and culture of Paso Robles.
The event is incredibly well organized with an app for attendees to download ahead of time with the participating breweries, tap lists, food menus, live music schedule, frequently asked questions, and the ever so important map! On the app attendees were also able to vote for the People’s Choice Award winner which was presented to Everywhere Beer Co. in Orange, CA this year. I was able to visit their taproom in their first year open and was very impressed.
Paso Robles Event Center is the home of the fest and there is plenty of shade, misters, and seating areas to keep folks comfortable. Plus, breweries and sponsors got creative with their offerings to keep things cool and fun as well. Cocktails at beer fest? Beer slushees? Jello shots? Yes yes and yes please!
Overall FWIBF did not just feel like another run of the mill beer fest—there is intentionality and unique touches that set this event apart.
On top of the festival itself, Firestone Walker makes a weekend out of the event. On Friday they organize a block party the day before the fest that is open to the general public with live music, barbeque, FW beers, and guest taps. Then on Sunday the weekend rounds out with Brews and Brekky at the taproom with guest beers and a special brunch menu. The Papas Con Chorizo Pizza I had at brunch alongside a pour of Anna from Hill Farmstead was perfection!
My Top Beers
The 2026 fest featured over 70 breweries from around the world, and what makes this fest even more special is that the brewers/owners themselves are present pouring the beers for attendees, not just volunteers or bartenders. You’ve got the experts onsite sharing their passion and knowledge which was amazing! Here were my top pours:
Blessed Purr collaboration brew from Horus Aged Ales in Oceanside, CA and Anchorage Brewing in Anchorage, AK
Blessed Purr is a bourbon barrel aged blend of double oaked and triple oaked Imperial Stouts with Democratic Republic of Congo vanilla beans, Madagascar vanilla beans, raw coconut, and toasted coconut added. Yes I did in fact start a beer festival with a 21.66% ABV Imperial Stout. Yes it was my absolute favorite beer of the day! This is an insanely great beer from two of the absolute best Stout producers in the country.
Soft Kitty, Warm Kitty, Little Ball of Fur, Happy Kitty, Sleepy Kitty, Purr Purr Purr from Horus Aged Ales in Oceanside, CA
This crazy beer is an Imperial Stout aged in Pappy Van Winkle 20 year bourbon barrels, then William Larue Weller bourbon barrels, and finished in Blanton's bourbon barrels with Democratic Republic of Congo vanilla beans added. I just continue to be amazed by the insanely good beers Kyle is creating!
Samuel from Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro Bend, VT
Samuel is a Farmhouse Ale with buckwheat, spelt, and Vermont wildflower honey aged in wine barrels and then bottle conditioned. Although I’ve had Samuel many times, it’s not a beer you pass up when it is available! Always an absolute gem.
Smoke & Stories from Fidens Brewing in Albany, NY
Smoke & Stories is a quadruple dry-hopped Double IPA brewed with Citra, Nelson, Superdelic Cryo, Egger's Special, Motueka and Motueka Hop Kief hops. This was a classic Fidens banger—silky smooth, packed with flavor.
Just One Thing…Nelson! from Green Cheek Beer Company in Orange, CA
This is an all-Nelson double dry hopped Imperial IPA with hand selected 2022 Nelson Sauvin. I love an all Nelson IPA so this was a delight! Green Cheek had a fun set up at the fest as well that was absolutely poppin’. I also loved that they had some of their hop partners pouring cans for folks in the line so you were able to try more than one of their beers while just waiting once. They also had slushees and sliders!
Hana Select Lager from Bierstadt Lagerhaus in Denver, CO
Hana Select Lager is a Czech Pale Lager brewed for International Women’s Month with 19th century Hana Valley malt and Czech Saaz hops. Bierstadt obviously crushes the Lager game but this was even better than their standard Helles or Slow Pour Pils in my opinion. A little bit unique, a lot bit great.
Delia from Birrificio Italiano in Limido Comasco, Lombardia Italy
Delia is a bottom-fermented Italian Pilsner with floor-malted barley and German hops. An Italian Pilsner straight out of Italy unsurprisingly slapped. The foam and slight bitterness were exactly right. Pleasantly surprised!
Dark Watchers collaboration brew from Alvarado Street Brewery in Monterey, CA and Brujos Brewing in Portland, OR
Dark Watchers is a Hazy Triple IPA. Alvarado Street had a fun set-up at the fest pouring out of a car they had to get there on a trailer. Definitely a banger!
Poetica 3 from Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro Bend, VT
Poetica 3 is a Czech-inspired Pilsner brewed with a single decoction mash process, Czech Saaz hops, fermented with Czech and German lager yeast in a French oak puncheon. I was lucky enough to have a pour of this tasty beer at their taproom at the end of 2025, so when I saw it on tap at the fest I knew it would be a perfect, refreshing beer.
Achromatic Vibes (2025) collaboration brew from Side Project Brewing in St. Louis, MO and WeldWerks Brewing in Greeley, CO
Achromatic Vibes 2025 is a non-barrel aged Imperial Stout finished on raw and toasted coconut chips and a blend of vanilla beans. This was a solid offering from two great breweries. A coconut Stout will always be one of my favorites!
15 Years Cuvée from Oxbow Brewing Company in Newcastle, ME
15 Years Cuvée is a barrel-aged Farmhouse Ale blended to celebrate Oxbow's 15th anniversary. The blend incorporates threads of barrel-aged batches of all five of their original farmhouse ales: Arboreal, FPA, Noel, Oxtoberfest & Space Cowboy. Oxbow is always great in my eyes, and I can’t wait to visit some of their spaces when I am up in Maine next month! Their Portland taproom with Duckfat fries is chef’s kiss.
My Top Bites
FWIBF also partners with area restaurants and there were 20 different food vendors providing delicious bites to pair with the brews. My favorites were:
Benny’s Pizza Palace and Social Club in San Luis Obispo: Detroit-style Pizza
Pizza and beer? Say less. This sample of pizza was absolutely delicious! As a Michigander I always love a Detroit-style pie, and this one was a great rendition.
Street Side Ale House in Paso Robles and Atascadero: Street Mac
This rotini pasta with house-made pepper jack cream, pepperoncini, bacon, toasted rosemary, and parmesan definitely had a kick, but was packed with delicious flavor! It was a great grab while waiting in the Green Cheek line!
Della’s Wood-Fired Pizza in Paso Robles: Mortadella Sandwich with whipped ricotta and pistachio pesto
The bread on this sandwich was particularly great! Perfect snag to get some substance between pours.
I am bummed I missed the Watermelon & Citrus Shrimp Ceviche from Union & Vine in Atascadero as well!
Cheers to such an amazing fest and weekend of events! The next festival I am attending is Hill Farmstead’s Festival of Farmhouse Ales next month and I can’t wait!
