The first Bothell Beer Festival will take place on Oct. 18 from noon to 5 p.m. on “Festival Street” between Main Street and 183rd Street in historic downtown Bothell. The event features a dozen local breweries, Carolina Smoke BBQ and live music provided by Commander Mojo and the Horns of Discontent as well as The Dogtones. The event is sponsored by the Bothell Chamber of Commerce and the city of Bothell.

A dozen local breweries are participating, including McMenamins which is renovating Bothell’s art deco-style Anderson Building into a 70-room hotel and brewpub. Foggy Noggin Brewing has brewed a beer specifically for the Bothell Beer Festival – BB14 is an English Pale Ale that uses a special hop blend from Crosby Hop Farm. Eighty percent of the hops in the beer are added very late in the brewing process to create big hop aroma and flavor. Other participating breweries include Dirty Bucket Brewery, Brickyard Brewing, Lazy Boy Brewing, Mt. Pilchuck Brewery, Beta Brewing, Triplehorn Brewing, 192 Brewing Co. from Kenmore, Twelve Bar Brews, Salish Sea Brewing and Hi-Fi Brewing Co.

The festival ends at 5 p.m., but the party goes on: The Hop & Hound on Main Street will be the official ‘After Party’ destination where select beers that were featured at the event will be on tap. It’s a great way to end the day with one last pint.

A few local hotels are offering special discounted rates exclusively for guests of the Bothell Beer Festival.

Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. The ticket price includes admission to the event plus a mug and six tastings, additional tastings are available for purchase.

For tickets and more information, go to www.bothellbeerfest.com.