I’m a big proponent of not driving to beer festivals. I’ll take the bus, walk, hop in an Uber or use whatever other transportation can get me there and back without driving. But, taking Amtrak for a day trip to a beer festival would be a first for me.

Coming up on Saturday, April 23, McMenamins 20th Annual Olympic Club Brewfest will take place in Centralia from 1pm  to 11pm. The event will feature beers and ciders from a variety of McMenamins locations throughout Oregon & Washington, as well as at least 15 other guest breweries/cideries. You can see a prelim list of participating breweries below. There will also be live music and food specials.

If you book at least two weeks in advance (by this Friday, April 8), you can get 25% off your Amtrak fare to Centralia. There are three trains departing Seattle’s King Street Station that will get you to Centralia prior to the 1pm start time. Then, there are three trains back to Seattle that depart between 4:21pm and 8:21pm. It looks like the round-trip ticket will cost $37 per person, which seems pretty reasonable.

Personally, the only time I’ve ever been to Centralia is to stop at Dick’s Brewing while driving through. This seems like a great excuse for a day trip to a place you probably haven’t spent much time.

More info from McMenamins:

20^th Annual Olympic Club Brewfest

McMenamins Olympic Club Hotel + Theater

112 N. Tower Ave. Centralia, WA
Saturday, April 23, 2016 | 1-11pm | Free Admission | $13 per 10-sample taster punch card |All ages welcome in the pub; 21 & over only in the brewery and theater

Participating Breweries

McMenamins: Mill Creek, Roy Street, Olympic Club, The Spar, Old St. Francis, Anderson School, Edgefield, McMenamins on the Columbia, East Vancouver

Guests: Fish Brewing, Dick’s Brewing, Heathen Brewing, Loowit Brewing, Elliott Bay Brewing, Diamond Knot Brewing, Scuttlebutt Brewing, Fremont Brewing, Red Ox Brewing, North Jetty Brewing, M.T. Head Brewing , Schooner Exact Brewing, Bale Breaker Brewing  Sun River Vintners, Spire Mountain Cider and more!

Amtrak Cascades Offer

Get 25% off your Amtrak ticket to Olympic Club Brewfest when you book by April 9^th! No promo code necessary – just visit amtrakcascades.com to book your tickets. Amtrak is also partnering with McMenamins to offer buy one, get one free tickets on all 18 stops on the Amtrak Cascades line, whether you’re traveling north or south. Pick up your buy one, get one free voucher at any McMenamins location April 1 – 15, then purchase your ticket atamtrakcascades.com or any Amtrak station (some restrictions and blackout dates apply; Offer good through April 15, 2016).