The Phinney Neighborhood Association held its second annual Summer Beer Taste Saturday, rhis year it fell on "quatorze juillet," or Bastille Day, so the event was coined "Beerstille Day."

Bright red t-shirts worn by staff, and for sale, pictured a cartoon guillotine "beheading" a mug of beer with the phrase: "Quaff With Their Heads!"

A thirsty mob of over 200 stormed the Phinney Center's courtyard to taste over 20 ales offered by 14 area brewers. Ballard's Barking Dog Alehouse, an event sponsor, served brats, while a live band played beer garden songs to punch up the party.

Chardell Paine, Phinney neighborhood special events director, sais the board made the right decision to hold the event outdoors this year.

"It was inside last year, but this courtyard area has just been updated with decorative fence and plantings because we hold our new farmers market here," she said.

Andrew Parker is on the board of directors, and assisted Paine with Beerstille Day. He also helps host the Ballard Art Walk.

"I like the nice, open feeling of this year's outdoor event," he says, holding a beer he describes as "nice, dry, and hoppy."

Attendees started arriving at 3 p.m., and paid $30 to enter, $25 for Phinney Neighborhood Association members. They could sample up to ten beers, and were handed a guidebook and ballot to elect their favorite ale. At the event's conclusion three hours later, Paine announced that Ballard's Maritime Pacific Brewery won. Its Ballard rival, Hale's Ale, also garnered a lot of votes.

Maritime Pacific Brewery representative, Geoff Sampson, served up the winning IPA, "Islander Pale Double Dry-Hopped." Now that's a mouthful. Sampson explains proudly, "Our brewers did a great job balancing flavors with the double dry-hopping, the combination of Cascade hops and Amarillo hops. The Cascade added a citrus flavor. The Amarillo rounded it off with nice floral hop flavor."

This ale earned a vote from beer aficionado, Mike Matale, of Pittsburgh, who is on a month-long brewery tour of America. He stopped at the event while sipping his way down the coast toward San Diego in his Jeep Cherokee, camping at national parks. Matale is vague when asked why he voted for this beer.

"I don't have a complex rating system," he says. "It's a gut feeling, in my stomach, my heart. I have enough experience to know." Matale may be an expert, but says he is no snob, and believes beer-tasters, and brewers, are an easier-going crowd than their fancier, wine-tasting cousins.

"Certain wineries like to feel smug and pretentious about their product," he says. "But breweries are willing to share what they know and recommend other brands. Beer-tasters aren't snobby either, and don't try to feel superior. Look at the parking lot out here. We got some old pickup trucks and beat up Hondas. It's not Lexuses and Mercedes. It's people who really come together to have fun."

Rick Sabbagh, who also knows his beer, lived in Germany six years. He was in the service, then worked for a software company there. He now works for the game company, Cranium, and, as a hobby, taste-tests beer.

"I have written over 2,000 reviews for the online magazine, Beeradvocate.com," he says. "One of my favorite beers is the Kolsh, brewed by Baron right here in the Seattle," he says, adding sentimentally, "I had this beer in "Koln," what we usually call Cologne. It's difficult to make here. It's very light, delicate, perfect for summer. All the ingredients have to be German, except the water. When I drink it, it transports me back to Koln."

Brian Digel was enjoying the Cut Throat IPA, by Stix Billiards and Brewhouse, located in the South Lake Union neighborhood. "I like the way it cascades when you pour it," says the Phinney Ridge resident. "It starts out with a big frothy head. It looks like you've got a lot of foam, yet you have a full glass of beer at the end. It's a beautiful thing."

Steve Shay may be reached via bnteditor@robinsonnews.com