Brew at the Zoo, one of the biggest beer- and animal-fests in Washington, will bring the best of both worlds to the National Zoo Thursday night as Friends of the National Zoo hosts the sold-out festival among the lions and elephants. Here’s a rundown of the event by the numbers.
162: Kegs storing 2,511 gallons of beer to be guzzled by festival goers.
74: Craft breweries serving their beers, from local spots such as 3 Stars and Mad Fox to Louisiana’s Abita, Otter Creek in Vermont, and more. It’s the biggest number of participants ever, topping last year’s collection of 60.
11,200: Pounds of ice chilling the beer, though the heat and humidity may drive that number up.
100: Pounds of ice that J. Paul’s approximates going through for its two kegs—32 gallons each—serving an estimated 1,000 people.
$110,000: Average amount raised by the event, but the 2014 Brew at the Zoo could top this estimate. Proceeds benefit animal care and conservation at Smithsonian’s National Zoo. Overall, the event has generated about $880,000.
2,000: Animals of nearly 400 different species living at the 163-acre zoo, attracting nearly 2 million visitors each year.
9: Number of years Brew at the Zoo will have been held at the National Zoo since 2006.
3: Years the event has included a beer-naming contest, where the public creates and votes on wildlife- or conservation-themed beer names. Pale Alephant scored the win last year, with Zebrew as the judges’ favorite in 2012. This year Port City is making a special beer just for the event, which will be named as part of the contest. Our top choice: Running Red Panda Ale (oh, Rusty).
40,000: Families who are now FONZ members since the organization was created in 1958.
