Two Special Events in West Seattle Tonight

January 26th, 2012 · Events, Washington Breweries

Beveridge Place Pub will be pouring some very special beers from Black Raven Brewing tonight, and right next door the Feedback Lounge is teaming up with Two Beers Brewing and Beer Church to host a fundraiser for The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, where you can win some sweet Pearl Jam memorabilia.

At Beveridge Place Pub:

THU, JAN 26, 7PM
BLACK RAVEN FEATURE NIGHT!
We have a fine selection of very special beer from the faraway land known as Redmond, including London Kawwing Best Bitter, Beak Tweaker IPA, Coco Jones Porter, Wisdom Seeker Double IPA, and a Hoppy SOB on cask!

At the Feedback Lounge:

Two Beers Brewing and Beer Church present:
“Two Beers (or more), a Benefit for CCFA”
Join Two Beers Brewing and Beer Church as they raise money for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America with Pearl Jam music, videos and memorabilia!
What:                 
Join Two Beers Brewing and Beer Church at Feedback Lounge in West Seattle on Thursday, January 26 for great beer, great music and the auctioning off of autographed Pearl Jam memorabilia in support the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA).
Featuring the final two kegs of Midnight Mass – the limited edition beer brewed by Two Beers Brewing Co. for Beer Church in support of CCFA – attendees will enjoy Pearl Jam music and videos, accompanied by a silent auction and raffle featuring Pearl Jam memorabilia. All auction proceeds will benefit the Northwest Chapter of CCFA.
A cause with a personal connection for Two Beers Brewing founder and head brewer Joel VandenBrink – who was diagnosed with Crohn’s three years ago – CCFA is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to finding the cure for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and improving the quality of life of children and adults affected by these diseases.
Why the Pearl Jam theme? Mike McCreedy, guitarist for Pearl Jam, was also diagnosed with Crohn’s. As a supporter of CCFA, his fundraising and outspokenness about Crohn’s has helped raise awareness and put a recognizable face on an otherwise unknown disease. This event honors his continuing contribution.
When:
Thursday, January 26, 2012
7–10 p.m.
Where:                 
Feedback Lounge
6451 California Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98136
Who:
This event is 21+ and open to the public; no cover charge

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Beer List Released for Upcoming Belgianfest

January 25th, 2012 · Events, Uncategorized, Washington Breweries

If you were waiting for the beer list before making a decision on whether to attend Belgianfest coming up on Saturday, February 4, the list follows below. There are a lot of beers I’m interested to try on there.

The Washington Beer Commission is proud to announce the beer list for the 3rd Annual Belgianfest beer tasting festival at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center (Pier 66) on Seattle’s waterfront. The event will feature 32 Washington Breweries pouring more than 70 unique, creative and amazingly tasty Belgian style, Washington brewed beers.

Belgianfest will have two sessions on Saturday, February 4, beginning with a Noon – 4:00pm session, followed by 5:30pm – 9:30pm on Saturday evening.

The Bell Harbor International Conference Center is located at 2211 Alaskan Way, Pier 66, Seattle, WA 98121. Tickets are available now at Brown Paper Tickets and are $30 in advance or $35 at the door per session. This event sold out the last two years so don’t wait!

7 Seas Brewing
Gig Harbor
1) Le Havre Belgian Winter Ale
This seasonal offering is fashioned with reverence towards the long-standing tradition of Trappist Abbey-style beers of Belgium. Brewed with Pale Ale malt, oats, and dark crystal malts, hopped with Fuggles, and fermented with authentic Belgian Abbey yeast, the ale reveals intricate layers of spice, fig, bitter chocolate. ABV: 8.0%

American Brewing Company
Edmonds
1) Big Pucker
Wood Barrel aged Sour Beer. Double Flanders Sour Ale aged in a used, oak Cabernet Franc Barrel.

Anacortes Brewery
Anacortes
1) Peppercorn Saison
A lighter 4.5% ABV Belgian farmhouse style made with several varieties of fresh cracked peppercorn.

2) Dubbel
A strong dark ale made with demerara sugar, honey and chocolate wheat.

3) Trippel
A strong 8.5% ABV light colored ale hopped for balance with saaz and styrian golding varieties.

4) Sour Red
Red ale soured with lactobacillis and brettanomyces aged in a bourbon barrel passed between multiple breweries.

Big Time
Seattle
1) Jack Candy Grand Cru
Jack Candy is a pale Belgian style strong ale fermented with both Westmalle and Achouffe yeast strains. Saaz hops lend bitterness and spiciness. The name was inspired by a Walkabouts Song. 9.3% ABV

2) Black Jack Candy
Black Jack Candy is our Belgian style Grand Cru with aseptic Blackberry puree added.
9.3% ABV

3) Trombipulator Belgian Tripel
A nearly 1-year-old 1/4 bbl keg of our Trombipulator Belgian style Tripel features Fuggle hops, and Westmalle yeast. This was original brew #666 1st brewed in 1994 – named after the Parliament Album Trombipulation.
9.0% ABV

Black Raven Brewing
Redmond
1) Belgian Style IPA
Northwest IPA that has been through a secondary fermentation with brettanomyces. Dry hopped with calypso, nugget, citra and Chinook. 7.3% ABV

2) Bourbon Barrel Aged La Petite Mort
Belgian style strong abbey brown aged in bourbon barrels. 8.8% ABV

3) Cask Saison
Four grain saison with brettanomyces. 6.6% ABV

Boundary Bay Brewery
Bellingham
1) Belgian Style Tripel
Strong in alcohol, our Belgian Style Tripel is golden in color, medium bodied and moderately hopped. The flavor and aroma are both dominated by alcohol and Belgian yeast. It has a nice malt backbone, is spicy, slightly earthy and finishes dry. Hops: Tettnang, Saaz. Malts: Pilsner, Belgian Aromatic, Caravienne, Munich, Special B, Vienna Original Gravity: 1.082 ABV: 8.9%

Diamond Knot Brewing Co.
Mukilteo
1) Strong Belgian IPA
Crisp golden in color with a complex yet delicate flavor with a big hop-forward aroma, that gives away to citrus and floral tones. This will leave you begging for another. IBU: 40 ABV: 7.3%

Elliott Bay Brewing Co.
Burien
1) Batch 1000 Sour Blend
2) Long Black Veil
3) Nitwit Imperial Wheat (cask)
4) Brandy-barrel-aged Fuerte Strong Ale
5) Saison de la Chance Redux

Elysian Brewing Co.
Seattle
1) Yuzu’s Belgian-style Golden Ale
Yuzu’s is made with 100% pale malt, Turbinado sugar and Belgian Golden ale yeast. Bittered with Magnum and finished with Styrian Goldings hops. Organic dried lemon peel is added at the end of the boil, and yuzu juice is added both pre- and post-fermentation. 4.5% ABV

2) Bete Noel Belgian-style Ale
Brewed with Pale, Munich, Castle Aromatic and roasted barley and black malts, with amber Turbinado sugar added to the kettle. Bittered with German Northern Brewer, finished with Hallertauer hops and fermented with Belgian Golden Ale yeast. 8.5% ABV

3) Krokus Saffron Sour Wheat Ale
Brewed with pale, malted wheat, flaked wheat and wheat flour and hopped with Hallertauer and U.K. Fuggles. Infused with American saffron and fermented with the 4th generation sour tank collection of yeasts and bacteria. 6% ABV

4) Ferme noire Cascadian Dark Sasion
Our dark and hoppy ale fermented with a Saison yeast. The resulting beer adds a bone-dry, barnyard twang to an already slightly roasty and moderately hoppy beverage. Malts: pale, dark Munich, aromatic, and Carafa III Sugar: 50 lbs of Demerara Hops: Chinook, Amarillo, Cascade 8.2% ABV

5) Backhanded Compliment Belgian IPA CASK
Backhanded Compliment Cask version dry-hopped with Citra. Brewed with organic pale, Munich, Cara-Hell and Cara-Vienne malts and bittered with Chinook and finished with Amarillo and Citra hops. Fermented with Westmalle yeast. 6.2% ABV

6) Bete Blanche Belgian-style Tripel
A twist on the French expression “Bête Noire.” Brewed entirely from Pale malt and augmented in the boil with clear Belgian candy sugar. Bittered with German Northern Brewer and finished with Styrian Goldings hops. Fermented with Belgian ale yeast. 41 IBU. 6.9% ABV

7) Nibiru Belgian-style Tripel
Infused with Yerba Mate
Combining the tasty esters of Belgian yeast and the compelling tea-like flavors of the South American herb mixture. A mixture of German Northern Brewer, Czech Saaz and American Amarillo hops round out the uniqueness of this first beer of the Apocalypse. 7.65% ABV

8- The Prefessor
With plums and brettanomyces, Marris-Otter pale, Munich and wheat, and East Kent Goldings to bitter and finish, at the Tangletown brewery. 4.65% ABV

Engine House No 9 Brewery
Tacoma
1) Love child Kriek
5.9% ABV Ruby in color with a pink head. Aromas of cherries and oak. With a cherry and slight sour flavor finishes bright and clean.

2) Bourbon Saison
7.8% ABV Traditionally brewed saison, aged in bourbon barrel. With aromas of oak, bourbon, vanilla, clove and hints of sour. Giving way to flavors of banana, cloves bourbon and hints of sour finishing clean and dry.

3) Belgian White
5.0% ABV Grainy spicy wheat aromatics with hints of coriander and orange. Pleasant malt sweetness with zesty citrus, coriander and subtle spicy hop flavors. Finishes with a slight wheat tartness

Fish Brewing Company
Olympia
1) Monkfish Belgian Style Tripel Ale
A cracking fine example of the classic style, Monkfish Belgian Style Tripel Ale is the color of nectar, with a sweet malty flavor and subtle hop aroma. Mingling in its character, fruity and spicy esters impart a heavenly complexity to this medium-bodied delight. Brewed using Pale malt, Honey malt, aromatic malt, Belgian candy sugar, Styrian Golding hops and, of course, Belgian Abbey yeast, Monkfish stands firmly in the Belgian triple tradition. 32 IBUs 9.0% ABV

Fremont Brewing Co.
Seattle
1) The Lamb
Saison aged in French Oak wine barrels with brettanomyces lambicus.

2) Return of Blood Funnel

Gallaghers Where U Brew
Edmonds
1) The Monk
A delicious Belgium Triple with a smooth 8.5% fruity bite. Coriander and orange peel add to the decadence of this ale. The use of Orange peel during the dry hop adds to the amazing aromatics of this popular brew.

2) Black Imperial Belgium
The use of our Belgium yeast allows the fruity character of this beer to stand out. Its dark color compliments the full body mouth feel and is enjoyed by all.

Georgetown Brewing Co.
Seattle
1) Frosty “The Waldman”
In the Winter Warmer tradition, this dark ale is brewed strong with Pale, Pilsner, Special B, Crystal, and Chocolate malts, and 10 lbs/bbl of rich molasses boost the holiday cheer. Northern Brewer hops contribute the bulk of the bitterness, while Sterling hops, cinnamon sticks, and nutmeg add a spicy nose. Fermented with a Belgian ale yeast strain to lend a smooth and complex character. ABV 7.6%, IBUs 40

2) Waldman
Modeled after an English Ordinary Bitter with a few decidedly Belgian stylings, Waldman is brewed with Northern Brewer hops and 36 lbs of Belgian Candi Sugar then fermented with a Belgian ale yeast. We finish with Brettanomyces “Wild” yeast strain and a heavy does of dry hops. The Brett is carried over to the bottles where Waldman continues to develop complex flavors throughout the bottle conditioning. ABV 6.1%, IBUs 35

Hale’s Ales
Seattle
1) Hale’s “25″ Belgian Dubbel
The first edition of this beer was brewed to celebrate Hale’s Ales 25th anniversary in 2008. True to style, Hale’s “25″ Belgin Dubbel is moderately strong, very malty and possesses the unique flavor characteristics imparted by Belgian yeast. 7.3% ABV, 20 IBU’s
2) Hale’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Belgian Gold
Hale’s Belgian Gold is made with Pilsner, C-40 and Carapils Malts with a blend of various sugars. The beer is hopped with Goldings. This delicious beer has been aged in bourbon oak barrels for most of 2011. The combination of the wood and whiskey overtones combined with the belgian beer flavors makes this beer a true delight. 9% ABV, 15 IBU’s
3) Hale’s Belgian Wit
A classic, unadulterated Belgian Wit brewed with no spices. Crisp, refreshing and slightly tart. 4.8% ABV, 5 IBU’s

Hilliard’s Beer
Seattle
1) Hilliard’s Saison
Simple beer, complex taste and aroma. A special yeast and unique fermentation profile give this beer hints of coriander, orange peel, and maybe a bit of pepper. Castle Malting Pilsner Malt and Golding Hops, no spices added. 7.4% AVB

Issaquah Brewery
Issaquah
1) White Frog Ale
Belgian Style Ale: Summer Wit Beer. Aromas of coriander and orange spice dominate the nose. A very light mouthfeel is countered with sweet orange peel, coriander and subtle notes of chamomile. It finishes with delicate banana and clove spices. Surprisingly light and immediately quaffable. ABV: 5.2%
2) Menage A Frog Belgian Trippel
Menage A Frog has a brilliant golden amber color. Inviting aromas of toasty baguette, orange blossom honey, and delicate bubblegum spice follow through on a round entry to a fruity-yet-dry medium-to-full body with caramel pear and peach custard tart notes. Finishes in a bold peppery spice, delicate grassy herbal and citrusy hops, and toffee fade with lingering warming alcohol.
ABV: 9%

Lazy Boy Brewing Co.
Everett
1)Belgian Golden Ale

2)Belgian Dubbel

McMenamins Pubs & Breweries
Seattle
1) Reinhold’s Flying Armadillo Dark Belgian Strong
A nice, full bodied Dark Belgian with a mild hop presence and a flavorful malty character. Made with Wyeast Belgian Abbey II yeast. 7.75% ABV

2) Girl Next Door Belgian Blonde
This is a light bodied, smooth tasting and highly carbonated Belgian Blonde Ale. It is made with Pilsner, Wheat and Aromatic malts and hopped with US Golding hops. Brewed using Wyeast Belgian Abbey II yeast. 6.0% ABV.

Naked City Brewery
Seattle
1) La Touche De Mal
Belgian Strong Golden Ale

New Belgium
Seattle
1) Belgo
Belgian style IPA made with an authentic Trappist yeast strain and 4 varieties of hops. 7.0% ABV and 60 IBU’s

2) Trip 11 Farmhouse Ale
Farmhouse ale brewed with Rosemary and Sage. 8.5% ABV

Odin Brewing Co.
Seattle
1) Thor’s Equinox
this Belgian Dark Strong Ale is a brew that is big in flavor without the chewy body holding you back from finishing the whole glass. We have showcased malt and a unique woody note from Angelica spice, creating a beer that is still Belgian, yet can satisfy stout and strong porter lovers as well. Aroma– dark fruits and portlike notes, Top note– strong maltiness, some molasses, Middle note- malt sweetness, banana, End note– light tartness, woody, Color– dark nut brown. 9% ABV, 20 IBUs

Paradise Creek Brewery
Pullman
1) Paradise Hoe
A refreshing and traditional Belgian Wit with a nose that offers you wonderful orange, subtle banana, clove and other sweet fruit. One taste of this cloudy straw colored ale confirms what you smell and opens up notes of coriander and just a dash of pepper. The white wheat and a little oats give this beer a nice medium bodied mouth feel. ABV 5.8%

Pike Brewing Company
Seattle
1) Saison

2) Pike Monk’s Uncle
Big, full-bodied and complex with a yeasty nose, fruity esters and malty dryness. Hints of honey, spice and exotic fruit play with the senses. Powerful, yet gentle. ABV 9%

Ram Restaurant & Brewery
Seattle
1) Barrel #1
Light, tart and refreshing – a blonde ale fermented in a barrel by many a mysterious critter – 4.5% ABV

2) Barrel #2
An intensely flavored dark ale, fermented in an old wine barrel with a couple of Brett strains and hints of lactobacilius. 6.5% ABV

3) BBlage-a-trois
A blend of 3 wildly fermented bbls made exclusively for this year’s Belgian Fest.

Redhook Brewery
Woodinville
1) Allocation
Allocation is a super drinkable Belgian Session Ale. Medium in body and amber hued with ample handfuls of wheat malt to keep the beer’s finish light and dry. Mild phenolic notes from the Trappist yeast offer up mild hints of spiciness and banana. It is tradition for the Monastic brewers in Belgium to get a daily allocation of the lightest (session) beer they produce after their work is done.

Schooner EXACT Brewing Co.
Seattle
1) Schoon White
Belgian-style wheat ale brewed with Pilsner malt, wheat malt, unmalted wheat and oats. Fermented with a traditional Belgian Wit beer strain. Hallertauer hops and a subtle addition of spices including citrus zest and hibiscus make this a thirst quenching and refreshing beverage. 5.2 % ABV
22 IBU’s

2) Biere de SODO
A hoppy Belgian-style pale ale brewed with Pilsner malt, sugar and a generous helping of Styrian Golding hops. Fermented with a blend of a unique Belgian yeast and a special strain of brettanomyces, this beer is easy
drinking with an ever so slight funkiness.
6.4% ABV, 38 IBU’s

3) Abbaye de Schooner Dubbel
A Belgian-style ale brewed with a complex and distinctive blend of German and Belgian malts. Hallertauer hops, Belgian candi sugar and organic
flame raisins complement the rich, toasted, caramel malt and yeast finish.
6.9% ABV, 20 IBU’s

4) Saison Goélette
A traditional Belgian farmhouse ale brewed with Pilsner malt, rye malt, turbinado sugar and Hallertauer hops.
5.8% ABV, 24 IBU’s

Silver City Brewery
Bremerton
1) The Giant Made Of Shadows
This Dark Strong Ale is rich in big malt character, candy like sweetness, and warming alcohol. Suggestions of chocolate and dried fruits pair well with oak and vinous notes from extended aging in Tempranillo wine barrels. 9.5% ABV

2) Nutcracker 2005 Special Brown Ale
A festive beer (8.6 % ABV), Nutcracker rings in the Holiday Season with a medley of dark roasted malt, fruit and spice. Some hints of fruit (plum, cherry, peach) come from a wonderful and distinctive Belgian yeast strain. Additionally, ginger, orange and tangerine peel was added to spice things up.

3) La Fat 2007
La Fat is Silver City Fat Scotch Ale fermented with a Belgian yeast noted for creating big, spicy phenol character. La Fat goes through a secondary fermentation on French Oak. La Fat combines classic Belgian characteristics with Scotch like toffee and caramel notes with hints of oak and peat. ABV 9.2%

4) Whitecap Wit
A Belgian witbeir (white beer) brewed by award winning Seattle homebrewer Nick Ladd in collaboration with Silver City Brewmaster Don Spencer for entry in the 2011 Great American Beer Festival Pro-Am competition. Wheat and oats are mixed with malted barley to make a light and hazy (white) beer. Coriander, Fresh Tangelo and Valencia orange peel are added for a vibrant citrusy appeal. 5.5% ABV

Snipes Mountain Brewing
Sunnyside
1) Golden Ale
Belgian-style Golden Strong made with Belgian pilsner malt, clear candi syrup and NW beet sugar. Fermented with an authentic Belgian
golden strain. 9.5% ABV, 27 IBU’s

2) Darkstrong
Belgian-style Dark Strong made with three types of rye malt, dark candi syrup and aged for a year with Lactobacillus. 8.5% ABV, 28 IBU’s

Snoqualmie Falls Brewing Company
Snoqualmie
1) Triskaidekaphobia
Reminiscent of the Millennial Madness we created 12 years ago, Triskaidekaphobia is a great balance of crisp clean malt, lemony hops and spice. Unfiltered but clear to the eye, Trisky is made from 100% German pilsner malt, Belgian candi sugar, 100% Czech Saaz hops and Belgian ale yeast.8.6% ABV

2) Spring Fever
Orange hues, rich malt flavors, spicy coriander overtones and fruity, tropical aromas make this one beautiful beer for fans of Belgian styles.
Spring Fever is crafted from the finest Two-Row, Munich, Carastan and Belgian Aromatic malts, Columbus and Czech. Saaz hops, spiced with coriander and fermented with Belgian ale yeast. 7.0% ABV

Sound Brewery
Poulsbo
1) Dubbel Entendre
Comforting aromas of chocolate malt and dark toffee, with a hint of banana and stone fruits. A dark abbey style ale with a subtle rich maltiness and a dry, spicy finish. 8.0% ABV

2) Tripel Entendre
Complexity and balance from a simple recipe of the finest ingredients obtainable. Clear and light in color, this strong Belgian ale drinks smooth and easy but has the complexity to complement the finest meals or to savor alone at the end of the evening. 9.9% ABV

3) Koperen Ketel
Biscuity Belgian malt balanced with the finest Slovenian Styrian Goldings hops, Koperen Ketel has a delicate herbal, fruity aroma and a clean dry finish making for a refreshing, easy drinking copper color ale. 5.0% ABV

Wingman Brewers
Tacoma
1) Black Widow
A dark Belgian strong ale aged in a Pont21 Cabernet Sauvignon barrel from 21 Cellars. A Cab Sav nose is followed by the familiar Belgian flavors of ripe fruit and figs. 11.4% ABV
2) Cerise Noire
A light lambic influenced sour ale. Featuring pediococcus, lactobasillus, brettanomyces, and black cherry tea. 6% ABV

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Black Raven Brewing Wins Top Honors at Great Alaska Beer & Barley Wine Festival

January 23rd, 2012 · Washington Breweries

Congratulations are in order for Redmond’s Black Raven Brewing. At this past weekend’s Great Alaska Beer & Barley Wine Festival, they won 1st Place for their vintage 2010 Old Birdbrain Barleywine. This is actually the second year in a row that Black Raven has taken top honors at this prestigious festival; they won with their 2009 vintage last year. 2009 was the first year that Black Raven was open for business, and they have now won this festival with each of their first two vintages of barleywine they have produced. That is quite an impressive feat as the festival lineup includes many great barleywines, from classics such as Anchor Old Foghorn & Sierra Nevada Bigfoot, to offerings from Alaskan breweries like Sleeping Lady, Last Frontier, Midnight Sun, and Glacier.

If you’d like a taste of this award-winning barleywine for yourself, make sure to mark your calendar for the upcoming Barleywine Bacchanal at Beveridge Place Pub from February 25 to March 3, and the Hard Liver Barleywine Festival at Brouwer’s Cafe on March 3. Black Raven is hoping to have some pouring at those events, and Beaux said they’ll likely throw a keg on at the taproom very soon also.

Firestone Walker Brewing took 2nd place at this year’s festival, while Silver Gulch Brewing from Fairbanks, AK rounded out the top 3.

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Elysian Brewing & Fantagraphics 12 Beers of the Apocalypse Kicks Off Tomorrow

January 20th, 2012 · Beer Releases, Washington Breweries

If you are a believer that the Mayans were right and the world just might come to an end on December 21, 2012, then why not party it up this year and really go out with a bang? Elysian Brewing is on board and is planning to release 12 beers leading up to the apocalypse; one new beer released on the 21st of each month. They’ve teamed up with Seattle’s Fantagraphics Books, who will be putting together some cool label art for each beer.  The beers will be available on draft and in bottles for a limited time when released.

The first release for the series, NIBIRU Yerba Mate Tripel, will take place this Saturday, January 21, at the Elysian Capitol Hill brewpub from 4pm to 7pm. In addition to tasting the new beer at this event, you can pick up your Apocalypse Beer Survival Guide. If you collect survival stamps at all 2012 Apocalypse events, then you’ll be rewarded at the final End of the World Party on December 20, 2012 (you might want to take the 21st off, just in case).

More about NIBIRU:

First up in January is NIBIRU, named for the mysterious planet X supposedly on a collision course toward Earth. The Elysian / Fantagraphics Nibiru will be a Belgian-style Tripel flavored with an infusion of yerba maté. Combining the tasty esters of Belgian yeast and the compelling tea-like flavors of the South American herb mixture, the beer will weigh in at around 7.6% alcohol by volume. A mixture of German Northern Brewer, Czech Saaz and American Amarillo hops round out the uniqueness of this first beer of the Apocalypse. Oddly enough there’s another apocalyptic-themed Nibiru out there: a super volcano currently burbling most dangerously beneath Yellowstone National Park. It too is scheduled to end life as we know it very very soon.

Details of the next two beers in the series, RAPTURE & FALLOUT:

February 21 will usher in RAPTURE, an ale of opulent proportions flavored with heather tips. Unlike the various Rapture events predicted by pseudoscientists and alarmist evangelicals, the beer will be very real and frankly delicious, combining the floral fragrance and slight bite of high country heather with Northwest Glacier hops in another 7% abv beer. FALLOUT follows in March, right around the time of the vernal equinox. Fallout will be a pale ale made with green cardamom.

Some info on the rest of the series from Elysian:

As Earth’s last year unfolds, other beers will appear as if by dangerous magic. Persimmons, chilies, raisins, blood oranges, rosemary and other herbs will be integrated into ales, lagers and Belgian styles using the finest local and imported ingredients. These limited brews will be available in bottles and draft and at select bars and bottle shops.
We will celebrate as they are released – on the 21st of every month in 2012 – with events at one or the other of Elysian’s three Seattle pubs and at Fantagraphics headquarters in the Georgetown neighborhood. Once they’re gone, these beers will never be brewed again. Then again, come December 21, that will be the least of our worries.

REMEMBER: THE END IS BEER.

Find out more about Fantagraphics here.

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Snow Day: What Beer Spots are Open or Closed Today?

January 18th, 2012 · General Beer News

If you haven’t noticed, it is a bit of a mess outside. Many people are staying home today, and many businesses are not open or operating on different hours. But, people who don’t have to go into the office for work might be thinking about walking to their closest beer spot. Following are some places that have communicated that they are either open or closed today.

Know of any not on this list? Feel free to leave a comment. I’ll update as the day goes on.

Open
Hudson Public House – Open early at 2pm
Last Drop Bottle Shop – Open at 4pm
Beveridge Place Pub – Open by 2pm
Naked City Taphouse & Brewery
Pike Pub & Brewery
Columbia City Alehouse
74th St. Alehouse
Hilltop Alehouse
Brouwer’s Cafe
Brave Horse Tavern
Bottleworks
Nickerson St. Saloon
Cooper’s Alehouse
Barking Dog Alehouse
Tap House Grill – Seattle
The Beer Junction
Super Deli Mart
Chuck’s 85th St. Market
The Park Pub
Prost – Phinney Ridge – open early by 1pm today
Urban Family Public House
Elliot Bay Brewing – both West Seattle and Burien pubs
Maritime Pacific Brewery
Rock Bottom – Bellevue
Harmon Brewing – Tacoma
Mulleadys
Red Hot – Tacoma

Closed
Collins Pub
Full Throttle Bottles
99 Bottles – Federal Way
Schooner Exact Brewing
Two Beers Brewing
Black Raven Brewing
The Publican
Tap House Grill – Bellevue
Airways Brewing – Kent
Redhook Forecasters Pub – Woodinville – closing at 2pm

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The Switch From Six-Packs to Singles: The Changing Landscape of Retail Beer

January 18th, 2012 · General Beer News

Thanks to +Russ for the photo.

I remember back in college when I’d be going to hang out at a friend’s house, we’d typically all bring a six-pack that we’d take down ourselves. There wasn’t a whole lot of sharing. Breaking up six-packs to buy single bottles wasn’t an option, and the number of 22oz or 750ml bottles of beer on the market back then was pretty limited. If you wanted a good beer for at home it meant you were usually grabbing a sixer.

Flash forward to the present day, and the retail landscape is drastically different. If you walk into a local bottle shop you’ll find coolers full of single 12oz beers, as well as beers in larger sizes. 22oz bottles are the most popular, but wine bottle-sized 750ml corked bottles are also common. Six-pack sales are still a large driver of volume for grocery stores and larger retailers. But, single bottle sales are driving the current day craft beer revolution at local bottle shops. In our fridge at home, it is rare that you’ll find a six-pack of anything. It is likely that you’ll find more single bottles of craft beer than my wife would like to admit.

There are a lot of factors that have driven the switch to single bottle sales, but one driver is that many beer drinkers like to try a variety of beers. Rather than invest in a six-pack of something you have never tried, it is ideal to be able to pick up a single bottle, large or small. Breweries also often release special beers in larger single bottle sizes, as well as high alcohol offerings and beers that are more expensive to brew. To put beer in six-packs, breweries need to be able to commit to having it regularly available in large volumes. With single bottle releases, breweries can change their offerings more frequently. Lucky for us in Washington state, even if a beer does come in a six-pack most retailers will allow you to just buy a single bottle of it.

According to Tiffany Adamowski of 99 Bottles in Federal Way, WA, “We see more singles & pairs of 12-ounce bottles going out than entire six-packs packaged from the brewery. Most folks are mixing cross-brewery, cross-states, cross-countries… people like the freedom to take their taste buds on beer journeys.” While single bottle sales are more popular than six-pack sales, the smaller 12oz bottle is still more in-demand than larger sizes. Of 99 Bottles’ top 100 selling beers in 2011, 64 were 12oz bottles, 9 of them were 22oz bottles (6 of those were WA brewed beers), and there were no 750ml bottles. The other 27 beers were in other sizes, such as 11.2oz or 16.9oz.

One dilemma of buying the 22oz and 750ml bottles is that it can be a lot to finish off on your own, especially if it is a strong beer. Many of these beers are perfect for sharing, and that is often what consumers have in mind when going for the bigger bottles. But, there are plenty of times when I’m searching through the fridge and want to break open a 22oz beer when no else is around. Erika Tedin of Full Throttle Bottles (SBN sponsor) says it is common for people to come looking for larger bottles, and she estimates that about 40% of her current inventory is in 22oz, 750ml or larger sized bottles. “I see a lot of customers being willing and able to drink an entire 22 on their own. Although this past holiday, there was a plethora of beer tasting parties, where folks bring something rare or a from a particular country, then everyone shares. Unless the ABV is pretty high, most folks can drink a bottle on their own.”

If you do open a larger bottle of beer that you do not end up finishing, it is a great idea to have a bottle stopper or saver around the house. These devices go on top of the bottle and can help save the carbonation for a day or two. That allows you to enjoy those bigger, higher alcohol bottles over a couple of sessions if you prefer. Adamowski notes that they sell a lot of Universal Bottle Stoppers (from The Zanger Company). “For sharing, there certainly is that going on, but we have a lot of folks coming in to buy just for themselves, which is why we see a lot of the stoppers being sold along with the larger format bottles.”

Another factor that comes into play is the cost of beer in different formats. Generally, a six-pack offers the best value by volume, while larger bottle sizes come out a little more expensive on a per-ounce basis. If cost is a primary concern for a consumer, then six-packs are more attractive. But, for many, including myself, it is worth it to pay a little bit extra by volume in order to spend less overall because you are buying just a single bottle and not a six-pack. In recent years, some breweries have also moved to 4-packs as a way to retail some of their more expensive, high end beers. This format is especially useful in states where you can’t break up a six-pack for single bottle sales.

Regardless of what your preference is, I think we’d all agree it is nice to have the array of options when we head out to buy beer these days. With so many different styles from breweries all over the world, the choices are seemingly endless.

 

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Four Seattle Bars Make Draft Magazine’s List of America’s 100 Best Beer Bars

January 17th, 2012 · Uncategorized

When it comes to beer bars, Seattle beer drinkers are pretty spoiled. We have several world-class establishments that regularly make “best of” lists, and there are plenty others that could make an argument as well. Draft Magazine just released their 2012 list of America’s 100 Best Beer Bars, and four Seattle bars made the cut. Congrats to Beveridge Place Pub, Hopvine Pub, Naked City Brewery & Taphouse and The Stumbling Monk.

Do I think that several worthy spots from Seattle got left off the list? Absolutely. But, these are all worthy spots that I’m happy get the recognition. That is the nature of these lists.

If you are interested in what I think, here is my list of Seattle Beer News Top 10 Beer Spots from early 2011. I might revise that a little bit in the upcoming months though…

 

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Ode to Darkness Imperial Stout Tasting at Elliott Bay

January 17th, 2012 · Events, Washington Breweries

I love me some stouts. Here is an opportunity to taste three imperial stouts from Elliott Bay Brewing on Wednesday, January 25, including a bourbon barrel-aged version of their 2010 stout. This tasting will be at their West Seattle brewery.

More info from Elliott Bay:

The days may finally be getting longer, but it is still that time of year where darkness rules Seattle.  So in honor of that, Elliott Bay Brewery and Pub presents an Ode to Darkness.  We have broken into our deep, dark cellar and pulled out a couple kegs from years past of our Imperial Stout.  We will be serving a sample tray of three versions of our Imperial Stout: ’11, ’10, and ’10 aged in a bourbon barrel.  These samples will be complemented by candied walnuts and chocolate covered cherries, all for $8.00.  The event starts at 4pm on Wednesday, Jan 25th, with a meet the brewers session starting at 5pm.

A little about the beers:
2011 Elliott Bay Imperial Stout: Imperial Stouts were originally brewed for exportation from England to the Imperial Court of Russia. To survive the long transportation in the days before refrigeration the beer was strong. Elliott Bay’s Imperial Stout was brewed to a high alcohol content (9+%) but kept a drier finish, yielding strong coffee and chocolate flavors and aromas, a silky texture from the use of oats, and a dry, coffee-like bitter finish. Significant amounts of hops were used to balance out the sweetness.

2010 Elliott Bay Imperial Stout: So what does age do to a beer? Hop oils breakdown, leaving a less bitter finish; Yeast continues to do its work, fermenting sugar into a little more alcohol; Probably most importantly, oxidation occurs and time mellows the edges from all that alcohol and hops, so the beer is smooth and well-rounded, showing more of the chocolate and coffee and less alcohol and bitterness.

2010 Elliott Bay Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout: Put an aged beer in a used bourbon barrel from the Heaven Hill Distillery and you get all the benefits of aging beer, plus the flavors and aromas developed during the whiskey’s time in the barrel. Vanilla, chocolate truffle, and oak flavors emerge, creating a wholly different experience: the smoothness and rich flavors of a well aged whiskey, without the alcohol bite…the best of the beer and whiskey worlds.

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Urban Family Public House Opening Tonight in Ballard

January 13th, 2012 · Washington Breweries

Urban Family Public House is ready to open their doors at 5pm tonight, according to their Twitter page. Located in the heart of Ballard at 5329 Ballard Ave NW, local beer drinkers now have another option for good beer. The Public House will start out pouring all guest taps, but eventually they plan to pour their own beers from Urban Family Brewing.

There will be a heavy focus on Belgian beers at Urban Family, but they’ll also pour craft beers from all over the country. Their opening taplist looks to have some Belgian beers I’m not that familiar with, and there is plenty I’d be interested in trying. You can see their current taplist here: http://www.urbanfamilypublichouse.com/beers.html

Here is what I wrote for the Northwest Brewing News about Urban Family:

Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood just keeps getting richer when it comes to beer drinking options. Urban Family Brewing is the newest beer-focused member of the neighborhood; they were projecting to have their doors open by mid to late November at 5329 Ballard Ave NW, directly in the heart of the neighborhood. Urban Family will feature 25 taps of beer focusing on American craft and Belgian beers. Two of those taps will be reserved for house beers brewed on a small 15 gallon system. To start out they will have all guest taps while they work on obtaining the proper brewery licenses, and they hope to be brewing within two to three months. Owners Timothy Czarnetzki, David Powell and Sean Bowman will be hiring a brewer at some point, and they plan to feature a house saison yeast strain for their beers. Long-time homebrewers Timothy and David came to Seattle from Washington DC, while Sean is making his way to the Northwest from Florida. Welcome to the family of Seattle breweries!

While they plan to start brewing on a small in-house system, they did mention that there would be the possibility of growing to a larger off-site brewing space at some point down the road.

Located directly across the street from The Noble Fir, I can see future trips to hit both consecutively in my future.

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Schooner Exact to Celebrate 5th Anniversary at Beveridge Place Pub With 8 Wood-Aged Beers

January 13th, 2012 · Events, Washington Breweries

Schooner Exact Brewing kicked things off for their little brewery with a party at Beveridge Place back on January 20, 2007. Exactly 5 years later to the day, owners Matt & Heather McClung return to BPP to celebrate what the business has become. It’s been quite a journey, and along the way Schooner Exact has grown into one of Seattle’s best breweries.

The brewery started out with humble beginnings as a nanobrewery operating out of an ActivSpace unit in West Seattle. Business was booming, and in 2009 they purchased a larger system and subleased a space connected to the former location of Trade Route Brewing in South Park. Not long after, Trade Route opted out of their lease to move down south to Pacific, Washington, and Schooner Exact made the decision to move yet again. That move brought them to their current location in SODO, which has turned out to be perfect for their needs.

Matt, Heather, Colin Lenfesty, and the rest of the team at Schooner Exact, continue to make a great regular lineup of beer, but they also impress with their special releases. They’ve grown their barrel-aging program at the brewery, and for this anniversary party they’ll be bringing 8 different wood-aged beers, including a dark smoked lager, barrel-aged imperial porter, a sneak preview of their sour program, and more. I sampled the barrel-aged imperial porter last night at The Noble Fir, and it is outstanding.

Congrats to Schooner Exact for 5 great years, and I look forward to many more!

Schooner Exact 5th Anniversary Party at Beveridge Place Pub
Friday, January 20 at 7pm

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