• With all of this recent talk about IPAs, it seems like the perfect time for Bottleworks to host a Firestone Walker tasting. From the Bottleworks newsletter:

Exciting news to start the month of July: On Wed, July 1 from 5-7pm, we’ll be having a Firestone Walker tasting. For $1, you can try samples of the California brewery’s Double Barrel Ale, Pale 31 and Union Jack IPA. As an added bonus, we’ll also be tapping one of the first Seattle-area kegs of Double Jack, their brand-new Double IPA. Dry-hopped four times and weighing in at 9.5% ABV, this beer promises to be a memorable one. Then….they will be tapping a keg of Firestone Walker Parabola Imperial Stout at 7pm at Brouwer’s Cafe.

• As for the “Favorite WA IPA” poll, it was interesting to see people’s thoughts and favorites. Like I said, this was sort of market research and I plan to use the info in one way or another. I enjoy just about every IPA on that list, but my votes went to Boundary Bay, Anacortes and Rock Bottom Bellevue Hop Bomb. I always hesitate to post favorites polls such as these, but it’s good to see the results.

• If you haven’t noticed, there have actually been a couple of people using the Forums for random questions. One visitor wondered why Oregon gets so much of our good WA beer, yet we don’t seem to get the same volume of good OR beer in return. Another visitor was looking for info on Russian River Brewing. Glad that at least a couple of people are finding the forum useful.
• Hale’s is releasing their 25th Anniversary Ale once again this year. This Belgian Dubbel is worth trying for sure. They will have a cask of it pouring at the brewery this evening from 4pm to 7pm.
• The Beer Authority will be having a “huge sale” over the 4th of July weekend. I really need to go check this place out…I’ve been meaning to for a while now.

4th of July Blowout Sale, July 2nd and 3rd
If you’re buying beer for the holiday weekend, you won’t want to miss The Beer Authority’s 4th of July Blowout Sale! We’re slashing prices on every bottle of beer and wine in the store all day Thursday and Friday (2nd and 3rd) so you can stock up on the good stuff to celebrate our nations’ birthday. To help celebrate, Leavenworth Biers and Scuttlebutt Brewery will be in to taste there wares. Here’s what’s going on:

· Prices slashed on every bottle of beer and wine in the store Thursday and Friday!
· Thursday 5-7 pm Leavenworth Biers Tasting
· Friday 5-7 pm Scuttlebutt Brewery Tasting

• The Phinney Neighborhood Association Beer Taste is coming up on July 18. You can see the list of breweries attending here. I’ve always heard that this tasting/festival is a great time, but I’ve never been able to make it. Sadly, I’ll be missing this year as well….heading to see the Sounders/Chelsea that night!