Maritime Decompression Ale – Seattle Beer Week’s 2011 Commemorative Beer
Alcohol by Volume: 8%
Find this beer and more at Full Throttle Bottles in Georgetown.

Intro: For the third annual Seattle Beer Week, local favorite Maritime Pacific Brewing Company had the honor of brewing the commemorative beer for the occasion. While Hale’s Ales and Pike Brewing both made Imperial IPAs for the first two years of Beer Week, Maritime decided to change things up for this year. Head brewer Corey Blodgett created an American Strong Ale using Falconer’s Flight hops, which is an exclusive blend created in memorial to Glen Hay Falconer.

Description: Pours a dark amber with an almost creamy head sitting on top. A mix of citrus hops and sweet malt comes through in the aroma. A solid base of toasted/caramel malt gives way to a mix of citrus and pine hop flavors. Some resinous malt sweetness comes through, but it finishes dry and with a significant bitterness. While Maritime did indeed switch it up and make something other than an Imperial IPA this year, the hops carry this beer and the bitterness lingers. Definitely not for the hop-averse, but most Northwest beer drinkers should be right at home. The malt profile gives it a little something extra than your average hop bomb, and this is a well put together brew. If they tweak the recipe at all in the future, I’d prefer less bitterness, but that’s just me. I’ll be happy to drink a few of these over the course of SBW.

Verdict: Buy It
Availability: Available for a limited time on draft and in 22oz bottles
Click here to see a list of select local bottle shops.
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Commercial Description/Press Release:

A word from Maritimes Head Brewer, Corey Blodgett, on the 2011 Seattle Beer Week Beer:

Since receiving the Glen Hay Falconer Scholarship in 2007 with Jacob Leonard of Widmer, I have felt compelled to show my gratitude to the Falconer Foundation because without them and the scholarship I may not be here in Seattle or at Maritime Pacific. So when HopUnion created a hop pellet in honor of Glen using fourteen of his favorite hops, I knew what I had to do. Little did I know that Decompression, an American Strong Ale brewed exclusively with the Falconer Flight hops, would become a beast.

Much like the Seattle beer scene as well as the Pacific Northwest in general, for me the Foundation embodies family. I created Decompression to convey this same feeling of community. The color is designed to remind you of the sun setting beyond the Olympics to the west. Thanks to the careful addition of Falconer’s Flight hops, you will have no doubt you are in the Pacific Northwest. Decompression’s strength and complementary malt complexity nudges you on the shoulder and says, “It is spring in Seattle.” I think you get the picture.

I am humbled and honored that Decompression, my memorial to Glen Hay Falconer, has been chosen to be the commemorative beer for the 2011 Seattle Beer Week. We here at Maritime are proud to be part of an historic and rich brewing tradition in the Emerald City. And, we are thankful for the 20 years of support the city has shown us. Thank you, Seattle and Prost!

Corey Blodgett
Head Brewer, Maritime Pacific Brewing Company