Here are a few brief news items before we hit the weekend.

– Coronado Brewing Company, located in Southern California, launched their beers to the Seattle market this week with kickoff events at Brouwer’s Cafe and The Pine Box. Between the two events, they poured Coronado’s Idiot IPA, Islander IPA, Blue Ridge Coffee Stout, XPA with Nelson hops, Bada Bing! Cherry Porter, and Hoppy Daze Belgian IPA. Both bars probably still have some of those beers pouring. I am also assuming that we will see their 22oz bottles at some point as well, but not sure on that.

– The very popular beer formerly known as Full Sail “Black Gold” Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout is making its biennial appearance soon. The Hood River, OR brewery has dropped the “Black Gold” tag for some reason, but consumers should expect the same bourbon stout goodness from the bottle. This is typically a very bourbon-forward stout, and it is one I look forward to every other year. This year’s batch was brewed in December 2011 and aged for a year in Kentucky Bourbon casks from Maker’s Mark, Four Roses, and Jim Beam. Look for this in February.

– Belgianfest approaches. There are still tickets available for both sessions on their website, and at Full Throttle Bottles. The full beer list is now posted as well. Look for a list of beers I’ll be targeting next week.

– Machine House Brewery in Georgetown (read more about them here) has been opening up their tap room over the past few weekends, and from what I’ve heard their cask ales are getting rave reviews. They will be open from 12pm to 6pm on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend.

Everyone headed out to the Strange Brewfest in Port Townsend this weekend, have fun. I’ll be partaking in my (6th?) annual “guys winter camping trip” down on the southern tip of the Olympic Peninsula. There is always lots of great beer to be drunk, which typically helps us ignore the rain/cold.