Fresh Hop Throwdown in 2011. Thanks to +Russ for the pic.

If you are a fan of fresh hop beers and live in Seattle, you won’t want to miss the 7th Annual Fresh Hop Throwdown at The Noble Fir in Ballard on Saturday, September 23.

There are always a lot of fresh hop beers floating around during September and October, and some of us do everything we can to try as many different examples as possible. I’ll be working with Rick Weersing and Ellen Kelly of The Noble Fir to put together a lineup of about 16 different fresh hop beers that will all be available when the bar opens at 4pm. There will also be a private blind judging of the lineup earlier in the day and the winning brewery will be announced later at the event. Holy Mountain Brewing has taken top honors at the event for two years in a row. Will they make it a third, or will someone else take their spot?

If you are new to fresh hop beers, this is a great event to introduce you to them. What is a fresh hop beer? Most of the annual crop is processed into dried hops that store well and will last throughout the year. Before hops are dried, they are known as “fresh hops” or “wet hops”. When beer is brewed with these fresh hops straight off the vine (or “bine”, to really be correct), it can impart a very unique flavor profile vs. the use of typical dried hops. Fresh hops can impart a fresh, green, earthy hop taste, and they can really enhance the aroma of a beer. Some fresh hop beers are brewed exclusively with wet hops, while others are brewed with a combination of wet and dry hops. In addition to finding fresh hop beers on draft, you’ll be able to find bottled fresh hop beers from Sep to Nov.

If anyone has questions about the event, feel free to send me an email.

30 years. That’s how long the Latona Pub has been pouring quality, local beer for thirsty Seattle drinkers. Still one of Seattle’s best places to get a pint, the Latona Pub was possibly the first alehouse in Seattle to focus on a rotating selection of local beer. Owner Bob Brenlin has been one of craft beer’s biggest advocates since the beginning. Check out my profile of him in the October 2012 issue of the Northwest Brewing News for some good background on Latona Pub.

Latona Pub officially turns 30 on Friday, August 18. But, they will host a week of celebrations running from August 14 to 19. See below for more info and details on the events.

Congrats to owner Bob and the rest of the team!

Press Release:

30 years at the Latona Pub

1987-2017

On Friday, August 18th, the Latona Pub will turn 30 years old.

Over those 30 years, the Latona has grown into one of the premier craft beer bars on the West Coast by focusing on delivering the beer to the consumer’s glass fresh, clean, and cold. To that end, the neighborhood pub on the corner of 65th St. and Latona Avenue pioneered quality assurance standards like short draws from keg to glass, weekly cleaning of lines, regular changing of lines, and a limited number of taps to ensure constant pour through. The close relationship developed between the Latona and our brewer friends insures that the beer is self-distributed, often delivered days after kegging. With one less hand in distribution the beer is one step closer to the fresh and wonderful beer the brewer intended.

This reputation for quality handling of beers is a cornerstone of the Latona’s strong ties to the local PNW brewing scene. By embracing and promoting young breweries and hosting monthly Brewer’s Nights, the pub has been the site of several “first pours” of what have become classic Washington microbrews—directly connecting the brewer and the beer to the drinker and the community.

That sincere approach to community building has been the direct cause of countless batches of beer brewed exclusively for the Latona. These small batches of beer have encouraged the brewer to think outside the box, often resulting in exciting new brews that take on a life of their own and become a part of the brewery’s core lineup. The number of beers brewed for the Latona over 30 years is significant and many have become important beers in the history of the craft beer movement.

In recent years, the Latona has continued that tradition with its Winter and Summer beer series’ in which select breweries work with the pub on a fresh brew recipe in any number of styles. These beers are then released at an intimate three-course Brewer’s Dinner in the pub’s loft, seating between 18-22 people, with the brewer discussing the thought process behind each beer. As part of the Latona’s 30th Anniversary, several notable local breweries have collaborated with the pub every month to bring some amazing beers to the table, such as Cloudburst’s Don’t Hassle, Me I’m Local Red, Holy Mountain’s Test of Time IPA, and—most recently—Reuben’s Brews Latona 30 Year Crush IPA. Every beer has been driven by a unique philosophy and camaraderie between the Latona and brewery that only a deep love of beer can foster.

A neighborhood pub is not only about beer, and despite being a craft beer pioneer, the pub has also developed a reputation for food and music. The Latona has a history of supporting local music, hosting the longest running Friday Night Jazz Happy Hour—25 years and going strong. After Boots, Barrie, and Murray held court for 17 years with their addicting brand of Dixieland jazz, Phil Sparks has carried on the tradition for the last 8 years with his rotating cast of local musicians. The pub’s musical legacy doesn’t stop at jazz, however, as many well-known folk, bluegrass, and blues musicians have graced the pub’s stage.

The kitchen at the Latona can best be described as “small, yet mighty.” Boasting a menu of elevated pub fare, the pub is immensely proud of its food. The burger stands as one of the best in the city, the salads are meals unto themselves, and the grilled cheese has been hailed several times as one of the greatest in town. Every ingredient is sourced as locally as possible and is delivered daily to maintain freshness. The menu changes seasonally, and the specials board acts as a proving ground for new items—such as the Latona Cubano, which quickly became a pub-goer favorite.

 However, a neighborhood pub can’t flourish on beer, entertainment, and food alone. It needs a community. In 30 years, the defining trait of the Latona has been the wonderful people who have sidled up to the bar. On any given night, the pub is filled with faces both familiar and fresh. The staff at the pub treat the place like a second home, and their starkly individual personalities have contributed heavily to the Latona’s character and success.

The Latona is proud to have played a significant part in the development of craft beer. From the early days, when a dozen breweries ruled the land, to today, where Washington state has close to 400, we have helped encourage high quality, creative beer.

To all our friends in the brewing community and to all our customers—it has been a fantastic, hoppy ride. We’re so thankful that you’ve made the Latona your neighborhood pub for 30 years, and we invite you to party with us during a week of celebrations running from August 14th to 19th. 

Monday August 14^th………Stoup Brewing—Flanders Red Barrel Release and Beer Dinner.
6:30pm Brewer’s Dinner, Brewer’s Night at 8:30pm. Seats available for $40/person.

Tuesday August 15^th………Legacy Brewers Night, 7pm. Celebrate the breweries that were key to the early days of the Latona—Pike Brewing, Hale’s Ales, Maritime Brewing, and Big Time Brewing.

Wednesday August 16^th………Out of Towner’s Night, 7pm. We’ll be hosting our longtime friends from other corners of the West Coast, like Sierra Nevada, Rogue Brewing, Anderson Valley Brewing, and New Belgium.

Thursday August 17^th………Cask Night, 7pm. Following a longtime tradition of presenting special casks on the bar.

Friday August 18th………Latona Music Night, 5pm-11pm. Celebrate happy hour with Phil Sparks at 5:30 and special music from Leif Totusek at 8pm.

Saturday August 19^th………Latona pub 30^th Anniversary Party. 7pm…Special beer, food, and live music at 9pm.

The Toronado is set to celebrate its 3rd anniversary this evening with a pretty stellar taplist. Cloudburst Brewing made a special double IPA for the occasion, and the rest of the taplist is going to make you want to take the bus (or an Uber) home. There’s just too many great beers to try. You should probably plan on coming back over the weekend to see what is left…

Taplist from Toronado:

Cloudburst brewed a massive double IPA for the incredible event! And will have a bunch of other amazing things on draft too!
Monkish Haiku de Saison
Lost Abbey Cable Car 2015
Founders KBS
Founders Doom
Lost Abbey Framboise de Amorosa
De Garre/ Jacky O Friends like these
Fremont Spice Wars
Fremont Coffee B Bomb
Fremont Head o Dynamite
Cloudburst Four Hooved DIPA
Fort George 3way
Holy Mt. 1/2 man 1/2 saison
Holy Mt. Deadfall
Trve Ancient Bole
3 Matt’s (Bottles)
Firestone Walker Velvet Merkin
Prairie Bomb
Bruery Terreaux Passion Fruit
De Proef/ New Glarus Absolution Dark Belgain
Ballast Point B/A Sea Monster
Belching Beaver ODB
Lost Abbey Cuvée de Tomme w/ Cherries ?
Drakes Cask Strength Bourbon Drakonic Imp Stout
Pelican Mother of all Storms 2016

And the list will continue to grow!

Cocktail Specials:

Sarah’s World Famous Pina Colada!
Dark Rum, Pineapple, Coconut Cream
$5 from 3-6pm!!

Watermelon Margarita
House Infused Watermelon Blanco Tequila, Agave, Lime, Salt
$5 from 6-7pm!!

Bourbon Peach Lemonade
Bourbon, House Peach Simple Syrup, Lemon
$5 from 9-10pm!!

Popsicles:

Cherry Apple Whiskey & Tequila Sunrise