Pacific Northwest Beer Chick

Breweries, Beers & Good Times

Finding An Outlaw In The Forests Of Edgewood May 18, 2015

Filed under: nano breweries — pnwbeerchick @ 2:16 pm
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Nestled in the hills of Edgewood, WA you will find a small gravel road. Head down that road to a sweet, little vintage home. What you will find in the homeowner’s garage is a great little nano brewery/tap room: Outlaw Ales. Owner Dan Sowers will be behind the bar to greet you with a pint, some fresh popped popcorn, and a smile. Outlaw Ales started in 2013 in his home in Bonney Lake. But his recent move brought him to a forest setting in Edgewood. On the day of my visit he had two beers and one cider available. So of course I had to try a flight of all three!

Coffee Porter (9% ABV) – Do you like chocolate covered espresso beans? I know I do and this beer was the next best thing! 10930877_1121338784546557_3422953931699574143_nBrewed with real coffee, this stout is rich and robust with a dark chocolate finish. There is a bit of a smokiness on the palate that really gives the beer a nice edge. Very nice.

IPA ( 7% ABV) – A beautifully balanced IPA with a nice maltiness that cuts through the bitterness of the hops. Very refreshing, hop aroma, and a slightly sweet/hop finish. This is a great IPA for both the beginner and “hop head.”

Organic Cider (10% ABV) – Now, you all know that I like a good cider. This cider is not good…IT’S AMAZING! In all honesty, it’s probably one of the best hard ciders I have ever had. No really, I’m not joking! Dan travels down to his friend’s apple orchard in Forest Grove, OR, picks six different varieties of apples, and presses them himself. He adds champagne yeast to the batch and creates a gorgeous, unfiltered treat for the senses. Fresh apples from start to finish without the overly syrupy sweetness most ciders take on. The champagne yeast gives it a crisp, sparkly finish. I cannot say enough about this cider!

Outlaw Ales is one of the best breweries I have been to in a while. He is currently brewing a Summer Pale Ale due out pretty soon.

The tap room is open on selected days only: the first and third weekend of every month. Remember, the tasting room is located at his home, so please be respectful of the dates and times. But, if you need a growler fill you can contact him and make arrangements. Outside food is welcome and there is plenty of seating in the tap room.

Cheers,

Liz

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Outlaw-Ales/559995607381550?sk=timeline

 

Quick tips to get to know your local breweries: December 26, 2010

Filed under: beer,breweries,Micro brew,Pacific Northwest Beer,Washington beer — pnwbeerchick @ 11:15 am
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When stepping into an unfamiliar brewery for the first time, one may be a bit overwhelmed with beer options. Here are a few great tips to heighten your beer experience.

Look over the tap handles and tell the bartender what type of beer you usually like: “I like malty,” “I usually drink wheat beers,” “I like a lot of hoppy flavor.” This will give the bartender and idea of what type of brew you would enjoy and he or she can suggest what they have that might suit you.

If you still aren’t sure what you would like, see if they have a beer sampler tray. Most breweries offer some sort of sampler and usually place the beer from lowest alcohol content to highest. If they don’t have a sampler tray, ask for a sample before ordering. Many places will be glad to let you sample the brews on tap for free before ordering a full pint, but some may charge $1.00 per taste.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for clarification when it comes to flavors and NEVER be ashamed to ask your bartender to exchange a beer that you do not like. Remember, your bartender is the professional and is there to help.

Cheers!

Liz

 

Velkommen til Poulsbo! November 30, 2010

Filed under: beer,Micro brew,Pacific Northwest Beer,Poulsbo,WA,Washington beer — pnwbeerchick @ 9:50 pm
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This year I decided to spend the long holiday weekend in Europe. Ok, that was a slight exaggeration. I actually spent a day in the darling little European town of Poulsbo, WA, but you can’t blame a girl for dreaming. Located on Liberty Bay, Poulsbo is a picturesque Scandinavian storybook village complete with Viking murals, antique stores, gift shops, and the Sons of Norway lodge and the world-famous Poulsbo Bakery. Poulsbo also has two great pubs for the weary shopper to grab a bite and a pint.

My first stop was the Hare and Hounds English Pub on Front St. Decorated rather sparsely, the pub is a bit brighter than I’m used to seeing in an English pub. The walls are painted in very light tones and the tables and chairs are basic.  The restaurant resembled a sidewalk café more than a British pub.  The bar area is adorned with British beer cans and bottles and soccer towels hang from the walls and ceiling. Though the pub did not give me the “rustic” British pub feeling I love, it is a pretty establishment nonetheless. The menu consists of the English pub standards like fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, and ploughman’s lunch. But, the chicken and rice soup was unbelievably great. 

The beer tap selection was a pleasant mix of different beer styles. Again, Hare and Hounds carry some British pub standards like Guinness, Harp, and Newcastle, but microbrews from the Pacific Northwest dominate and are constantly rotated.  As for their bottled beer selection, I was quite impressed. Large bottles of Samuel Smith’s and Samuel Smith’s Raspberry is available along with bottles of Young’s Double Chocolate Stout and other British favorites.  Our bartender, Dan, was extremely friendly and very beer savvy.  He was a delight to talk to while enjoying my lunch and a pint…or two.

My next stop was just a small walk up the street to Tizley’s Europub. If you want a cool “rustic” vibe you will surely find it at Tizley’s. Located on the 2nd floor of one of Poulsbo’s many adorable Bavarian style shops, Tizley’s charm begins on your walk down a small alley to the staircase that leads you upstairs into the middle of the pub.  There is a very casual, old world feel throughout and there is outside balcony seating for lunch, dinner, or the relaxing afternoon pint.

Tizley’s serves just about every type of Bavarian Schnitzel possible along with other European favorites such as Sausage and Peppers, Black Forest Ham sandwich, Beef Boxty and of course, the traditional Goulash.  But my favorite reason for coming to Tizley’s is their wide selection of European and microbrew beers.  Like Hare and Hounds, Tizley’s also rotates their beer selection so you always have a fresh pint of whatever is in season.

But the true beer treat of the day was the Cherry Rye from Poulsbo’s newest brewery, Valhöll.  Poured by way of a hand pump, Cherry Rye was a strong yet smooth beer with just a hint of dark cherries. Delicious! Valhöll Brewery is still under construction but will be opening soon on Front St. just doors down from both pubs. In the meantime you can enjoy their beer at both Hare and Hounds English Pub and Tizley’s Europub. And trust me, as soon as Valhöll opens I will let you all know!

Winter is a great time of year to visit Poulsbo…and during Oktoberfest…and Viking Fest. Pretty much anytime of year is a great time to visit Poulsbo and its great pubs!

Cheers,

Liz

www.tizleys.com                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

www.valhollbrewing.com

 

Anderson Valley Brewery’s little winter gift. November 8, 2010

Filed under: beer,breweries,Micro brew — pnwbeerchick @ 8:01 pm
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Being a California girl, some would say I’m a bit partial to California beers. I can’t say that’s completely true but I do get excited when a brewery from my home state brews an outstanding beer. This year Anderson Valley Brewing Company brought out one of their winter seasonal favorites, Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale.

Scott & I shared a pitcher of this winter warmer the other night and boy what a treat! As the beautiful dark reddish-brown ale poured into the pint glass, Belgian lace just coated the top of the pitcher. Quality! Before you take a drink, pause for a second and put your nose to the glass. Anderson Valley brews Winter Solstice with caramel, crystal malts, and some holiday spice giving this ale a sweet, nutty, brown sugar aroma reminiscent of warm sugared hazelnuts or brown sugar Christmas candy.

 Now I know you must be thinking “this beer sounds too sweet Liz. How does it taste?” Well let me tell you, the taste is just as amazing as the smell. There are definitely hints of brown sugar, and did I say Christmas candy? Well, the crystal malts really give this ale a nice creamy, toasty flavor cutting the sweetness down to soft, mellow hints. But don’t get me wrong, the ale is also 6.9% ABV so it does pack a little bit of a punch. If you like toasty brown ales, you will truly enjoy this winter warmer. Winter Solstice Seasonal ale is only available from November until New Years so find some and stock up.

Cheers,

Liz

www.avbc.com

 

It’s the Great Pumpkin! October 30, 2010

Filed under: beer,breweries,Micro brew — pnwbeerchick @ 5:56 pm
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I love this time of year! I love the changing of the leaves, the crispness in the air, and the smell of burning fire places. But, the biggest reason I love this time of year is the release of all the pumpkin beers.  In fact, I would have to say, a good pumpkin ale is probably my favorite beer on the planet! And over the last 5 years, brewers have jumped on the pumpkin wagon and crafted some of the tastiest brews around.

Now, there are dozens of breweries that brew pumpkin beer, but I’m just going to hit on my top picks. Trust me, once you try one you may not be able to put it down!

#5  Punk’n – Four + Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, UT)   

About 3 weeks ago I spotted this gem at our local Tacoma Boys Farmer’s Market in Tacoma, WA.  And I was glad I did! It really surprised me how subtle and smooth this beer was. A little on the toasty side with just a hint of nutmeg and vanilla.  This beer was very easy to drink and I think would go great with Thanksgiving dinner…or dessert!

  #4 Pumpkinhead Ale – Shipyard Brewing Co (Portland, ME)

Talk about Autumn spice! Not only is the logo on the bottle really cool, this beer really packs a punch when it comes to flavor. The spiciest beer out of my top 5 picks, Shipyard did not hold back when adding the cinnamon and nutmeg to this little beauty. Definitely not a beer to be taken lightly, it is slowly becoming one of my favorites. The spiciness of the first sip may throw you off, but keep going! You won’t be sorry!!

#3 Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale – Blue Moon Brewing Co (Golden, CO)

Now I know Coors actually owns Blue Moon Brewing Company, but I have to admit, this is a great beer. Harvest Moon’s light pumpkin flavor and soft nutmeg essence makes this beer an absolute delight. It’s very easy to drink with food but much more enjoyable on its own. While I’m a fan of Blue Moon’s popular Belgian White ale, this seasonal brew is my favorite from brewery.

   #2 Night Owl Pumpkin Ale – Elysian Brewing Co. (Seattle, WA)

I discovered this gorgeous beer after moving to Washington State. I had a hard time determining if Night Owl Pumpkin Ale should be in my #1 spot because it’s just that good! Once you crack open the bottle you are immediately hit with the wonderful aroma of pumpkin pie.  Elysian adds nutmeg, allspice, cloves, cinnamon and ginger during the fermentation process. Both raw and roasted pumpkin seeds are added into the mash along with raw pumpkin. Night Owl Pumpkin ale is probably one of my favorite all around beers…period.

#1 America’s Original Pumpkin Ale – Buffalo Bill’s Brewing Co. (Hayward, CA)

Talk about pumpkin pie in a bottle!  Brewed with baked and roasted pumpkin, Buffalo Bill’s then adds cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon creating what I consider to be absolute perfection! While you can drink this ale with a meal, I wouldn’t recommend it for the simple fact you would lose all of that wonderful spicy, pumpkin flavor and aroma. Best to drink this baby all by itself.  I look forward every year to the release of this beer and stock up on it as soon as it’s available. I’m telling you, grandma’s pumpkin pie has some stiff competition!

Now I know the thought of pumpkin in beer sounds kind of wacky to a lot of beer purists, but stick with me on this… once you sip a good pumpkin ale you won’t be sorry.

Happy Halloween!

Liz

 

Golden Valley Brewery – McMinnville, OR October 25, 2010

Filed under: beer,breweries,Micro brew — pnwbeerchick @ 9:02 am
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Golden Valley Brewery

So… this being my very first blog entry, I thought I would begin with the most recent visit to a great brewery in a great town. The Golden Valley Brewery in McMinnville, OR! Whoot! Whoot!

The beautiful "historic" bar.

THE BAR: The brewery is nestled in the historic district of McMinnville, OR in what used to be a 1920’s warehouse. Rumor has it the massive solid wood and stained glass back bar and bar top used to be the bar that was located in the historic Hoyt Hotel in Portland, OR. Well, the story goes that the hotel burned down and the only thing left standing was the beautiful bar which now stands inside Golden Valley. Whether the story is true or not, the bar is quite stunning.

THE BEER: I highly recommend ordering what I dubbed the “sampler rainbow.” Basically, the sampler consists of all the Golden Valley beers on tap – including their seasonal ale and it is served on a LARGE curved plank of wood about 2 ft long.  I started off with the Red Hills Pilsner. Great caramel flavor and floral aroma that would go well with a burger. Another one of my favorites was the Third Street Wheat. Now, I love a wheat beer and this one did not disappoint. It had the great banana clove aroma and flavor that I adore and a great clean finish. Yum! The Red Thistle Ale was a very pretty beer. The color was that deep red and there was a great crisp toastiness that made me want to find the nearest fireplace and blanket. Scott chose the Chehalum Mountain IPA. Now, I’m not much of an IPA fan. To me an IPA is the equivalent of sucking on an orange rind. 

Red Thistle Ale

Scott, on the other hand, is not satisfied with an IPA until the hop taste is so strong it causes an aneurism. Needless to say, Scott really liked the IPA. And I have to admit the IPA is a really nice beer. Yes, there was a lot of hoppines to it, but it was very smooth and I actually enjoyed it. Great floral, hop aroma and I think anyone who is not an IPA fan will enjoy it. Next up, our two disappointments: the Perrydale Pale and the American Pale Ale.  Both beers really fell flat from what we were expecting. Both ales were very water and Scott even compared the Perrydale Pale to Budweiser. Sad, we had such high hopes.

Red Hills Pilsner

Getting back on track we next sampled the Dundee Porter. When it’s cold, gloomy, rainy/snowy, nothing beats a good porter. The Dundee saved our tasting experience and put a smile back on our faces. Chocolate, coffee, and malts really set this one right. I was suddenly in the mood for thick sweaters, mittens and a snow hat. Next on the tasting rainbow was the chocolatey goodness of the Muddy Valley Oatmeal Stout. Golden Valley uses chocolate malts for this black beauty and it really comes through in both taste and aroma. I loved this beer! Last on rainbow was the seasonal Tannen Bomb (yes, it’s really spelled that way). Now this was an interesting beer and the flavor and aroma reminded me of hard liquor. And it’s no wonder! Golden Valley uses 120lbs of hops per barrel making this winter warmer 8.8% A.B.V. If you like hard liquor, you will really enjoy this particular brew.

Overall, we really enjoyed our visit and even purchased a gift pack (for ourselves) which contained three 22oz bottles of the Red Thistle Ale, the Perrydale Ale, Tannen Bomb, and two logo’d pint glasses for $19.99.  For and extra $10.00 they will include a Golden Valley t-shirt, but I would save the $10.00. The the t-shirt is not very impressive and looks like an iron-on my mother made for me in the 1970’s. The gift pack is a great deal although we may give the Perrydale Ale to someone who likes Budweiser.

Cheers!

Liz

 
GoldenValley Brewery  
980 NE 4th St
Mcminnville, OR 97128
(503) 472-2739