Coming soon: Trade Route Brewing Co, more of the Best of Tacoma, and a couple of tasty 22oz brews. January 15, 2012
Fly the friendly skies with Airways Brewing Company January 7, 2012
What does one do when one has a love of 1960’s aviation and a passion for beer? Just ask Alex Ditmar, owner and head brewer of Airways Brewing Company. Alex combined his two loves and created a unique micro-brewery in Kent, WA. Airways opened its doors in 2010 with a brewery and tap-room and in 2011 opened a second bistro location.
And the beer…oh boy…fasten your seatbelts!
Sky Hag IPA (7.8% ABV) – Airways most popular beer is also their best! Sky Hag has a dark, caramel color and a hoppy nose. Grapefruit hits the palate right off and has a lovely floral, hoppy finish. Yummy!
Jet City ESB (5.5% ABV) – I love ESBs and this one does not disappoint. Caramel, hoppy aroma and a malty, bready mouth 
feel. It finishes sweet and clean. I love this beer!
First Class IPA (5.5 % ABV) – Dark honey color. Crisp, citrus notes with what I call a “back of the throat” hoppy finish. This is a lovely beer. It may be low in alcohol, but it is large in flavor!
Midnight Departure CDA (6.5% ABV) – Ink black color. Dark chocolate, coffee and molasses hit the palate. Nice toasty finish. Midnight Departure is definitely a sipper.
T-Tail Blonde (5.0% ABV) – this beer is currently on hold but I had the chance to try some beforehand. This blonde is sweet with pineapple notes and light hops. It’s sweet, malty, and finishes crisp and clean. Very nice beer for spring and summer. Fingers crossed it will come back out soon!
To spice things up a bit Airways brews special beers throughout the year. Recently tapped is their dry hopped Lavender ESB. But soon Captain Steve’s British Dark, Starliner Stout with raspberries, and the ever popular Über Hag IPA will join the gang so keep a look out.
Airways does not have a taster tray but don’t fret; they do sell 8oz pours for $2.50. Both locations are very warm and inviting and the photos on the walls attest to Alex’s love of all things old school aviation. At the tap-room, you can order food from Yukon Grill next door and bring it over to enjoy with your pint. The food at the bistro great and the flat bread pizza is to die for!!!
You may not be able to join the “mile high club” but throwing back one of these pints is the next best thing! And you won’t need to return your tray and seat to their upright positions.
Cheers!
Liz
16th Annual Holiday Ale Festival – Portland, OR December 18, 2011
Due to a minor hospital stay, holiday madness, and lack of motivation I have been out of the writing loop for a while. Needless to say I have some catching up to do! First on my list…the 16th Annual Holiday Ale Festival in Portland, OR that took place a couple of weeks ago. As usually the festival was a great event. A large, heated tent covered the park where the festival was held, food venders kept our tummy full, and there was even a coat check for those of us that didn’t want to schlep our stuff around. As for the beer…
Old Saint Chongo – Bear Republic Brewing Co (7% ABV) – Cloverdale, CA – With the aroma of a chocolate covered
banana, this winter warmer is a tasty treat. Medium bodied and malty this wheat beer starts with chocolate and finishes with a banana split.
Sang Noir – Cascade Brewing (9.2% ABV) Portland, OR – One of my top five favorites from last year’s Ale Festival was this lovely sour ale. Tart cherries dominate the taste while hints of Bourbon hit the nose. Cascade ages their red and double red beers in Pinot Noir and Bourbon barrels for up to 24 months creating this very pretty, sparkly, holiday ale. Take it easy though, the wonderful flavor will make you forget the high alcohol!
Chocolate Mint Stout – Gilgamesh Brewing (6% ABV) Turner, OR – Using locally grown mint and chocolate cocoa nibs, Gilgamesh has crafted a fun and festive stout that tastes like peppermint patties. I enjoyed this beer but was a bit disappointed with the body. It felt more like medium than full-bodied for a stout. Still a nice beer though.
Bonaparte’s Retreat – Laurelwood Brewing Co (8.2% ABV) Portland, OR – One of my favorites of the day was this toasty, smoky Corsican Christmas Ale. A very strong ale, Bonaparte’s Retreat had a nice hint of roasted chestnut and a malty finish. Great beer but this one you will need to sip, slowly.
The Nutcracker – Oakshire Brewing (8% ABV) Eugene, OR – Very nice Imperial Porter. Full bodied and malty with rich gingerbread spices and a touch of dark chocolate and coffee to finish. The Nutcracker is a great festive porter for the holidays.
Belsnickle’s Strong Ale – Rusty Truck Brewing Co (7.6% ABV) Salem, Or – My favorite beer of the event was this wonderful strong ale. Brewed with cinnamon, nutmeg, and coriander Rusty Truck really captured what holiday ale should taste like. Warm and malty I had a hard time putting this baby down.
Just a reminder with winter beers; the alcohol is going to be a bit higher than beers brewed during the rest of the year so please be careful when enjoying them.
The Holiday Ale Festival itself was very fun and well-organized. The downside unfortunately was the beer. Brewers from all over the PNW showed up, but did not seem to bring anything spectacular. There were some really good beers at the event, but nothing seemed to “wow” me this year. Many of the beers did not taste as described and surprisingly a lot of them were a bit watery. Oh well, there is always next year.
Cheers!
Liz
upcoming book signing in Seattle! November 24, 2011
AUTHOR CHRISTIAN DeBENEDETTI TO HOST
THE GREAT AMERICAN ALE TRAIL BOOK SIGNING PARTY
DURING PIKE BREWING COMPANY’S “MEET THE BREWER” NIGHT
SEATTLE, WA – On Thursday, December 1, from 4 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., author Christian DeBenedetti will join Head Brewer Dean Mochizuki at Pike Brewing Company (1415 First Avenue, 206-622-6044) for a beer tasting and book signing of DeBenedetti’s first book, The Great American Ale Trail: The Craft Beer Lover’s Guide to the Best Watering Holes in the Nation (Running Press; September 2011; Paperback; $20.00 US).
“The well-traveled beer enthusiast will be signing copies and talking all things ale alongside Pike’s head brewer, Dean Mochizuki and Pike Brewing owners, Charles and Rose Ann Finkel. For the event, Mochizuki will be offering his Pike Double IPA, which has been dry hopped with summit hops, for $3.50 a glass. In his book, DeBenedetti lists Pike Brewery as one of the “Best Watering Holes.” Books will be available for purchase, and guests are also invited to bring their own copy if they have already bought one to have it autographed. Following the meet-and-greet and signing, the event will feature live music from Atlas Stringband, and of course, plenty of great draught beer. ” – Jennie Hatton, Profile Public Relations
WHO: Pike Brewing Company and author Christian DeBenedetti
WHAT: The Great American Ale Trail Book Signing Event
WHEN: Thursday, December 1 from 4 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: 1415 First Avenue, Seattle, WA
Cheers!
Liz
Stout for dessert?
Turkey? Check. Mashed potatoes? Check. Gravy? Check. Green bean casserole? Check. Pumpkin pie? Not this year!
Thanksgiving dessert in my house is going to be Southern Tier Brewing Company’s crème brûlée Imperial Milk Stout. Never had dessert in a bottle before? Boy are you missing out.
My bartender suggested this fantastically crazy beer to me, and I’m sure glad he did. Brewed with vanilla bean and dark caramel malts this stout engulfs your senses with a sweet, rich vanilla/caramel aroma. The first sip and you are hooked! Full bodied, malty, creamy and rich, crème brûlée Imperial Milk Stout really does taste like the wonderful dessert for which it is aptly named. Columbus hops and horizon hops mellows out the sweetness of the malts but trust me, this stout is very bold, rich and strong. The gentlemen I had the pleasure of enjoying this brew with (my husband and the guys at the pub) agree that this is no “chick beer.” And at 9.6% ABV you will definitely want to share with others…and designate a driver. Oh, a word of warning to my lactose intolerant readers; this is a milk stout and has lactose sugars added so drinker BEWARE!
Although this is Southern Tier’s summer seasonal release it is still available in 22 oz bottles. And I think it will be a nice substitute for the traditional pumpkin or pecan pie (sorry Grandma).
Cheers!
Liz
The Best of Tacoma (part 2) November 13, 2011
Part two of my Best of Tacoma series starts off at a little hole in the wall just about five minutes up the road from the Parkway Tavern: Magoo’s Annex Ale House & Eatery. Located in one of the oldest neighborhoods in Tacoma and operating almost 
continuously since 1943, Magoo’s offers great microbrews, a nice pool table, and the best jukebox in the state of Washington! The Jam, Ramones’s, The Clash, -X-, and other alternative and punk rock legends are queued up to be played while you toss back some fine microbrews from around the country. Eclectic decor on the inside this is another great pub that gives a nod to Tacoma’s history and the microbrew beer culture. A bit more rough around the edges than the aforementioned pub in my last posting, but Magoo’s has an old school rustic charm about it that makes it laid back and cool, and the beer is really cold and fresh.
Changing the pace a bit I would like to take you down town to a little Irish pub I fell in love with the moment a crossed the threshold: Paddy Coyne’s Irish Pub on Pacific Ave. Paddy Coyne’s is not only one of my favorite Tacoma pubs, but it is one of my favorite pubs period. Warm and inviting dark wood-paneled walls and hand carved antique bar really gives me the feeling of being in a pub in dear old Ireland. The best Irish and English beer on tap a long with a couple of guest brews are always fresh. The 
best Irish and Scottish whiskeys line the back of the bar and are carefully guarded by the old souls carved into the back bar. If you are into rustic Irish pub food (Lord knows I am) then look no further. Traditional fish and chips, banger’s and mash, ploughman’s lunch, shepherd’s pie, and other UK favorites are done up right and served up with fresh Irish soda bread. It’s a great place to visit on a cold, rainy day. The fireplace in the middle of the restaurant will always be on. Paddy Coyne’s has two other locations: Seattle and Bellevue.
So I know many of you are thinking about some great bars and pubs that were not mentioned. Let’s be honest, Tacoma is a potpourri of great bars, taverns and pubs. Talk to the locals, they know best where all of the hotspots are.
Cheers!
Liz
Magoo’s – 2710 N 21st St, Tacoma,WA 98406
The Best of Tacoma (part 1) November 12, 2011
I often get asked “PNW Beer Chick, where are the great pubs in Tacoma?” Well kids, there are more than a few great places to have a pint that are in ideal areas, have great atmosphere, and rotating taps. So I decided to write about them in two parts.
First on my list of the Best of Tacoma: Red Hot. If I were to own my own pub, the Red Hot would be it! Located on 6th Ave
Red Hot
in Tacoma, this retro pub has been featured on the Food Network. The inside is decorated with everything micro-brew and historical Tacoma. You won’t see a Budweiser flag in this joint! Awesome beers are constantly rotating both on tap and in the bottle. As for grub, who doesn’t love a hot dog? Red Hot offers the most unusual selection of hot dogs in town along with childhood favorites like Frito Pie and Moon Pies for desert. You haven’t lived until you have taken a bite of the brightest neon green relish ever made! Micro-brews such as Russian River, Dogfish Head, Stone, Hales, Rogue, Anchor Steam, Bear Republic and tons of others and constantly shuffling through so you are assured to get the freshest beer in town. Undecided about what type of beer you want? Just ask Justin, owner Chris, or any of the staff. These folks know their beer stuff! Red Hot is one of my favorite Tacoma hangouts.
Travel about five minutes up the road and turn left onto “I” St for the Park Way Tavern. Housed in a renovated Craftsman 
bungalow, the Parkway offers 30 rotating taps of the best micro-brews from around the world. The decor gives a nod to Tacoma’s
history and the micro-brew culture. In the back you can enjoy playing pool, air hockey, or take a load off in the zebra room with the corner fireplace. There is a patio out front for one to sit and enjoy the view of the gorgeous “painted ladies” in the neighborhood. The food is fresh and delicious. Try the chef salad, salmon burger, nachos or fresh quesadilla. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable about what they are pouring. There’s nothing like enjoying a beer in one of Tacoma’s prettiest historic neighborhoods.
Coming soon…part two of The Best of Tacoma.
Cheers!
Liz
Information for Red Hot and Park Way Tavern can be found on Facebook.
Pumpkin to the people! November 9, 2011
While supplies last BJ’s Brewery is now pouring their delicious autumn seasonal Pumpkin Ale! Pretty, reddish-amber color and the aroma
is quite mouth-watering. The taste is simply delightful with flavors of pumpkin pie and spices swirling around. It is medium bodied, malty and clean with a nice cinnamon and nutmeg finish that lingers. Sweet and spicy this ale would go great with BJ’s pork chops, desserts and even the famous Giant Stuffed Baked Potato (which is what I had). BJ’s even offers to top the Pumpkin Ale with whipped cream to enjoy as a dessert if you wish! And at 4.7% ABV you can enjoy a couple. Now I know the hardcore beer geeks are going to say “but PNW Beer Chick… BJ’s is a chain restaurant.” To that I say lighten up kids. Just because a brewery is a chain does not mean they don’t make some great beer! BJ’s also sells growlers of the stuff! $14.00 for the growler and fill up. $2.00 off to refill after that. Stop in and give it a go before the Great Pumpkin swoops it back to the pumpkin patch.
Cheers!
Liz
Sayonara Summer! November 8, 2011
In the Pacific Northwest autumn takes on a certain feel, smell and even taste. But have you ever experienced a Japanese autumn?
Thanks to Widmer Brewing you can now experience what autumn in the orient may taste like.
Widmer Brother’s Reserve Lemongrass Wheat Ale is a gorgeous ale brewed with fresh lemon grass and Muscat juice. It’s thick, sweet, but not too sweet, lightly spiced, and has an interesting resin mouth feel. The lemongrass adds a slightly pungent tartness that mellows out the syrupy sweetness. Resembling a carbonated white or rice wine with a cider finish, this limited edition brew is sure to warm you up. And at 9% ABV I would suggest this ale as a nice after dinner beer or enjoy next to a warm fire on a crispy night.
Cheers,
Liz
Pacific Northwest Beer Chick 