Pacific Northwest Beer Chick

Breweries, Beers & Good Times

Full Sailing into Spring! February 24, 2011

Filed under: beer,breweries,Micro brew,Oregon Brewers,Pacific Northwest Beer — pnwbeerchick @ 6:28 pm

Oh, the transition of winter to spring. Snow still lies on the ground as flowers are starting to bloom. At this time of year porter tends to be too full-bodied and toasty but hefeweizen is too light and sweet. What is one to drink during Mother Nature’s transition? How about cracking open a Full Sail LTD 04?

Brewed from December through March, this lovely lager is crisp and flavorful with a medium body and nice citrus finish. Full Sail uses just one pale malt and only Willamette hops in the brewing process. The result? A great complex lager that is flavorful enough to be enjoyed during the winter and light enough to be enjoyed during the springs! LTD 04 is very well-balanced and easy to drink. But be careful, at 7% ABV this baby is bound to sneak up on you!

 

Cheers!

Liz

www.fullsailbrewing.com

 

 

Striking the Motherload at Silver city! February 23, 2011

Filed under: beer,breweries,Micro brew,Pacific Northwest Beer,Washington beer — pnwbeerchick @ 5:38 pm

I’ve been to the “Motor City,” the “City of Angels,” the “City of Roses,” the “Crescent City,” even the “Emerald City.” But, I have found one of the best cities ever… Silver City.  Located in Silverdale, WA, Silver City Brewery has churned out some of the best beer in Western Washington. The food is great and the staff is very friendly and accommodating. But the beer is out of this world! I ordered the beer sampler and enjoyed every sip of it.

Bavarian Style Hefeweizen  (5% ABV): One of my favorite styles of beer is a Hefeweizen, and Silver City has crafted this one right. Brewed with 60% Washington wheat malt and 40% North American pale barley malt, this unfiltered beauty explodes with a gorgeous banana clove aroma and floral, sweet, banana flavor.  This beer was a favorite of the day.

Clear Creek Pale Ale (5.8% ABV):  Washington Centennial and Amarillo hops bring out a grapefruit aroma. Clear Creek is light caramel in color and has a nutty, caramel flavor with prominent hoppiness.

Big Daddy’s ESB (5.8% ABV):  Stronger in flavor than what one expects from an ESB, this beer is full of flavor and aroma. Brewed with Cascade hops, Big Daddy’s floral yet slightly hoppy Extra-Special Bitter is a great way to start spring. 

Ridgetop Red (6% ABV): Another of my favorites, Ridgetop Red is a wonderfully full-bodied brew.  Northwest Liberty hops and three select European specialty malts produce hints of sweet caramel that hit the palate immediately and finishes smooth and malty. This is a great year-round beer.

Panther Lake Porter (6% ABV):  This wonderful porter is ink black in color and the essence of chocolate and coffee perk up the senses (no pun intended).   The flavor is just as exciting. The porter started with dark chocolate, iced coffee and hints of vanilla bean and had a delicious malty finish.

Indianola Pale Ale (6.9% ABV): Surprisingly, this IPA is quite easy to drink.  Washington grown Cascade and Columbus hops create a floral, citrus aroma. Medium-bodied and hoppy, this is a great beer for spring and summer.

Whoop Pass Double India Pale Ale (9 % ABV): Silver City uses more than 50 lbs of Washington Cascade and Columbus hops in every batch of this IPA. Strong notes of grapefruit hit you in the face as soon as you raise your glass. Big citrus flavor with a caramel finish gives this IPA a nice balance. This beer really packs a hoppy punch!

Fat Scotch Ale (9.2% ABV): Heading into treacherous territory we have now come to one of my favorite beers brewed by Silver City. The Fat Scotch ale is treacherous for a few reasons: 1) the flavor and aroma are honey sweet and, thanks to the addition of peat malt, finishes slightly peaty reminiscent of a single-malt scotch and  2) The flavor is so heavenly; you may forget that the alcohol content is 9.2%. Fat Scotch is a truly beautiful beer in color, flavor and aroma. I defy anyone to stop at  just one!

Fat Woody Scotch Ale (9.2% ABV): Take my favorite Silver City beer (Fat Scotch Ale) and age it in American white oak barrels for 6 months. The barrel aging intensifies the smoky, peatyness of the Fat Scotch but kicks it up a bit adding a smooth, sweet, syrupy character. I also detected hints of chocolate and a slight saltiness found in a nice scotch-whiskey. Another dangerous beer!  Proceed with caution as it is also very high in alcohol content, but not in taste. Smooth and delicious!

Imperial Stout (9.2% ABV):  Nicely crafted, but has the highest alcohol content I have experienced in a stout. The Imperial Stout is definitely a great winter warmer with a wonderful coffee and dark chocolate aroma and flavor. Toasty, malty, and full-bodied, this beer finishes very nicely. Silver City uses Northwest Chinook hops in this nice, fireside sipper. Another beer to proceed with caution!

I enjoy each and every visit to Silver City. The only drawback is the size of the bar area. But, they have just completed the relocation of their brewing equipment to another location in Bremerton, WA and are in the process of expanding the restaurant and bar area. Thank goodness as the current seating in the bar area forces one to become a little too up close and personal with the person next to them.

Silver City Brewery distributes their brews to pubs all over Western Washington. They are also one of the few Washington brew pubs to distribute their beer in 22 oz bottles so if you can’t make it to the brewery, check out your locate grocery or farmer’s market and pick up a couple of bottles. You won’t be sorry!

Cheers!

Liz

www.silvercitybrewery.com

 

Reviews Coming Soon: Dick’s Brewing Company, 7 Seas Brewery, Powerhouse Brewing, Harmon Brewing Company, Silvery City Brewery. (So many beers…so little time!) February 11, 2011

Filed under: beer,breweries,Micro brew,Pacific Northwest Beer,Tacoma Breweries,Washington beer — pnwbeerchick @ 5:52 pm
 

Maui Brewing Company Has gone Coconuts! January 23, 2011

Filed under: beer,breweries,Hawaiian Breweries,Micro brew — pnwbeerchick @ 11:08 am

When the weather is crispy and cold, snow is on the ground, and fireplaces are working overtime there’s nothing like a toasty porter to warm you up. But, what does one do when one is tired of winter weather and longs for a touch of the tropics? Well, you grab Maui Brewing Company’s CoCoNut Porter!

Maui Brewing Company brought this unusual porter to the 2010 Portland Brewer’s Festival. The line for that particular beer was the longest one at the festival and unfortunately by the time I made it to the front of the line, it was tapped out. Bummer. But, since the Brewer’s Fest I’ve spotted the CoCoNut Porter in our local grocery store. Not in bottles, but in cans! Maui Brewing Companies philosophy on the use of cans vs bottles is the same philosophy that has been creeping slowly into the microbrew community. Cans are non-breakable, easier to chill, lighter to carry, and best of all, the are 100% recyclable!

I was a bit apprehensive to try this beer, simply because the thought of coconut in a porter sounds kind of sickening sweet and just, well, odd.

Well, I’m here to say I’m very pleasantly surprised. With a dark color and light coconut aroma, two of the senses are pleased immediately. The first drink is a malty-sweet (but not too sweet) surprise. Maui Brewing really brings a great tropical feel to this lovely porter by using six varieties of malted barley, Cascade and CTZ hops, and hand-toasted coconut. The result is a smooth porter with hints of chocolate, coffee and, of course, coconut. I was hooked after the first sip. Usually I suggest porters during the fall and winter. But, this porter is great any time of the year. At 5.7% ABV it’s not too high in alcohol, but because of the rich taste I would suggest this porter as a sipping beer. So, if you’re tired of having a white Christmas, try a CoCoNut Porter for a little tropical vacation.

Cheers,

Liz

www.mauibrewingco.com

 

Upcoming Event: The Museum of Flight’s 9th Annual Hops and Props

Filed under: beer,breweries,Micro brew,Pacific Northwest Beer,Seattle Hops & Props,Washington beer — pnwbeerchick @ 9:36 am

Saturday April 9, 2011

VIP Event 6-7:00 pm: $100
General Admission Main Event 7-10:00 pm: $70—SOLD OUT!
Members: $55—SOLD OUT!
Designated Drivers: $30 (Designated driver tickets will be available in the Museum Store the night of the event.) 

www.museumofflightstore.org/

 

TIP OF THE WEEK: H2O – Nectar of Life and Preventer of Hangover? January 16, 2011

Filed under: beer,breweries,Micro brew,Pacific Northwest Beer,Tacoma Breweries,Washington beer — pnwbeerchick @ 3:15 pm

I am not one who drinks beer for the purpose of getting drunk. I choose to enjoy my beer and the company I keep instead of wondering what I did the night before while hugging the porcelain God (or Goddess for my pagan friends). In my opinion, frat boys need not apply and if forgetting the evening is your sole purpose of drinking beer…then why are you viewing this blog? But, there is the rare occasion when one does have a few too many and wakes up wishing for sweet death. How do you prevent this unfortunate side effect? Agua, H2O, voda, das Wasser, uisge, mizu, good old-fashioned water.

What many people forget about when drinking is that alcohol is a diuretic which means it causes frequent urination and flushes water from the body. The result? Dehydration. The headache one gets the next morning is a direct symptom of dehydration. The best thing to do to prevent the “kicked in the back on the head” feeling is to drink water before, during and after you drink alcohol. Now the amount of water you should drink is still up for debate but it has been proven that drinking water throughout the night helps keep you hydrated and most people have reported either a slight headache to no headache whatsoever. This is no old wives tale, drinking water helps to prevent the morning after headache.

Scott and I have experimented with this theory for quite some time (years actually) and we both agree that when we drink water while drinking beer neither one of us experiences the infamous headache. I personally try to drink at leat 1 pint of water with each pint of beer. The other benefit of drinking water is it slows one down from chugging their beverage and they actually drink less. Another plus if you ask me. Now some may say drinking water is for wusses. My response, I would rather enjoy my night instead of regretting my morning.

Cheers!

Liz

 

The little Engine House that still can! January 10, 2011

Filed under: beer,breweries,Micro brew,Pacific Northwest Beer,Tacoma Breweries,Washington beer — pnwbeerchick @ 9:03 pm

Sometimes some of the best places are found completely by accident. About 3 years ago, when my husband and I were new to Washington State, we went exploring down 6th Ave in Tacoma. I just happened to be looking to my left when I spotted a gorgeous brick building with fluorescent beer signs in the windows. Thinking it was probably a dive bar, hubby reluctantly turned the car around to investigate. And boy, are we glad we did! Turns out this brick building is home to Tacoma’s first micro-brew. Engine House No. 9, built in 1907, was once the original fire house for Tacoma’s North End and is registered on the National Historical Register.  

Talk about ambiance! The place is packed full of antique fire fighting equipment and memorabilia including the original pole the firemen slid down a hundred years ago. The brewery not only carries its own beers, but has many guest taps as well featuring some of the best beers from around the world. I ordered the Engine House No. 9 (AKA E9) sampler tray for $5.00. The sampler features 6 of E9’s best home beers, some of the finest micro-brews in Tacoma.

Belgian White (4.1% ABV): If you are looking for a springtime ale, this may be the ale you want. The lowest ABV of the bunch, the aroma is soft and citrusy with a hint of lavender and wheat. This is a crisp, floral ale with a good clean finish. The Belgian White is very easy to drink and would go great with just about any meal.

Tacoma Brew (5.1% ABV): Brewed with Czech Saaz hops, this pale ale has a smooth, hoppy flavor with a sweet caramel finish.  The caramel seemed to intensify with every sip. Tacoma Brew is my husband’s “go to” beer.  It may be yours too!

Roasted Porter (5.9% ABV): As many of you know, I’m a big pan of porters. Made with coffee, this porter is so sweet and creamy; I thought it was nitro tapped.  The iced coffee flavor and aroma is so prominent, you may forget you’re drinking beer. Delicious!

Rowdy Dick Amber (6.2% ABV): Crisp and slightly hoppy, the malty finish rounds out this nice ale.  I pick up subtle hints of spice and think of autumn when I drink this ale. This ale is great for crisp October nights.

Winter Warmer (6.3% ABV): Like I’ve shared in my previous blogs, winter ales are a bit stronger than the average ale. And, like I am about to share, this ale is true to form. Beautiful and toasty, hints of caramel and coffee smooth out this rich ale. There is a bit of the hard alcohol taste I have warned you about in previous blogs, so be careful. This ale is definitely a sipper.

India Pale Ale (6.6% ABV): As you are all aware, I’m not a fan of IPAs but I actually enjoyed this one. Full bodied and full of hops, this IPA has a beautiful citrus aroma and the bitter flavor of grapefruit. Being the IPA fan, my husband really enjoys this beer. Though this ale may sound strong, it was actually quite easy to drink.

Fire Engine Red (7.0% ABV): With the highest ABV on my list, Fire Engine Red has a high alcohol nose and a strong winter ale style taste.  It’s quite hoppy and yet toasty with a malty finish. Like hard alcohol this beer is quite warming but I wouldn’t suggest you drink it while you eat.

Engine House No. 9 is family friendly and has a great, eclectic food menu. Try one of their fantastic pizzas with the house brews. Since stumbling upon Engine House No. 9 over 3 years ago we have become regular customers. If you come by on a weekend chances are pretty good you may run into me.

 

 

Cheers!

Liz

www.ehouse9.com

 

Reviews coming soon: Dick’s Brewing Company; 7 Seas Brewery; Powerhouse Brewery; Engine House No.9 December 26, 2010

Filed under: beer,breweries,Micro brew,Pacific Northwest Beer,Washington beer — pnwbeerchick @ 2:15 pm
 

Quick tips to get to know your local breweries:

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

 

2010 Portland Holiday Ale Festival December 12, 2010

Filed under: beer,breweries,Holiday Ales,Micro brew,Pacific Northwest Beer,Portland Holiday Brew Festival — pnwbeerchick @ 10:38 pm

What could be better than sampling new beer with a few friends? How about sampling beer with 18,000 new friends? Well, on December 4th I had the privilege to do just that at the 2010 Holiday Ale Festival in Portland, OR. For $25.00 I was handed a mug and a small roll of tickets to sample some of the best winter warmers brewed this year. A sample taste was one ticket and a full pint was worth 4. Forty-seven brewers from all over the country brought their best winter ales, stouts, porters and barley wines to the event.

Some beers were great, some not so much. So instead by trying to write about every beer I sampled, I’m going to give you my top 5 favorites from the 5-day event. Winter warmers are thicker and higher in alcohol so the casual drinker should really use caution when partaking in a pint.

#5  Smoked Porter w/Vanilla Beans – Stone Brewing Company (Escondido, CA)

Normally, I’m not a Smoked Porter fan. But, Stone Brewing Company changed my mind with their Smoked Porter by adding Vanilla Beans into the brew. The first sip brings the wonderful toastiness of a nice porter and then carries a bit of the smoke flavor. But, suddenly the smooth flavor of vanilla and hints of chocolate and coffee mellow this porter down to a truly lovely beer. This is a nice porter and has the lowest ABV on my top 5 at 5.9%.

www.stonebrew.com

#4  Brown Mashuggana – Lagunitas Brewing Company (Petaluma, CA)

Lagunitas Brewing Company took their popular seasonal Brown Shugga’ and kicked it up a notch for winter. Already brewed with a ton of brown sugar, the brewery added a touch of their Bourbon barrel Imperial Stout giving this cask conditioned porter a special kick.  The flavor of the brown sugar and bourbon really come through making this porter and wonderfully sweet, smooth beer. But be careful, at 10.0% ABV, this porter should not be taken lightly.

www.lagunitas.com

#3  Sang Noir – Cascade Brewing Company (Portland, OR)

Switching gears on flavor, I really enjoyed this sweet yet sour ale. Cascade Brewing Company is known for brewing sour beers and Sang Noir did not disappoint. Deep red in color, this ale is aged for more than a year in Pinot and whiskey barrels. Sang Noir is then blended with a barrel of Bing cherries giving the ale a wonderful cherry sweetness and aroma. This ale is so delicious that it would be easy to forget Sang Noir is 9.5% ABV. I had a hard time putting this ale down so, again, drink cautiously!  

www.cascadebrewingbarrelhouse.com

#2  Figgy Pudding, Olde Stock – Block 15 Restaurant & Brewery (Corvalis, OR)

This wonderfully sweet (but not too sweet) Strong Ale was a close tie for first on my list. Brewed with English pale and specialty malts and molasses, Figgy Pudding is then matured in brandy barrels and conditioned with mission figs, Ceylon cinnamon and nutmeg. Block 15 then ages the ale further with English stock wild yeast. I enjoyed the sweet aroma and the taste of sugared figs.  Figgy Pudding brought great visions of sitting by a fire on Christmas Eve. Or maybe it was the 11% ABV that gave me visions. Anyway, proceed with caution when approaching this delightful brew!

www.block15.com

#1  North the Fourth – Fort George Brewery & Public House (Astoria, OR)

My favorite beer of the event was also brewed with the most eclectic ingredients. North the Fourth is brewed with 60 pounds of cranberries, 40 pounds of spruce tips, and 2 pounds of candy canes (yes, candy canes). US Challenger and Czech Saaz hops are nicely balanced with 2-row malt giving North the Fourth an essence of chocolate and caramel. The candy canes give this ale a wonderful and interesting sweetness. Like most of the winter beers, the ABV on North the Fourth is quite high at 9.5%. I loved this beer so much I actually handed over 4 tickets for a fill pint.

www.fortgeorgebrewery.com

If you have never been to a beer festival, you are missing out on a good time. To be surrounded by other beer enthusiasts that wanted nothing more than taste and enjoy the new winter brews really made for a fun evening.

Happy Holidays!

Liz