Pacific Northwest Beer Chick

Breweries, Beers & Good Times

Beer…the cure for what ‘ales’ you! October 13, 2011

Filed under: beer,breweries,Micro brew,Pacific Northwest Beer,Poulsbo,Seattle Beer,Washington beer — pnwbeerchick @ 9:21 pm

Feeling a bit under the weather last weekend I made the difficult decision to bow out of The Great Pumpkin Beer Fest. Instead,  I decided to take it easy and just visit a few breweries on the peninsula and see what they have in store for autumn.  After all, why let a little sniffle take me completely out of the game?

First stop was Hale’s Ales in Silverdale. I much prefer Hale’s location in Seattle. It just feels odd visiting an ale house in a
mall. Luckily once you’re inside the ale house that feeling goes away.  This month Hale’s is pouring O’Briens Harvest Ale. At 6.9% ABV this is just the warmer I needed to pep me up at bit. This ESB style ale is hoppy and crisp with a toasty finish. It has a
really pretty pumpkin orange color and essence of autumn leaves. Full-bodied and malty, O’Briens is just what the doctor ordered.  I followed up with the H.S.B. (Red Menace on nitro). This was a pretty beer. Smooth, creamy head and a malty
mouthfeel, I detected a hint of toffee. The finish is lightly hopped and very enjoyable.

Next stop was one of my favorite PNW breweries: Slippery Pig in Poulsbo. Now, I know this particular brewery is known for producing some crazy beers…but I think Hog Thai’d is their craziest one to date! And, at 9.5% ABV this baby packs a wallop. Ready for the ingredients? Glazed, smoked summer squash, toasted coconut, and zucchini. This beer starts out smoky and ends the same way. Hoppy, medium to full body with a touch of sweetness from the coconut, this baby would be worth a growler full! Also on tap was their Black Boar Hefe. I have never had a black hefeweizen. I’m talking this puppy is ink black. Black Boar is malty and full-bodied with a slightly sweet-tart finish. According to owner/brewer Dave, the wheat used in Black Boar is sautéed in a wok creating a lovely toasty element. Well done!

My last stop on my “Feeling A Bit Cruddy Tour” was Valhöll Brewing. I could hardly wait to try the brewery’s newest creation: Hop Fuk Wet Hop IPA. Beautiful Belgian lace floated elegantly above the amber-colored brew. Hop Fuk has a great hoppy aroma, starts out sweet and then pounds you in the face with an oily, full mouth feel. 7.6% ABV. I was very pleased.

I finished up with the very dark, very pretty Punkin Stouty. Served in a goblet, this elegant looking brew is strong (8.8% ABV) but easy to drink. Brewed with real pumpkin and spices, Punkin Stouty is malty, full-bodied and carried notes of brown sugar. Great little sipper.

So after a relaxing day at the breweries and about twelve hours of sleep, I was finally able to shake whatever it was that
ailed me. I guess beer really is the great “cure all.

 

Cheers!

Liz

www.halesbrewery.com

www.valhollbrewing.com

Information about Slippery Pig Brewery can be found on facebook.

 

Another Great Pacific Northwest Beer Festival: Anacortes Oktoberfest Bier on the Pier September 28, 2011

Filed under: beer,Beer Festivals,breweries,Pacific Northwest Beer,Seattle Beer,Tacoma Breweries,WA,Washington beer — pnwbeerchick @ 1:40 pm

WHEN: October 7: 5PM-9PM & October 8: 12PM-6PM

WHERE: 1st & Commercial, Port Warehouse. Located on the pier over-looking the beautiful Guemes channel in Anacortes.

HOW MUCH: 2 day advance passes and single entry tickets  available online at Brown Paper Tickets.

  • 2 day advanced pass $35 plus 12 tasting tickets and festival glass—$45 at
    the door.
  • 1 day ticket $20 advanced plus 6 tasting tickets and festival glass—$25 at the door.
  • 1 day ticket sales begin August 15
  • 21 and older, must have ID

30 breweries will be pouring their finest for…2 days! The event will also feature live music and a variety of food vendors with festival style seating.

So many festivals…so little time!

Cheers!

Liz

www.anacortes.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elysian Brewing Company’s 2011 Great Pumpkin Beer Festival

Filed under: beer,Beer Festivals,breweries,Micro brew,Pacific Northwest Beer,Pumpkin Beer,Seattle Beer,WA,Washington beer — pnwbeerchick @ 1:07 pm

Hey kids! It’s that time of year again! Elysian Brewing Company will be holding their annual Great Pumpkin Beer Festival in their new location in Seattle’s Georgetown Neighborhood. Elysian will serve 11 of their own beers brewed just for the occasion and 50 guests beers will also be sporting their best. Linus would be so proud!

WHEN: OCTOBER 8-9, 2011
Sat. 10/8 from 12-10PM
Sun. 10/9 from 12-6PM
The Great Pumpkin is tapped at 4PM each day.

WHERE: 5510 Airport Way S., Seattle, WA 98108

HOW MUCH: $20 Presale and $25 at the door – includes souvenir pumpkin glass and 6 drink tickets. You can purchase tickets through Brown Paper Tickets, at any of Elysian’s pubs, or from Full Throttle Bottles.

ELYSIAN BEERS: Mr. Yuck Sour Pumpkin Ale, Night Owl, Great Pumpkin, Dark o’ the Moon Pumpkin Stout, Hansel and Gretel Ginger Pumpkin Pils, Coche de Medianoche (new!), Kürbitinus, PK-47 Pumpkin Malt Liquor, Headless Horsey (new!), Ursa Orange (new!) and another TBA. Elysian collaborations will also be poured: Kick Sour Cranberry Pumpkin Ale (New Belgium), Saison of the Witch (Tom Douglas) and Le Citrueille Celest de Citricado (Stone, The Bruery).

GUEST BREWERS: Silver City, Big Time, Rock Bottom, Ram, Schooner Exact, Fremont, Georgetown, Naked City, Black Raven, Snoqualmie, Elliott Bay, Pike, Anacortes, Rogue, Anderson Valley, Russian River, Allagash, Jolly Pumpkin, Avery, Cambridge, Iron Hill, Howe Sound, St. Arnold, Utah Brewers Collective, Nøgne Ø and more TBA!

 Food trucks will be on-site.

See you there!!!

Cheers,

Liz

info@elysianbrewing.com  or 206.860.3977

 

 

A Brewery Looks At 30 September 20, 2011

Filed under: beer,Beer Festivals,breweries,Micro brew,Pacific Northwest Beer,Redhook Brewery,Seattle Beer,Washington beer — pnwbeerchick @ 11:07 pm

I’m not talking about a certain “parrot head” and his mid-life crisis, I’m talking about a Washington icon celebrating 30 years as
one of the Pacific Northwest’s best breweries. This year Redhook Brewing turns 30 years old and boy do they know how to throw a party! Mitten, the Tom Tom Club, Psychedelic Furs, and headliners DEVO performed during the event. And I got a chance to sample Redhook’s Extra Special Birthday beer making this the best birthday bash I have ever attended. More about the

Jeffrey, Shannon, Master Brewer Greg and Robert

entertainment in a bit; first things first…the beer!

We started off the event with an enjoyable lunch and conversation with the Redhook crew: Jeffery, Shannon, Ciea, Robert, and Master Brewer Greg.  The Redhook staff was decked out in their 1980’s best and I had some serious flashbacks (Why did we ever dress like that? I think I owned a pair of those fish nets! Did makeup really need to come in neon?) But back to the beers…Scott & I threw back a couple of the Redhook’s best…

Tina Weymouth of Tom Tom Club

Big Ballard Imperial IPA (8.6% ABV) – Dark amber color. Hoppy yet surprisingly sweet for an IPA. Nice malty texture. Well balanced hop/caramel character with a crisp hoppy finish.  Great beer for the “hop heads.”

ESB (5.8% ABV) – One of the brewery’s flagship beers, the ESB is dark red in color with a spicy nose. Crisp, medium bodied, and hoppy.  Malty caramel notes without being too sweet. One of my favorites!

Blonde (5.7% ABV) – Smooth and malty with a soft honey sweetness. Just a hint of hops giving it a nice citrus snap. Great for
hanging out by the pool.

Pilsner (5.3% ABV) – Dark honey color and think honey flavor. Crisp and clean with a nice medium body. Light hops and spices brings out a lovely floral character.  The summer to autumn transition just got a little easier.

Wit (5.3% ABV)- Another Redhook favorite of mine! Gorgeous banana clove aroma and flavor. Master Brewer Greg and I had a

Psychedelic Furs

great discussion about this beauty. He informed me that tea from the famous Market Spice located in the Pike Place Market in Seattle is used in the brew, creating the lovely spicy aroma and flavor. I truly love this beer!

Extra Special Birthday Beer (7.0% ABV) – Now for the Pièce de résistance! Don’t let the dark color of this gem fool you. Paying homage to the original ESB, Redhook modified their recipe and uses a special yeast strain to create a lovely banana clove character. Very rich and slightly toasty with a little bit of a dry finish. The Extra Special Birthday Beer is a great tribute to Redhook’s brewing legacy! The Extra Special Birthday Beer is in the process of being bottled and will hit the stores soon…but only for a limited time!

As the day progressed we joined the crowd of 5,000 Redhook fans outside for the birthday party featuring live music from some great music icons: Tom Tom Club, Psychedelic Furs and DEVO. Opening New York band Mitten took the stage first followed by Tom Tom Club. Tina Weymouth still has it after 30 years!

DEVO

The rain held out as long as possible but the Psychedelic Furs took the stage and the sky opened up! The Furs still sound as great as they ever did and Richard Butler’s raspy vocals and sexy stage presence still captivates!

As the rain Gods continued to pummel us, DEVO strummed their first chord and we all suddenly forgot we were getting soaked. Being true showman the band played on without complaint…and they were getting just as soaked as we were. DEVO is just as great to watch now as they were when I was a teenager in the 80’s!

Well as I said earlier, Redhook knows how to throw a party. Thank you again to Redhook for inviting me to this great event. The brewery should be proud of their accomplishments over the last 30 years and I’m proposing a toast to the next!

Cheers!

Liz

www.redhook.com

For more pictures of the 30th Birthday Party visit my Facebook page.

 

Americana Music Festival – Saturday September 10, 2011 September 8, 2011

Filed under: beer,Beer Festivals,breweries,Pacific Northwest Beer,Poulsbo,Uncategorized,WA,Washington beer — pnwbeerchick @ 2:39 pm

Where: Poulsbo Waterfront & Marina. Poulsbo, WA

When: 12:00pm – 7:00pm.

Live music, yummy food and great local beer from Slippery Pig Brewing, Sound Brewery, and Valholl Brewing! 

Cheers!

Liz 

www.poulsbomusicfestival.com

 

New Facebook page! September 5, 2011

Filed under: beer,Beer Festivals,breweries,Micro brew,Pacific Northwest Beer,Tacoma Breweries,Uncategorized,Washington beer — pnwbeerchick @ 8:40 pm

I just started a new Facebook page…look up Pnwbeerchick on Facebook and click “like.” Thanks for looking!

 

What to get a viking who has everything… September 1, 2011

Filed under: beer,breweries,Micro brew,Pacific Northwest Beer,Poulsbo,Washington beer — pnwbeerchick @ 10:18 pm

Lo, there do I see my father.                                                                               
Lo, there do I see my mother.
Lo, there do I see my sisters
and my brothers.
I see the line of my people
back to the beginning….grabbing a beer???

Well they are at a Poulsbo, WA gem…Vahöll Brewing. I have wanted to write about Vahöll Brewing for quite some time and last weekend was finally my chance to sit, sample some great beers, and enjoy a chat with the owner, Jeff.

The tasting room is open air and cozy. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable.  And hey…there’s a big Viking on the wall! How can you go wrong with the Viking? The beers are fantastic and give me a feel of the old country…well, Poulsbo anyway.                              

Poulsbo Abbey Wit (5.2% ABV) – Light banana clove nose and flavor. Soft spices with a “bubble gum” finish. Light to medium bodied and very easy to drink. Great beer for a hot day.

Blackberry Wit (5.0% ABV) – Very clean and fruity. Brewed with fresh blackberries, the fruit is not too overpowering. Sweet but not too sweet. A beer that even the most faithful of hop heads would enjoy!

RyPA (5.5% ABV) – My favorite of the day! “Bready” aroma and a lovely hoppy bite. Medium bodied, very clean beer and a crisp finish. I could have had ten of these…ok, maybe five.

Bob’s Amarillo Bitter (7.7% ABV) – Merging over into a darker beer, the Bitter is a lovely balance of hops and caramel. White oak is used during the process giving the Bitter a nice “organic” feel. Ægir would certainly indulge in this beauty.

Blackberry Stouty (7.0% ABV) – Another favorite of the day was this amazingly sweet yet smoky stout. 2lbs of blackberries were dumped into the mix creating a gorgeous fruity aroma and jammy finish. Dark color, full bodied, and great to share with that special someone.

Vahöll  Brewing is another great brewery that is not afraid to take chances with ingredients. Soon to be added to their tap: Crimson
Cove Cherry Rye. I love this brewery and can hardly wait for more of their creative brews.

Now I know this is the third blog I have done on breweries in Poulsbo, but trust me, the beer culture here is really taking off. A darling little Norwegian town with a water view, who wouldn’t want to brew here?

 

Cheers!

Liz

Information for Vahöll  Brewing can be found on facebook.

 

Where the heck am i? August 15, 2011

Filed under: beer,breweries,Micro brew — pnwbeerchick @ 5:35 pm

I’m in Bloomington, IL! Trust me, you will be pleasantly surprised at what I have found! Coming soon!!!!

 

Cheers!

Liz

 

Coming soon: The Olympic Club, Airways Brewing Company, and The Red hot. Wow! I better get to work! August 6, 2011

Filed under: beer,breweries,Micro brew,Pacific Northwest Beer,Tacoma Breweries,Washington beer — pnwbeerchick @ 10:37 am
 

Velkommen tilbake til Poulsbo! August 4, 2011

Filed under: beer,breweries,Micro brew,Poulsbo,Washington beer — pnwbeerchick @ 11:08 pm

So, hubby and I headed to Poulsbo, WA for a little brewery action as we heard tell a few new breweries that recently cropped up are making a splash. Not ones to pass on a chance to experience a new brewery we eagerly made our way back to the little Norwegian town we love so much. Turns out, the rumors are true! Located within minutes of the downtown area and just blocks
from each other, Sound Brewing and Slippery Pig Brewery are carving names for themselves in the micro-brew scene. Each brings their own styles to the micro-brew table and I see both really going places.

Sound Brewing opened its doors earlier this year and so far is doing relatively well. Sporting a very chic tasting room, Sound Brewing serves up equally chic beer.

Dunkelweizen (5.0% ABV) – Pretty amber color and toasty aroma. Slightly sweet, caramel and malty with a clean finish.

Kristallweizen (5.0 % ABV) – Golden color and nice wheat aroma. Clean and easy to drink, Kristallweizen reminds me of a light tasting, blonde ale.

Poundage Porter (5.5% ABV) – Dark brown color with a hard alcohol and dark chocolate aroma. Toasty, bitter dark chocolate, coffee. Great porter for chilly nights.

Dubbel Entandre (8.0% ABV) – A bit high in alcohol, this beer tastes a bit stronger than expected. With hints of fig and brown sugar, the taste is sweet, malty and full-bodied. Not for the meal, strictly for sipping.

Bevrijder Belgian Style IPA (7.0% ABV) – Ok “hop heads,” here you go! The Bevridjer (bev-ryder) is chock full of hops and citrus notes. Hints of honey grace this pretty beer and beautiful Belgian lace coats the glass on the way down. For an IPA, the Bevrijder is very easy drink and quite enjoyable.

Koperen Ketel Belgian Style Pale Ale (6.0 % ABV) – Dark honey color and aroma. Lightly malted with soft caramel hitting the palate. Light to medium bodied. Can drink with a meal, but probably more enjoyable on its own.

Monk’s Indiscretion Belgian Specialty Ale (10.0% ABV) – Hold on to your rosary beads! Monk’s indiscretion is dry hopped creating a beautiful hoppy aroma yet sweet, honey like flavor. Citrus notes sharpen up the sweet a bit. This beer is not for the faint of heart.

O’Regan’s Revenge Irish Red Ale (5.5 % ABV) – My favorite beer from Sound is the Irish Red. An aroma of hazelnuts and autumn leaves start this beer off right. Slight sweet and toasty with hints of caramel, the Irish red finishes clean and crisp. Lovely beer!

Located just a block away from Sound Brewing Co and down a quiet, dirt road sits one of the most relaxing and serene breweries I have ever been to: Slippery Pig Brewing. The tasting area is in the brewer’s front yard and the smell of the grasses and fresh flowers swirl around in the breeze. Slippery Pig is also one of the most unusual breweries I have encountered as they incorporate local, quirky ingredients like dandelion, stinging nettle, and rhubarb in their beer creating one-of-a-kind style and taste. You are sure to be greeted by the two resident dogs as you approach the tasting area. Oh, and the owners are really nice!

Dandelion Bitter (5.2% ABV) – Who knew a common weed can produce such a tasty brew? Brewed with actual dandelion the Bitter is light bodied and slightly bitter with a very pretty floral note. A great beer for sitting around a camp fire and chatting up friends.

Rhübbel Double Rhubarb (6.5% ABV) – A combination of two of Slippery Pigs brews, Rhübbel is double fermented creating a gorgeous floral, hop aroma and a soft tart flavor. It finishes clean and sweet.

Rhubarb (6.5% ABV) – Dark amber color. Brewed with fresh rhubarb, the sweet-tart character of the vegetable smooths outs the bitterness of the hops creating a unique beer.

Curly Tail Pale Ale (5.0% ABV) – A favorite of mine at the recent Bremerton BrewFest, Curly Tail is brewed with 10 lbs of stinging nettles creating a wonderfully sour ale. Dark red color and medium body. One of Slippery Pig’s best!

Sprung (4.5% ABV) – Flowers, honey, coconut…what more can a girl ask for (except for chocolate). Medium bodied and has a slight high alcohol character. Sprung is a gorgeous, crispy beer with a nice smoky finish.

Two more Poulsbo breweries have also made a mark: Battenkill Brewing Co and Valhöll Brewing. Stay tuned for Poulsbo Breweries #3 featuring these two wonderful breweries. Wow! Four great breweries in the same small town! As Poulsbo’s brewing scene continues to grow, so does my love for this wonderful little town.

Cheers!

Liz

www.soundbrewery.com

Information about Slippery Pig can be found on Facebook.