Pacific Northwest Beer Chick

Breweries, Beers & Good Times

Slummin’ it in Bellevue. May 16, 2011

Filed under: beer,breweries,Micro brew,Pacific Northwest Beer,Washington beer — pnwbeerchick @ 8:14 pm

Hubby and I decided to spend the day in Bellevue, WA to see how the “other half” lives (tongue firmly in cheek). Turns out the “other half” is doing just fine. Beautifully maintained streets, high-end shops, and six-figure vehicles are everywhere. It reminded me of Beverly Hills, CA. Oh, and they have two great beer establishments within just feet of each other. I’m speaking of Rock Bottom Brewery and the Tap House Grill.

Rock Bottom, one of CraftWorks Restaurant & Breweries many brands, has two locations in Washington State; Seattle and Bellevue, and 32 other locations across the country. Ok, I know, they’re a chain brewery but, unlike many chain breweries all Rock Bottom beers are brewed on-site and each location has their own distinct style.

Kölsch (5% ABV) – One of my favorite styles of beer, Rock Bottom’s version has a lovely sweet, peach aroma and a crisp, floral flavor and a light hoppy finish. What a great beer for spring.

White Ale (ABV unavailable) – Unfiltered and brewed with coriander and spices, the White Ale has a pretty clove aroma and flavor with floral notes and a crisp finish. This is another great springtime beer.

Rock Bottom IPA (ABV unavailable) – Wow! Talk about hops! But don’t be fooled, the taste is not a strong as you might think. The flavor starts out strong, but a subtle maltiness mellows it out nicely giving this IPA a soft, caramel and citrus finish.

Hop Bomb IPA (6.8% ABV) – Dark golden color and hop aroma, this IPA has the great grapefruit flavor hop heads crave and finishes crisp and clean. Hubby enjoyed this one.

Lumber Jack Red (5.8% ABV) – Great dark amber color and sweet honey aroma and flavor. The red is medium bodied and has a nice subtle fruity finish. This was my favorite beer of the day.

Fire Chief Red (6% ABV) – A toastier version of the Lumber Jack Red, Fire Chief is malty, crisp and has a flavor that reminds me of autumn. This beer would go very nicely on a cool evening next to a bonfire.

The Rock Bottom is beautiful and chic. And the food? Delightful.

After our fantastic lunch we walked about 50 paces away from the brewery to another chic place, the Tap House Grill, to have a pint…or 160…on tap! The Tap House Grill carries various styles of beer and cider from around the world. The wall of tap handles can be a bit overwhelming so take a look at their beer menu. The menu divides the beers on tap by style such as “Ales,” “Wheats,” “India Pale Ales” and “Belgians.” Still don’t know? The Tap House has a variety of sampler trays which includes 4 six-ounce glasses and each tray has a different personality. The Northwest Sampler includes beer brewed in the PNW and the World Tour tray includes beers from around the world. Or, if you’re feeling a bit “adventurous” let the bartender decide for you with the Bartender’s Pick Sampler.

So after a long day of shopping at Neiman Marcus and Jimmy Choo stop in to either one of these great hot spots to kick up your Louis Vuitton heels and enjoy a pint.

Cheers!

Liz

www.rockbottom.com/bellevue

www.taphousegrill.com

 

Brewing in perfect HARMONy. April 27, 2011

Filed under: beer,breweries,Micro brew,Pacific Northwest Beer,Tacoma Breweries,Washington beer — pnwbeerchick @ 10:55 pm

 

A staple in the Tacoma, WA brewing scene, Harmon Brewing Company has been crafting beer in Tacoma’s historic University District since 1997. I have been a frequent Harmon customer since moving to “the Sound” four years ago and upon each visit Harmon always has something new and exciting on tap! During this visit I was lucky enough to sample some of the winter and spring seasonal along with Harmon’s flagships.

Mt. Takhoma Blonde (4.4% ABV) – Brewed with Liberty hops, white wheat and German Pilsner malt, this beer is light and crisp with a touch of citrus.  Mt. Takhoma is a very easy beer to drink and perfect for spring and summer. But don’t let the fact that this is a blonde ale fool you, Mt. Takhoma is packed with beautiful flavor. The brewery serves Mt. Takhoma with an orange slice enhancing the lovely citrus characters.

Pinnacle Peak Pale Ale (4.4% ABV) – One of Harmon’s flagship beers, Pinnacle Peak is smooth, light bodied and slightly hoppy with subtle tones of caramel. 2-row malted barley, German malted barley and Palisade and Citra hops balance out the flavor rather nicely. Pinnacle Peak, from what I have been told, is one of the most popular beers served at the brewery. One sip and you will easily see why.

Vanilla Porter (5.4% ABV) – A popular winter seasonal, this was my favorite beer of the day.  Harmon uses 8 different malts and Madagascar vanilla beans to create this full-bodied beauty. Notes of milk chocolate fade in and out while the vanilla is a constant present. I would drink the Vanilla Porter by itself. It’s just too good to pair with any food.

Point Defiance IPA (6.1% ABV) – Okay hop heads, this one is for you! Point defiance IPA is not only one of Harmon’s flagship beers; it is also their most popular. Columbus and Centennial hops along with ten pounds of Amarillo hops creates that beautiful grapefruit aroma and strong hoppy flavor. Point Defiance IPA is a crisp pretty beer that even the most discriminating hop head will fall for. This beer is my hubby’s favorite.

T-Town Brown (6.2% ABV) – I enjoyed this brown ale quite a bit. I took a moment to enjoy the lovely vanilla and brown sugar aroma. Both qualities carried over into the flavor. T-Town Brown is medium to full-bodied and has a rich molasses finish.

Black Tartan IPA (6.8% ABV) – One of the most interesting beers of the day, the Black Tartan had a lot of different characteristics. Think of a stout and an IPA having a baby.  I caught a smoky, dark chocolate flavor but with a hoppy finish. Harmon uses 5 different malted barleys creating a black, full-bodied beer that they brew just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. Order one soon before they run out!

Porter Porter (8-9% ABV) – Yes, it’s really called “Porter Porter.” If you like chocolate and coffee, then this winter seasonal is for you. Harmon uses 9 different malted barleys to create this full-bodied, toasty gem. There is a strong, hard “alcoholiness” taste when you first start drinking, but don’t put it down. The hard alcohol taste mellows out by the 2nd or 3rd sip and you end up with a great fireside porter.

Want to try some of Harmon’s beautifully crafted brews? You don’t have to go far. Harmon has three locations in Tacoma that also serve a great variety of food dishes; Harmon Brewery & Eatery, The Taproom, and The Hub.  Can’t make it to the brewery? Pubs all over the Puget Sound serve up Harmon’s creations on tap. Want to take it home? Harmon by the bottle can be found in many of your local Puget Sound grocery stores or whole food markets. So really, you have no excuse not to enjoy a Harmon beer.

Cheers!

Liz

www.harmonbrewingco.com

 

Hops & Props and Beers! Oh my! April 15, 2011

Filed under: beer,breweries,Micro brew,Pacific Northwest Beer,Seattle Hops & Props — pnwbeerchick @ 7:30 pm

 

What could be better than walking among some of the most beautiful and historically significant aircrafts ever built? Why, doing it with a pint in your hand of course! On April 9th, Seattle’s Museum of Flight hosted their 9th annual Hops & Props event. Fifty-six breweries from around the world brought their best spring brews and ciders along with a few flagships sprinkled in.  The entire museum was open to explore during the event and the brewers were mixed throughout the exhibits. But enough of my gibberish, let’s get to the beers!

There were so many fabulous beers that it was difficult to just focus on a few for this article. Of course it would have been physically impossible for me to try all 119 beers and ciders (unless I was willing to take an ambulance ride) so I will hit on my top 5 favorites and a couple of the “not so much” beers.

The Best  

#5 Avatar Jasmine IPA – Elysian Brewing (6.3% ABV) Seattle, WA – Being one of my favorite breweries in Washington (if not my absolute favorite) Elysian, again, does not disappoint. This tasty IPA is brewed with 4 different malts, Glacier and Amarillo hops, and dried jasmine flowers. The aroma is nice with a lovely citrus and floral note. Avatar starts hoppy and finishes clean. The jasmine flowers level out the hard grapefruit flavor you normally get with an IPA. This beer is perfect for spring and summer.

#4 Summer Solstice – Fremont Brewing (5.2% ABV) Seattle, WA – Fremont Brewing describes this beer as “Tangerine flower in a glass” and I couldn’t agree more. 2-row Pale malt and Amarillo hops create a soft, fruity beer with a nice floral finish.  Simplicity at its finest!

#3 Spring Fever Grand Cru – Snoqualmie Falls Brewing Company (7% ABV) Snoqualmie, WA – Coriander, orange, and a little banana clove are the flavors that make this beer a refreshing treat for spring and summer. Pretty aroma and flavor, Spring Fever Grand Cru reminded me more of an orange spiced iced tea than a beer. But be careful! This beer is deceptive at 7% ABV. Delicious!

#2 Samuel Smith’s Organic Strawberry Ale – Samuel Smith (5.2% ABV) N. Yorkshire, England – I enjoy a good fruit beer and this beer from Samuel Smith’s is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Full bodied and fruity, the Organic Strawberry Ale is very similar to the Belgian fruit ales and tastes more like dessert than beer. If you like strawberries, this is the ale for you!

#1 Odin’s Pearl – Odin Brewing Company (5% ABV) Seattle, WA – Hands down this beer was my absolute favorite of the event! This unfiltered Belgian Wheat Ale is medium bodied and carries notes of clove, mace spice, and orange blossoms. The finish is clean and crisp.  I can’t say enough about this gorgeous beer and can hardly wait to get my hands on this beauty of an ale again!

The Worst

Unfortunately, not all the beers I sampled were great. In fact there was a couple that were downright satanic! For example; I had such high hopes for Three Skulls Blood Orange Wit. The description given by the brewers of “a strong coriander presence is followed with a crisp finish” sounded very intriguing. I envisioned an unfiltered wit beer with a nice blood orange essence. What I received resembled watery lemonade and tasted like a watered down sweet tart.  Disappointing. 

But, the award for the worst beer of the evening goes to 192 Brewing Co.’s Granny’s Apple Ale. Now, I have NEVER dumped out a beer before, no matter how much I didn’t like it. But this beer sent even me over the edge! The smell and taste were like grabbing a warm apple juice box. In fact, this beer was so bad I really can’t give a description. I promptly poured it down the bathroom sink, found my rosary beads, and said 5 “Our Father’s” and 5 “Hail Mary’s.” 

Though there were a couple of less than palatable brews, the evening was not lost. McCormick & Schmick’s catered the event and there was live music echoing through the halls. One drawback would be that there are really no hotels near the museum. We stayed in Pioneer Square so after our hotel bill, cab ride to and from the museum, and price of admission we spent a pretty penny. All in all it was a lovely evening and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Would I do it again? We’ll just have to wait until next year.

 

Cheers!

Liz

www.odinbrewing.com

www.elysianbrewing.com

www.samuelsmithsbrewery.co.uk

www.fremontbrewing.com

www.fallsbrew.com

 

Happy National Beer Day! April 7, 2011 April 7, 2011

Filed under: beer,breweries,Micro brew,Pacific Northwest Beer,Uncategorized,Washington beer — pnwbeerchick @ 8:21 pm

It was on this day in 1933, the Cullen-Harrison Act, signed a month earlier by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, legalized the sale of beer with an alcohol content of no more than 3.2% and in the United States. This act paved the way for the eventual repeal of the 18th amendment bringing an end to the “dark times” known as Prohibition. So raise your glass and give thanks!

Cheers!

Liz

 

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
 

Upcoming Event: The Museum of Flight’s 9th Annual Hops and Props January 23, 2011

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