Leaving for Astoria, OR tomorrow. Great town, great history, oh, and great beer! Stay tuned! Post coming soon… April 30, 2015
Beer 101- Fruits of May, the conclusion June 10, 2013
It’s no secret that fruit beers are among my favorite beers. Now I’m not talking about that slice of lime wedged on the side of your mexican lager. I’m talking real fruit, fruit juices, and fresh puree added to everything from ales to lagers to wheat beers,to stouts and porters during the brewing process. To some, adding fruit to beer is sacrilege but fruit has been fermented and added to alcoholic beverages for millennium. Others simply won’t try it because they consider anything with fruit “chick beer.” They are really missing out! Here are my favorites from the month of May…
Samuel Smith Organic Strawberry Fruit Ale (5.2% ABV) – Amazing strawberry aroma. Thick body, jammy, natural fruit flavor (doesn’t taste fake). Crisp and “sparkly” with a wonderful fruit finish.
Unibroue Ephemere (5/5% ABV) One of my favorite beers for “Fruits of May!” Lovely green apple aroma. Crisp apple flavor and spices. Very similar to a hard, green apple cider…but better. I wouldn’t pair this with any food. It’s best sipped on its own.
Kona Brewing Wailua Wheat (5.4% ABV) – Lovely summer beer! Passion fruit aroma and body. Slightly pungent with a sweet/tart finish. If you have ever been to Hawaii, you will have wonderful flashbacks while sipping on this!
Samuel Smiths Organic Raspberry Fruit Ale (5.1% ABV) Another one of my favorites! Actually, in my opinion any of Samuel Smiths Fruit ales are amazing. This one is thick, rich, and full of raspberry goodness. Not one to be paired with food, except maybe for some vanilla bean ice cream. Wonderful!
Brouwerif Lindemans Framboise Lambic (2.5% ABV) Pretty much ANY of the lambics from this amazing Belgian brewery is a treat! Syrupy and elegant. Fresh raspberry aroma and flavor. Very effervescent with a gorgeous fruit finish. The best way I can describe this beauty is it’s like drinking raspberry champagne. My absolute favorite beer…period!
I feel any beer drinker should try a fruit beer at least once. Fruit beers are sweet, refreshing, and can really compliment a meal or serve as a lovely desert.
What’s in store for june? How about “a blonde named June?” I like it!
Cheers!
Liz
Spoetzl Brewing spreads a little Holiday Cheer! November 19, 2012
Pecan pie is a staple in most homes during the holidays. While July is normally the best month for
peaches, Spoetzl Brewing in Shiner, TX (home of Shiner Bock) has decided to bring peaches to us during the Autumn and Winter seasons and has truly outdone themselves. Shiner Holiday Cheer is a deliciously great way to celebrate family, home, caring, sharing, warmth, and love. OK, that might be a bit too sappy. It’s a great beer to enjoy during your holiday meal.
Holiday Cheer is an Old World Dunkelweizen brewed with Texas peaches and roasted pecans. The aroma is heavenly with swirls of fresh peaches and cinnamon. The taste…like drinking a peach and pecan pie! In fact, (as the Cajun side of my family would say) it’s so good it will make you wanna go home a slap your mama! The finish is a lovely symphony fresh peaches! Peach sweetness from start to finish without being overpowering. Matly, fresh, awesome! Holiday Cheer would go great with your thanksgiving Turkey, Christmas ham, or as an after dinner dessert. It’s available now in your local bottle shop so grab some before the season ends!
Cheers!
Liz
Upcoming Event: 17th Annual Holiday Ale Festival – Portland, OR November 16, 2012
5 pm Sunday.
Light Rail line.
days. Advance VIP packages are available for $65 and include the tasting mug, 28 taster tickets, a bottle of water, access to VIP lines (including special tappings) and express entry all five days. Additional beer tickets can be purchased for $1 apiece. Designated drivers in a party of two or more may purchase a designated driver wristband for $5, which includes Crater Lake Root Beer or bottled water for the duration of the stay.
representing Washington, California, Colorado, Delaware and Montana.
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
Another great upcoming Winter Beer Fest – 2011 Winter Beer Festival November 18, 2011
More than 35 Washington State breweries will be in attendance!
WHEN: December 2nd & 3rd.
WHERE: Hale’s Ales Palladium – Ballard, WA
HOW MUCH: $23.00 in advance/$25.00 at the door. Admission includes a tasting cup and six 5oz tastes. Additional token are $1.50 each. Designated driver admission is just $5.00.
Advanced tickets can be purchased at www.brownpapertickets.com.
Cheers,
Liz
