Coming Soon: Wingman Brewing’s new tasting room, Gig Harbor Beer Festival, and some new summer beer releases! May 16, 2012
Upcoming event… April 25, 2012
WHEN: Saturday, May 12th, 2012.
TIME: Noon-7:00pm
WHERE: Uptown Gig Harbor Pavilion (4701 Pt. Fosdick Dr.)
ATTENDING BREWERIES:
- 7 Seas Brewery
- American Brewing Company
- Der Blokken Brewery
- Dicks Brewing Company
- Everybody’s Brewing
- Harmon Brewing Co.
- Hood Canal Brewery
- Port Townsend Brewing Co.
- Silver City Brewery
- Sound Brewery
- Valholl Brewing Company
Pre-sale tickets are $20 or $25 the day of the event. Admission includes a 2012 commemorative taster cup and eight taster tokens. 21+ up only. You can purchase tickets through the festival website, www.gigharborbeerfestival.com or from www.brownpapertickets.com.
I will definitely be there!
Cheers!
Liz
Upcoming event: Hand Truckin’ @ Latona April 16, 2012
Local Brewery and Pub Toast Earth Day with Ten Mile Hand Truckin’ Event
Two Dozen Volunteers Trek Beer From SODO to Green Lake to Promote Neighborhood Walkability
Event Name: Hand Truckin’ @ Latona
Venue: Latona Pub; 6423 Latona Ave. NE Seattle, WA 98115
Description: A unique Earth Day celebration for beer lovers and supporting a more walkable community. Enjoy a beer and socialize with walking enthusiasts, pedestrian advocates and craft brew lovers. This event benefits Feet First, the only organization in Washington working to ensure there are walkable communities across the state. Your ticket gets you a Feet First pint glass and a big frothy mug of Two Beer’s limited edition Hand Truckin’ Wheat Ale. Prior to the event, volunteers will transport the ale 10 miles on foot from SODO to Greenlake in order to make this a zero-carbon event (call to be part of the great beer hike). Hand Truckin’ Wheat Ale is a bright-colored draft with a soft, slightly fruity aroma that is both brisk and refreshing. This beer is a tribute to people powered beer transportation, Mother Earth, and Feet First’s continued efforts to save lives, improve health, and expand economic growth in Washington.
When: April 22, 2012 (Earth Day). 2pm- 4:30 pm (there will be a press event with speakers and photo op at 2:20pm)
Price: $20
Tickets Website: http://feet-first.ticketleap.com/two-beers-a-pub-and-a-nonprofit/
Contact Name: Lee Warnecke
Contact Email: lee@feetfirst.org
Visuals: (Image: http://feetfirst.info/KegsAlongBGTrail.jpg ) The unveiling of the Feet First Chicken, the organization’s new mascot designed by staff at Seattle Central Community College’s Apparel Design program. Dozens of volunteers hand trucking kegs on foot from SODO to Green Lake. Friends and neighbors celebrating Earth Day by enjoying a glass of hand trucked ale at Latona Pub.
My Beer Vacation – Part 3 April 12, 2012
A lovely drive north on the Olympic Peninsula will take you to the gorgeous seaside town of Port Townsend, WA. Port Townsend is the perfect getaway for lovers of Victorian architecture and all things nautical. It’s also a fantastic spot for some tasty beer. But first, a short history lesson.
Port Townsend is a step back into time. Founded in 1851, the town’s physical appearance has changed very little over the last 120 years. Gorgeous Victorian buildings line the
Manresa Castle
downtown area and amazing Victorian homes (AKA “painted ladies”) peer down from the cliffs just behind the main street. You can stay in one of the historic hotels located on the main street or you can do what hubby and I did and stay just a few blocks away at Manresa Castle. Yes, there is a castle in Port Townsend! Built in 1892, it was the hill-top home of Port Townsend’s first mayor and his wife: Charles and Kate Eisenbeis. Jesuit priests bought the home in 1927 and used it as a training college. Today it is a hotel lovingly restored and gorgeously decorated in period antiques and photos of Port Townsend’s past. One can’t help but want to explore every nook and cranny of the grand old house. As with most old structures, Manresa Castle is rumored to be haunted. I was so looking forward to encountering a spirit. Alas, not this time.
Just down the hill in the ship yard sits Port Townsend Brewing Company. Opened in 1997, the brewery has become the pride of the town. And it’s no wonder why! The tasting room is very large and quite elegant. And boy do they have a lot of beer. I enjoyed the taster tray but was a bit overwhelmed by the amount of beer served; twelve tasters on the tray! Instead of describing every one of them I will pick out my favorites.
Port Townsend Brewing
Chet’s Gold (4.3% ABV) – the lightest beer in the joint. Very crisp, light hops, slightly sweet and finishes clean. Great for a hot day.
Bitter End IPA (6% ABV) – Gold color. Hoppy aroma and full body hop character. Grapefruit notes all the way through. Very tasty.
Hop Diggity IPA (6% ABV) – For an IPA this popular beer has a malty body. Hoppy but easy for the beginning IPA drinker to enjoy. Lovely grapefruit finish.
Planet Zythos Pale (6.8% ABV) – Unfiltered, hoppy, and well-balanced. Another great beer for the beginner to give a try, but the enthusiast will enjoy as well.
Straight Stout (6% ABV) – For the chocolate fans, this one’s for you! Ink black color and light tan head. Chocolate aroma with smooth, chocolate, malty body and finish.
It was very hard to choose just a few of Port Townsend Brewing’s beers to talk about because they were all great. The tasting room is open Tuesday through Saturday. During warmer weather they open the grassy beer garden and feature live music.
Sirens
Making a right onto Hwy 20 will take you to the middle of the town’s main drag. Located on the second floor of one of the Victorian buildings is Sirens: A Pub of Distinction. I would
describe Sirens as a mix of gypsy den and antique store. There is outside seating and a gorgeous view of the Puget Sound. Sirens has a great beer selection (11 brews on tap and various bottled beers) and the food in incredible. The staff is very friendly and there is live music on occasion so be sure and check their schedule.
Port Townsend is a town full of maritime and Victorian history. Great for an overnight stay or a romantic weekend getaway, I would suggest anyone to stop through at least once. There aren’t too many towns like this left!
Cheers!
Liz
Beer…it’s not just for guys anymore! March 15, 2012
Let’s be honest…the beer brewing culture is dominated by men for men. Beer is usually brewed for the male palate and sweeter beverages like ciders and mixed drinks are marketed more to women. That’s a shame. I know a whole slew of chicks that love their IPA’s and Pale Ales just as much (if not more) than their male counterparts. More and more women are jumping on the beer
bandwagon and long gone are the days of “men only” bars and saloons. Women are beginning to make their mark on the culture becoming head brewers and, in some cases, brewery owners…and they are producing some tasty stuff!
Case in point is a lovely beer I had just a couple of weeks ago. Très Fem is a collaboration beer by Kathleen Hale of Hale’s Ales, Jessica Husted and Reina Powers of Der Blokken Brewery. This lovely cherry beer is brewed with 2-Row Pale malt, Wheat malt and Flaked barley along with Saaz hops and Belgian yeast blend and, of course, tart cherries. The aroma is absolutely lovely and full of cherries. The flavor is crisp and tart with a nice, sour finish. One of the great things about Très Fem is the touch of cherry sweetness that is not so overpowering that it no longer tastes like beer. The brewers compare this beauty to a Belgian Kriek and I couldn’t agree more. Très Fem would drink very nicely with a lovely fruit salad or chicken. On its own it would make for a great spring afternoon treat. For the dudes out there that think this sounds like “chick beer” I noticed just as many men enjoying Très Fem as the ladies.
Très Fem is available in kegs, 22oz bottles, and on tap but for only for a limited time so grab one while you can and….GO GIRL POWER!
Cheers,
Liz
Get your pig on! March 9, 2012
As many of you know I have been a big fan of Slippery Pig Brewing Company since its opening last year. And just when I think “the Pig” can’t do any better, they continue to surprise me! On a recent visit I noticed some great enhancements to the tasting area and got the chance to try some of Dave’s new creations.
The first physical enhancement of note is that the dirt road the brewery sits on has now been renamed “Slippery Pig Way.” This makes the brewery MUCH easier to find for the first timer and is a great nod to the efforts put forth by Slippery Pig’s owners:
Dave and Shawna Lambert. After all, not everyone gets a street named after them! The tasting area has had a facelift as well. Still located on the farm the tasting area is now covered with reclaimed beams from the Alamo Theater that was once located in old Poulsbo. Now during any PNW weather we can sit and enjoy a pint.
Do you like scavenger hunts? Ask for a list of the “recycled” objects in the tasting area that highlights the farm and Lambert family history. Oh! And they have pigs!
Now I know you are chomping at the bit for the new beers on tap, so here goes…
Western Red Cedar Lager (6.4% ABV) – This crazy good beer has the most unusual of ingredients…Western Red Cedar tips. You read correctly. Three pounds of them are added at the end of the boil and steeped like tea giving a surprisingly beautiful, spicy flavor. The cedar is definitely present in the aroma and has a sweetness that tastes like it belongs there. I couldn’t get enough of this beer… and neither could the other customers!
Hildisvini, Battle Swine (9.8% ABV) – One of the craziest beers I have ever had also has the craziest ingredients. Rhubarb, cinnamon stick, raisins, and caramelized squash just to name a few. Battle Swine is unfiltered, full-bodied, thick and syrupy. Lovely sweet, brown sugar and caramel finish. This is definitely a sipper and not for the faint of heart. Battle Swine is a great after dinner beer.
Slippery Pig is also a working farm with a lot of history and character so if you haven’t visited the brewery yet it is definitely worth the trip.
Cheers!
Liz
Coming soon: New beers from Slippery pig brewery, Hopworks beer dinner, my beer vacation, and some tasty 22 oz beers! February 24, 2012
Have beer will travel! February 7, 2012
I’ve always wanted to travel the world and experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of different places. Thanks to a little place in Pacific, WA I can at least experience the taste part. Trade Route Brewing Company takes the best and most interesting flavors from around the world and creates flavorful brews that would give Sir Francis Drake flashbacks.
Mango Weizen (5.0% ABV) – Fresh mango aroma & flavor. Syrupy mouth feel, medium body and finishes sweet, but not too sweet. Trade Route adds mango puree after fermentation creating this wonderfully unfiltered, fruity beer. This is definitely a
favorite of mine.
Jet Stream (4.5% ABV) – Golden honey color. Flaked rice is used during brewing creating a crisp, “sparkly” lager with soft floral and honey notes.
Ginger Pale Ale (5.0% ABV) – With a fresh ginger aroma this ale may have you thinking twice before tasting. DON’T THINK! You must try this beer! The flavor mimics ginger ale with a little kick to it. Spicy yet slightly sweet, the first sip is quite unusual. The second and third sip and you are hooked. Pungent ginger finish, but really fun to experience.
Sumatra Coffee Stout (6.3% ABV) – Ink black color with light tan head. This wonderful stout has a smoky aroma and tastes like a dark chocolate mocha. For a stout it has a lighter body than one would expect, but very easy to drink. This was my favorite beer of the day!
253 Amber (6.0% ABV) – Pretty red color. Fruity, floral nose. Light sugar/candy flavor with a touch of honey to finish. Very nice beer for those breezy spring days.
Midnight Ale (6.0% ABV) – Dark red color and “pancake syrup” aroma. The body was a bit watery but syrupy sweet. Too sweet in fact. This was not one of my favorites.
Hoppy Bitch IPA (6.3% ABV) – Light hop aroma. This IPA starts out on the sweeter side and then the hops creep up on you and POW! Nice malty character. Hop heads will enjoy this bitch!
The tasting room offers a few snacks (popcorn, sausage on a roll, and chips), and serves pizza, sub sandwiches, and pastas after 4:00pm. They are also one of the only tasting rooms open seven days a week and have live music on Saturday nights.
Cheers,
Liz
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
Pacific Northwest Beer Chick 