MayHappenStances

I'd just like to say a big fat "Thank You" (also known as Suck It) to the Blogger site for having a random crash last week which erased all of my work in progress that was supposed to be a May Events posting. It was going to come out later than I wanted it to no matter what, but I did my total bestest to make the last 1/2 of May seem super eventful and exciting. This is what you get instead:

Monday 16th thru Sunday 22nd - American Craft Beer Week. Celebrate it. Organized events going on all over, CraftBeer.com is a great promoter and resource of this celebration.

Thursday 18th thru Sunday 29th - Seattle Beer Week. Title is mostly self explanatory but same deal. Celebrate it. Click here for a list of events. According to my oh-so-accurate-insight-into-all-things-beer-event-related... it's gonna be off the hook.

In both celebratory cases, I am going to try and participate in a multitude of ways. I'm a whore for themes. They make everything more fun. National Sea Monkey Day (5/16) resulted in an hour of important research during my day, for example. Note: Please don't attempt to dispute the authenticity of this event, it just IS. Mmmkay?! Kay.

I don't have the energy or the time to recreate all the events I listed but feel free to check back here, because I'll probably add some things at a later date. There ARE 15 fun filled days left in May! Random things worth checking out:

Tuesday 17th - Airways Brewing Night @ Tides Tavern (6-9p, Gig Harbor) They'll be serving their Triple Chocolate Stout, Sky Hag IPA, First Class IPA & T-Tail Blonde. The whole lovely gang (as I know it to be anyways) will be there to serve up some brews along with schwag. Sunshine optional.

Thursday 19th - 2010 Dogfish Head World Wide Stout and 120 Minute IPA will be on tap at a location in Seattle. I'm not sure I want to reveal where yet, in case it effects my chance to get some... Maybe if enough people bug me (who aren't willing to do the research themselves) I'll decide to disclose the location. (EDIT: Okay... it'll be pouring at UBER Tavern starting at 4p. I can't go now, so you might as well.)

Sunday 22nd - Iron Brewer Competition at Beveridge Place Pub (5-8p, Seattle) BPP chooses the ingredients, they brew the beer. This year will feature Elliott Bay vs. Georgetown, Fremont vs. Two Beers, & Big Al vs. Black Raven. Ingredients include: cucumber, wasabi, cedar, sesame, plum & yuzu.

Permanent - 2 extra taps @ The Red Hot. (Anytime, Tacoma) Dropped the ball on several events that Chris emailed me about. You know, events that I specifically asked him to keep me in the know on so I could add it to a blog like this. Which he did and I didn't. They had 13 taps, now they have 15. It's worth knowing & now you do.

yes please, May I have another?

the pissed liBEERian

You may have noticed that I rarely post pictures of myself that don't look good/flattering. Tonight I will make an exception but not without explanation.

I hate this picture of myself. I'm wearing my 'not amused' face.

However, it's a cutesy couple picture & it kind of makes me miss (outta town for uber long time) MGD even more.

Plus the 'not amused' look works well with my feelings toward Blogger at the moment.

Photography courtesy of Basil

The Tide came in...

Big Al Irish Red

It's been a long time since I've seen a bar so packed on a Wednesday night that didn't revolve around a sporting event. As we arrived @ the Tides Tavern in Gig Harbor last night for the 2nd Annual beer pairing dinner with 7 Seas Brewing, there was hardly an open seat. We pulled up to the bar for some pre-dinner drinks, enjoyed a good 'ole Mac N Jacks African Amber and Big Al's Irish Red. Very tasty selections to start our night out.

The dinner bell was rung and we were summoned to find our little place cards among the beautifully laid out place settings. I had been under the impression that our $50 dollar per person dinner would include 3 courses paired with 3 beers, period. Well the ale was flowing all night long. As soon as our glasses hinted at being consumed, they were refilled with a swift subtlety that can only be found in Cirque du Soleil performances. Check out what we nomed on:

Appetizer paired with Saison du Sept Mers
Hickory Smoked Pork Belly and Alaskan Spot prawn Salad- with roasted peanuts and fried garlic

Entrée paired with Ballz Deep Double IPA
Roasted Hen with Ciabatta, Chorizo, Sweet Potato and Mushroom stuffing, Yukon Gold mashed potato, fresh turkey gravy and roasted butternut squash, cranberries and pears.

Dessert paired with Port Royal Export-style Stout
Apple Clafoutis-  New Crop Braeburns in an egg cream flan tart- with apple wood smoked salt pumpkin caramels and Myers Rum Anglaise

I felt like I was at a pre-Thanksgiving dinner, the food was ridiculously phenomenal and they did a great job with the vegetarian substitutions. Handmade salted pumpkin caramels... you are my new best friend.

Table mates Jeff & Mary Robinson

 We were tucked back in the corner and enjoying everything they put in front of us when in walked our table mates, Jeff & Mary. Apparently they like to keep all the trouble makers (vegetarians) in one spot, John had a few food restrictions too. What a cool couple! We made quick friends and had fun chatting about New York, beer blogging and the sheer amount of food we had been challenged to consume. Apparently, neither the Tides nor 7 Seas want any leftovers. 

Hearing Travis & Mike (the owners of 7 Seas) talk about their beer and how gracious they are to be doing what they do, really made the night special for this girl. It was a fun evening that I will surely attend when they do it up again in 2011. Nicely done 7 Seas and good work Chef Ernie from Tides. Kudos and many cheers to you!

Next on the agenda is to hit up 7 Seas itself for some beer sampling. Hopefully I can make this happen before I get around to hanging my new 7 Seas Christmas ornament on my tree...

Thanks for the fun times!