May Craft Beer Events

May Craft Beer Events & Going Ons

in and around Tacoma

(including related events outside of Tacoma that I think are rad and/or will be attending personally)

Thursday 3rd - Give Blood Get Beer @ Great American Casino (Lakewood) Cascade Regional Blood Services brings a bloodmobile to the sponsoring business for a Pint-for-Pint blood drive around lunch time or early afternoon. All registered donors receive a prepaid coupon for a pint of beer that can be redeemed beginning the day following the drive.

Tuesday 8th - Science Cafe @ The Swiss Pub (Tacoma, 6:30p) 'Preserving Asia's Wild Cats' is the topic of this month's Science Cafe, put on by the PacSci Center and KCTS9. Come to the Swiss Pub to participate in a discussion about the following: Clouded leopards, fishing cats, bay cats, and more: Southeast Asia's wild cats are beautiful and fascinating, yet poorly understood. At the May Tacoma Science Cafe, join Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium zoologist Karen Povey to explore the challenges of studying these elusive cats in the wild and learn how our actions can impact the survival of rare species half a world away. You can learn about more Science Cafes by checking out their schedule of talks also taking place in Kirkland and Seattle.

Thurs. 10th thru Sun. 20th - Seattle Beer Week 2012 (All over Seattle!) An insane amount of craft beer awesome events are happening for Seattle Beer Week this month, no one person can possibly do them all! Might be a challenge tho... so get out there and try your darndest.

Thurs. 5/10 Cask-O-Rama Pt.1 (BPP)
Fri. 5/11 Back in Black Stout Fest (Brouwer's Cafe) & Cask-O-Rama Pt.2 (BPP)
Sat. 5/12 Pine Box Can Derby (The Pine Box) & Brewers Mini-Golf Blowout (Interbay Golf Center)
Sun. 5/13 Iron Brewer Triple Header (BPP)
Mon. 5/14 This is Washington Dammit! (BPP) & Beer Bingo! (Pyramid) & Big Al's Brewery Night (Columbia City Alehouse) & Big Sky Ride the Bull Night (Brouwer's Cafe)
Tues. 5/15 Northwest Women in Beer (Pike Brewing Co.) & New Brewers' Night (Park Pub) & Bottleworks Cellar Tasting (Bottleworks)
Wed. 5/16 Score on Skip (American Brewing Co.) & All Beer Quiz Night (BPP) & New Belgium Sour Symposium (Stumbling Monk) & Snipes Mountain Sour Night (The Noble Fir)
Thurs. 5/17 Sour Fest (Brouwer's Cafe) & Wall of Casks (Latona Pub)
Fri. 5/18 Bodacious Brewfest (BPP)
Sat. 5/19 Beer Sensory Panel w/ Jamie Floyd (Bottleworks)

Saturday 12th -  
Gig Harbor Beer Festival (Gig Harbor, noon-7p) Check out the site for information on tickets and which brewers will be representin'. This is the first beer festival in Gig Harbor and I'm sure the sun will be a shining!!!
Pocket Aces Double IPA Release @ Wingman Brewery Tap Room (Tacoma, 2-11p) Head on down to the new Wingman Tap Room for a pint of their New Pocket Aces Double IPA. There's only one keg of it so show up early!

Wednesday 16th
-Wingman Brewers Night @ Dog & Pony (Renton, 6:30p) There should be a Wingman beer on tap for every kind the Wingman guys have available at that time. Go drink and enjoy some local 253 goodness!
-Silver City Tap Room Opening @ Silver City Brewery (Bremerton, 3p)

Silver City Brewery Taproom will open to the public on Wednesday May 16th. The Taproom will feature all of their annual offerings, seasonal brews, specialty releases, small & pilot batch & experimental beers on tap for guests to try & enjoy. All beers will be available in samples or pints to enjoy, with most available for growler fills, 22oz bottles & kegs to go. Silver City Taproom will also offer retail merchandise and daily brewery tours.

  

Thursday 17th - (SBWk Event) Sour Fest @ Brouwer's Cafe (Seattle, 11a) This might be a day worth getting off work early for... Russian River Supplication, Temptation, Several Cantillions, Cascade has something in the works, as does New Belgium, Double Mountain Devil's Kriek, and so many more. Oh my!

Friday 18th - Give Blood Get Beer @ The Spar (Tacoma) Cascade Regional Blood Services brings a bloodmobile to the sponsoring business for a Pint-for-Pint blood drive around lunch time or early afternoon. All registered donors receive a prepaid coupon for a pint of beer that can be redeemed beginning the day following the drive.

Wednesday 23rd - Wingman Brewers Can Release Party @ 99 Bottles (Federal Way, 4-7:30p) That's right! Wingman Brewers of Tacoma is now packaging some of their beers... in cans! Why cans? It keeps beer fresher, protecting it from light and oxygen better than the bottle. And you can take cans nearly anywhere: River rafting, golfing,... Meet head brewer Ken Thoburn and taste Wingman's canned beers for $1 and bring photo id. The first 48 tasters get a FREE Wingman pint glass!!                                         

Saturday 26th - Made in Tacoma @ Wingman Brewery (Tacoma, 6-11p) Madrona Coffee, 21Cellars Winery, Barrel 51 BBQ, and Backcountry Creamery will be joining Wingman Brewers in a celebration of products made in Tacoma. There will be beer, coffee, wine, cheese, and BBQ. Check out their event page to RSVP and get more information.

Reoccurring Events

Randall Wrecker Mondays @ Parkway Tavern (Tacoma, 6p) - A new beer (and much more!) will be thrown into Parkway's Randall every Monday night for your mouthhole delight. They even have a Randall Wrecker punch card!

Beer Tasting Wednesdays @ Tacoma World Beers (Tacoma, 4-7p) Hit up your localest of local beer stores every Wednesday for a $2 beer tasting. You can always make your own tasting from the beers they have on tap but check out their Facebook page or sign up for the newsletter to see what special beers are being served every week.

Cask Thursdays @ Airways Brewing Tap Room (Kent, 4p) - A firkin will be tapped every Thursday at their Tap Room. You can find weekly updates on what cask ales are being served on their website.

Growler Fills @ Wingman Brewery (Tacoma) - New Taproom open!!! Newly located at 509 1/2 Puyallup Ave, Tacoma, 98421. Swing by for a growler fill or taste of their lovely beer on Thurs, Fri & Sat from 2-11p.


the pissed liBEERian 

Things are brewing in Puyallup!

It appears that things are really brewing (sorry, I couldn't help myself) in the Puyallup area lately. In addition to the oh so loverly Power House Brewery, the area now hails as the home of both DUO Brewing and Puyallup River Brewing. My experience with the guys and brews behind each of these breweries has been a pleasure in many ways (and by pleasurable I am referring to free bottles of beer and not being scolded in 'class' for talking too much) and I am stoked to see both places making a go of it.

I initially met Puyallup River Brewing's Eric Akeson through my blog (he was a long time reader, first time stalker) and we have become good, beery friends ever since. I was privileged to sample some of his ales early on and am excited to see what progressions have come of the movement to a larger system. Puyallup River is doing bottles only to start and you can currently grab a few at Tacoma Boys, H&L Produce and 99 Bottles. Thank goodness for our new beer fridge (which  has essentially converted a typical, everyday garage into what we lovingly call Beertopia; a heavily guarded and padlocked Beertopia that is...), we are now free of space issues when it comes to buying beer. First brews on my list to snag will be the Paradise Blonde Saison (adorable blond chickie on the label has my salivating, even if the beer style isn't one of my faves) and the Fryingpan Cascadian Red Ale (for obvious reasons).

See? Adorable!

On a random whim of mutual inspiration, my superb minion Basil and I signed up for a Beginners Homebrewing class at the King County Library. Dan O'Leary (of DUO Brewing) helped teach the class, which was not only informative but made the endeavor of homebrewing seem both easy and approachable. Which explains why I still haven't gotten around to doing it yet... The first thing I noticed about Dan was that he was sporting one of those bottle opener rings. Plus he and his co-teacher were willing to take cheesy pics with me for my blog, so my first impression was obviously a favorable one. I've gotten to know Dan a bit through the interwebs and have had his beer at a couple of festivals now. DUO Brewing been a long time dream for both Dan and his wife Heather, who have dealt with a fair share of hardships getting started up. You can find DUO's beer in a few places around Tacoma such as at Engine House No. 9 and The Red Hot, but check out their website for what brews are currently on tap elsewhere. They have hopes to distribute some 22oz bottles on the farmers market scene this summer so keep your eyes peeled!

Dan and I at Belgianfest '12, enjoying some beer and randomness

You can read about more wonderfulness on both breweries if you check out the recent write ups by Sue Kidd (of TNT Diner fame), on both DUO Brewing and Puyallup River Brewing.

I'm curious to hear what others have to say about these local brews so feel free to drop me a line with your thoughts!

Cheers!

the pissed liBEERian

Me and my trusty sidekick, BASIL!

April Craft Beer Events

April Craft Beer Events & Going Ons

in and around Tacoma

(including related events outside of Tacoma that I think are rad and/or will be attending personally)

Tuesday 10th - Science Cafe @ The Swiss Pub (Tacoma, 6:30p) Get your nerd on while enjoying a pint or two! This month's Science Cafe topic is all about climate change. "Climate Change and the Arctic Ocean"As global warming continues, we hear a lot about melting polar ice, warming oceans, and their potential consequences. At the April Tacoma Science Café, join Dr. Mike Steele from UW's Polar Science Center to discuss his experiences in the Arctic studying how our changing climate is affecting the Arctic Ocean. If this date/time/location isn't convenient for you, check out the other April Science Cafes in different areas.

Thursday 12th - PRO-AM Parkway Submissions Due @ Parkway Tavern (Tacoma, by closing time) This is the last day to enter your beers in the Parkway Am-Pro. Bottles must be properly labeled and it is $5 per entry. MGD & I have been asked to guest judge again this year and I'm excited for another chance to do so, it was so fun and I learned a ton!

Saturday 14th - Snipes Mountain Brewers Dinner & Blending Panel @ Snipes Mountain Brewery (Sunnyside, 6p) All kinds of delicious, gourmet oddities (such as Prairie Oysters and Creole Bread Pudding) will be served up to us with Snipes beer pairings for their Brewers Dinner after we participate in a beer blending panel. And since MGD and myself are making the trek across the mountain on Friday night, we can commence the wine tasting at 10a on Saturday to get nice and lubed up for said blending and eating.

Sunday 15th - PRO-AM Parkway Beer Judging @ Parkway Tavern (Tacoma, should probably find out what time they need us there since we have to drive back from Eastern, WA this same morning...) We had a blast being a part of the beer judging process for Parkway's PRO-AM homebrew competition, I'm sure this year won't let us down one bit either! Can't wait to try what's been concocted! Last year I rated a barleywine that a good friend had brewed (unknowingly a the time, as all the brews are anonymous) and he gave me some kudos for my review a few weeks later. He said my comments were constructive and helpful, so this year I feel marginally more confident in my abilities as a judger of beery goodness vs. beery badness.

Wednesday 18th 
- Wingman Brewers Night @ Diamond Knot Brewery & Alehouse (Mukilteo, 6-9p) I don't have any other info on this so just show up at Diamond Knot and enjoy some tasty Wingman brews, mmmmkay?
- Sidetrack Distillery Collaboration Beer Release @ Airways Bistro (Kent,  5:30p) For the 2nd beer released in Airways' collaboration series you can head on down to the Bistro and enjoy Airways Starliner Stout with Oak Chips soaked in Raspberry Liquer.
- Black Raven Night @ Red Hot (Tacoma, 6p)Your favorite tube steak place has the hook up on some gems by the oh so popular Black Raven Brewery. Swing in tonight for a taste of the Trickster IPA, Totem Northwest Pale, Wisdom Seeker Double IPA and Grandfather Raven Redmond Imperial Stout (only brewed once a year). It's sure to be packed with this kind of line up, so get there early!

Thursday 19th -  Double IPA Blind Tasting @ Beveridge Place Pub (West Seattle, All day long) Think you know what your favorite IPA is? Challenge your taste buds with 6 of the best and find out the truth...

 Saturday 21st - Wingman's New Brewery Opening!!!  (Tacoma, starts at 2p) The Wingman Brewery doors will finally be open on the new brewery and taproom, a much needed expansion. You can find their new digs at 509 1/2 Puyallup Ave, Tacoma, 98421. Come join the party!

Wednesday 25th
-PBR Night @ Parkway Tavern (Tacoma) Something about there being a gigantic Connect Four game, IDK. Gets pretty kuh-razee up in the Parkway sometimes so bring your A-Game.
-DUO Brewing Brewers Night @ Dog & Pony (Renton, 6:30p) Go try a pint of DUO's Belgian Golden Ale, Coffee Porter, Cask Conditioned Vanilla Porter, or the Milk Stout.

Saturday 28th - April WABL Gathering @ H20 Bar (Anacortes, 3-6p) This new beer bar is owned and operated by the peeps of Anacortes Brewery. Go check out the new bar (maybe on your way to April Brew's Day in Bellingham) and enjoy 24 taps of lovely craft beer. WABL members can enjoy $3 pints (this means you should probably bring your passport) and there will be prize drawings!

Saturday 28th thru Monday 30th - Holy Crap, It's Barley Wine Fest! @ Parkway Tavern (Tacoma, from 2p on Sat. until closing on Sun. (technically 2a Mon.) My liver is both excited and currently cramping in anticipatory happiness for the Parkway's BWF. I don't remember last year very well but that means I probably had a stellar time. Hit up their Facebook page for a complete list, it's guaranteed to make your mouth hole water. They usually coordinate a Barley Brunch for one of the mornings with special food (brunch, duh) and beers so keep an eye out for that as well!

Reoccurring Events

Randall Wrecker Mondays @ Parkway Tavern (Tacoma, 6p) - A new beer (and much more!) will be thrown in the Randall every Monday night for your delight. They even have a punch card!

Beer Tasting Wednesdays @ Tacoma World Beers (Tacoma, 4-7p) Hit up your localest of local beer stores every Wednesday for a $2 beer tasting. You can always make your own tasting from the beers they have on tap but check out their Facebook page or sign up for the newsletter to see what special beers are being served every week.

Cask Thursdays @ Airways Brewing Tap Room (Kent, 4p) - A firkin will be tapped every Thursday at their Tap Room. You can find weekly updates on what cask ales are being served on their website.

Growler Fills @ Wingman Brewery (Tacoma) - New Taproom open now!!! Newly located at 509 1/2 Puyallup Ave, Tacoma, 98421. Swing by for a growler fill or taste of their lovely beer on Thurs, Fri & Sat from 2-11p.

 April showers bring me

special beer powers!

Why I love Eyeluvbeer & other out of this world musings

 You gotta check out my buddies blog post today over at Eyeluvbeer, it made me laugh out loud (sorry, I can't physically make myself type 'LOL'). I totally love them and their goofy weirdness, my kinda peeps through and through. You can check out his other posts and rad merchandise here, after you're done reading. Might as well read on and enjoy!

Meet 0101110, Our New Friend

Hi, I'm 0101110

Greetings Earthlings. I have been deployed from the planet Bräuzeer contained in the UDFj-39546284 Galaxy, which is approximately 13.2 billion light-years from Earth. We are fluent in 10,126 languages, including English. My planet Bräuzeer is interested in a liquid you create called beer. Where I'm from no such thing exists. We used our recently developed Hopdar Sensor Technology (HST) and have found the Pacific Northwest produces some of the best beer in the United States. After careful analysis we have chosen Oregon as our test site; Portland to be exact. Bräuzeer was amazed when they looked at their radar findings and saw 47+ breweries in the metropolitan area. Fascinated by this enormous number they have sent me, 0101110 to explore the love you humanoids have with beer. Oh, and don’t worry, we aren’t going to try to take over your planet like those Hollywood movies want you to believe.

Bräuzeer as seen from your crappy Hubble Space Telescope

My space craft was programmed to land at 45° 33' 7.2'', -122° 40' 32.2''. As it turns out, this was the exact coordinates of what I have become to know as Bridgetown Beerhouse. I made it, but was in bad shape from a very rough landing. Almost unconscious outside Bridgetown’s entrance, I was scooped up off the ground by a scruffy looking human who was headed out the door. I noticed one particular article of clothing the earthly being was wearing had some strange symbols on it; one I recognized was the state of Oregon. Below it, in tiny letters was some text. It read Eyeluvbeer. I would call this Earthling, Eyeluvbeer.

Eyeluvbeer, put me in his pocket and we traveled by foot to the place he calls home. So far, I have been on Earth for roughly two weeks. In that time, I have consumed a number of beers and have begun to see why you humans love it so much. It's certainly delicious, there seems to be a style for everyone’s liking and more importantly, it brings people together. I have met some really great beings in Portland while out sipping a pint. They think I look a little funny at first, but they figure I’m just keeping Portland weird.

Eyeluvbeer bought me a nice
HUB Galactic Imperial Red.  It was out of
this world!

Eyeluvbeer has promised to take me out more and more. He said he’d be happy to have me as a guest blogger or at least contribute somehow to the beer blog he maintains. Eventually I will have to return to Bräuzeer to report my discoveries. Until then, I hope we cross paths and can enjoy a pint together.

Happy St. Patricks Day,
0101110

You can check out Eyeluvbeer's other blog posts and rad merchandise here, they are definitely doing their part to keep Portland weird. Thank goodness for that!

Tacoma Drinks WA Beer Week - We did it!

I recently went on a fabulous trip through Washington. A trip solely experienced by my mouth hole that resulted in many a night spent ingesting Washington brewed beers. Tacoma Drinks Washington Beer Week is a collaborative event put on by the Red Hot and Parkway Tavern, 2012 will mark the 2nd year they've done this and I was stoked when I heard it would be going on again. Resulted in a big 'ol happy dance and a game plan, as a matter of fact.

The challenge is simple enough: Pick up a bingo-style beer sheet, get a stamp for every WA beer you drink during the designate time (both places dedicate all of their taps to this event so there were lots of options) and hopefully fill out the sheet to win a commemorative growler. Although I found absolutely nothing wrong with how this event played out in the Fall of 2010, some obvious improvements had been made. Only 20 pints (19 plus a free space) needed to be downed for completion, versus the 25 (24) of last year. Both places made sure to have multiple kegs of some of the harder to find beer, that way I didn't have to worry about making it out every single night just to ensure I don't miss a beer that might run out quickly.

Last year, if I remember correctly, a keg of Fish beer was only served the first day or two at Red Hot and if you didn't happen to get it at that time there were no other options during the event to do so. It left quite a few people (including both MGD and myself) with almost filled out beer sheets and no way to complete the task. Red Hot was great about getting another keg at the end of the event to sort everyone out and a couple days before this year's event ended, they did a shout out on Facebook to see what beers people still needed to drink for stamps. Brilliant.

The beer sheet also had special events listed for the duration (like Harmon brew on the Randall at Parkway and the release of the Wingman/Airways collaboration brew at Red Hot) which I found immensely helpful in our overall game plan. From previous experience, we knew to drink the 'hard' beers first and then drink whatever from there.

While there was oodles of WA beer to try during the event, here are some of the ones that MGD & I drank:

-Wingman Stratofortress
-Fish Mudshark Porter
-ABC Blonde on Randall
-ABC Scotch Ale (It was American Brewing Company brewers night at Parkway and this was my fave of the night. The Scotch Ale is terribly delicious!)
-ABC Oatmeal Caboose Stout on Nitro
-Elysian Heather Ale 
-E9 Pilsner
-Harmon Old Stock Ale
-Boundary Bay Inside Passage Ale (I think this is the full pint I spilled all over MGD while gesturing wildly during some excited story telling. The story was good so I think his dry pants were a worthy sacrifice, MGD may feel differently.)

Before I dumped the Boundary Bay IPA (pictured on the right) all over MGD...

After said beer dumpage. This was my cheesy "You still have to love me even though you're a victim of my clutsyness!"look. We were long overdue for a beer spilling anyways.

-7 Seas Port Royal Stout
-Snoqualmie Black Frog Stout on Nitro
-Black Raven Trickster IPA
-Big Al Poppa Charlie's Pale Ale
-Schooner Zythos

Big Al Poppa Charlie's Pale Ale & Schooner Exact Zythos

 (We spent the Saturday evening at Hops and Props in Seattle. Had a blast and on the drive home our conversation went something like this: MGD: "Parkway for the win?" Me: "Cha, you know it dude.")
-Silver City Wine Barrel Black Kolsch
-Diamond Knot IPA
-Pike Old Bawdy Barleywine (It was bloody brilliant to make our winning beer a barleywine at the end of an already long night of drinking. All I remember after imbibing the Old Bawdy was proving to MGD that I can throw popcorn and catch in my mouth with a 99% success rate and a hilarious comparison of our house to the Galapagos Islands. So in other words, we had a fab time.)

If you did the math and realized that 17 beers doesn't equal a full sheet then you get a sweet little head pat. In reminiscing about Tacoma Drinks WA Beer Week last year, I decided that MGD and I would only work on one beer sheet this time. We already have 24 growlers at home and 3 in my trunk (I just flitted downstairs to do a head count), winning only one would do us and our space issues just fine. Plus the lovely stomach issues I've been having lately don't make drinking (or eating for the matter) especially fun, and definitely not drinking every night for a week. So I put the limit to one growler and informed MGD that he was going to be doing most of the hard yards.

We started with 2 beers sheets, just in case, but focused our energy on completing one. So there are quite a few beers that we each had a pint of, hence the less than 20(19) beers. Plus we had friends 'donate' pints to our sheets, which I'm morally torn over. I won't go into my neurosis as to why but just know that MGD & I could have easily each completed our own sheets if we wanted to, we did 2 full ones last year.

So my whole 'one growler & you do the drinking' song and dance changed as soon as I saw that the commemorative prize growlers were the small medicine bottle style ones. I absolutely adore those little guys and if you want some explanatory logic, it would take roughly 3 of them to equal the space that one full sized growler would take up. Plus, while at the American Brewing night at Parkway, we had a fabulous time hanging with friends and our buddies from both Airways Brewing and ABC. I should have known, I get really excited about themed contests. Next year I will keep my trap shut and just go drink my little Washington heart out.

Winning combination at Parkway (and also the last we saw of Sheet #2)

MGD photographing me photographing the winning combination

This is one of those 'I hate this picture because I look like I have down syndrome but MGD likes it so that's the only reason you are seeing it.' pictures.

MGD hops behind the bar at Parkway for a photo op of our winningness with Sean Jackson

After party celebrations took place behind the beer sheet

While we 253ers are already pretty big cheerleaders for local beer in and around these parts, I think this event is a great one. Not just for the obvious reasons but it also gives people an opportunity to try some beers they haven't had before from breweries they already know well. I hope that the Parkway and Red Hot work to make this an annual event, it's one of my favorites of EVER.

Tacoma drinks Washington.
Washington loves Tacoma.
Well done guys, well done.

Photography by MGD

Tacoma: The Gritty City I heart and it's love of drink.

If you haven't already picked up your copy of the latest issue of Tacoma's Weekly Volcano (and hightailed it straight away to see what wittiness the new PSP ad has to offer then immediately started working up a word storm on the crossword puzzle like I do) then you need to get on it!

The featured article is all about the history of libations in the city of Tacoma and the impact that drink has had on our community image through the years. There is such a drink-centric history here that I was astounded to learn of. Here is an excerpt:

"Regardless of whether you work at a desk or in a labor job you want a beer after work," says Thoburn. "Beer tastes good. It makes you smile and if you're having a hard time smiling, chances are having a beer with your friends will help. I think it's good for Tacoma to stick with the working class image, because it's honest."

Ken Thoburn of Tacoma's current-day Wingman Brewing had the following to contribute in the article: "I started a brewery in the historical brewery district because I want to recharge this industry in Tacoma, beer is in our blood," Thoburn continues. "Regardless of whether you work at a desk or in a labor job you want a beer after work," says Thoburn. "Beer tastes good. It makes you smile and if you're having a hard time smiling, chances are having a beer with your friends will help. I think it's good for Tacoma to stick with the working class image, because it's honest."

Click here to read the article in its entirety, you'll be happy you did and hopefully be a smidge more educated as well. Cheers!

March Craft Beer Events

March

Saturday 3rd - American Brewing Company 1 year Anniversary Party @ ABC Brewery (Edmonds, 1-11p) Come celebrate the awesomeness and success that has befallen American Brewing Company. There will be live music, awesome snacks (the advert says awesome) and new merchandise. Oh, and beer. You can also participate in a raffle to help raise funds for the Edmonds Food Bank. Get some more info through their Facebook page or through their website.


Sunday 4th - Seattle Urban Beer Hunt (Downtown Seattle, kicks off at 12p) Teams of 2, 4 or 6 will set out on foot for a challenge involving completing specific tasks and recovering select items. Players stick together to decipher clues, solve puzzles and race to finish. It all ends with an awards ceremony at a local pub with food and drink specials available.Cash prizes and costumes! Check out the site for registration fees and more details.

Friday 9th - Tacoma's Weekly Volcano Street Team Pub Crawl (Olympia, 6p) Join the cool cats of the Volcano's Street Team as they do a pub crawl of Olympic proportions. Meet up at Charlie's Sports Bar and Grill (by 6p) for some imbibing or meet up with the team en route. They will be visiting 8 bars total and prepare your happy dance for drink specials and door prizes at each place. Hit up the Volcano online for more info on the Street Team as well as the itinerary.

Sat. 10th & Sun. 11th - Custom Growler and Spring Seasonal CDA Release @ 7 Seas Brewery (Gig Harbor, 12p) If you don't already own one of 7 Seas super awesome growlers then you need to get on it. This years model is an emerald green color and decorated in loving devotion to the almighty hop. Love it so much and am currently talking myself out of buying our 3rd one. Although we don't have a '253' numbered on yet... Bring your 2011 growler on Saturday to get a 2012 of the same number. On Sunday all the left over growlers are up for grabs to anyone. Find more information about this event and pictures of the new growler on the 7 Seas website.

Tuesday 13th - Science Cafe @ Swiss Pub (Tacoma, 6:30p) Drink beer and learn sumptin' at the Science Cafe. A monthly event that pairs beer drinking and knowledge. This month's topic will be: "What's New in Stroke Care: Cool Toys & Cool Treatments" Thanks to recent developments in technology, care for people who have suffered a stroke has advanced to new and exciting frontiers. At the March Tacoma Science Café, join Aaron Heide, M.D., Director of Stroke Services at Auburn Medical Center, to discover the latest in how to prevent, treat, and recover from a stroke. Find out more about March's Science Cafes going on around the South Sound, for those of you not residing in Tacoma.

Wednesday 14th - Beer Tasting @ Tacoma World Beers (Tacoma, 4-7p) Tacoma World Beers will be hosting their first beer tasting. For $2 (and photo id) you can enjoy some different styles of beer from Sound Brewing and Port Brewing to start. Hopefully this is the first of many events of this nature, love love love it! You should also check out their new website at TacomaWorldBeer.com, they'll be posting up to the minute tap lists as they blow through those kegs.

Wednesday 14th - Sierra Nevada Brewers Night @ Parkway Tavern (Tacoma, 6-9p) You know the drill. Get there early to drink amazing Sierra Nevada beer and win some schwag. Sure to be a full house, as always!

Friday 23rd - Guest Tap Take Over @ Engine House No. 9 (Tacoma) From E-9's Book of the Face page: "The E9 is happy to announce that our friends from Stone Brewing & New Belgian brewing will be taking over our guest taps! As added bonus, the E9 brewers will be tapping up some of their special barrel beers. So far the lineup is looking GREAT! Stone 15th Anniversary, Stone Old Guardian, New Belgian La Folie, Ne Belgian Farmhouse, E9 Love Childe, E9 Bourbon Barrel Saison and so many more." Check on their Facebook page in the coming weeks for the whole lineup as the date gets closer. The Engine House is doing such great things recently, I'm so excited for and about them. That means you should be too.

Tuesday 27th - Ninkasi Pint Night @ Crown Bar (5p (from opening), Tacoma) Crown Bar will have the Spring Seasonal: Spring Reign, Total Domination IPA and the always delicious Oatmeal Stout on tap for your enjoyment. Great prizes and giveaways from the brewery and the fried oysters are always a fave of ours.

Friday 30th - Give Blood Get Beer @ The Swiss & The Rock: Wood Fired Pizza & Spirits (Tacoma, usually lunch time/early afternoon) Stop by the Cascade Regional Blood Services bloodmobile at either of these locations to donate some of your blood. You'll receive a coupon for a free pint of beer that can be redeemed the day following the blood drive. There is one about every month, check out the other times and places!

Saturday 31st
- Cask Beer Festival (Seattle Center Fisher Pavillion, 12-4p & 5:30-9:30p, $35-40) This festival is just full of deliciousness. Join the fun in Seattle where they will be featuring over 70 one-of-a-kind handcrafted cask beers from the state’s most innovative breweries. It's gonna be a good one, check out the site for more details. We had a jolly good time last year, I can't wait for a repeat. And this year we won't have to be jealous of all the people leaving early to attend Hops and Props. Yay!
- Elliott Bay Pizza Anniversary Party @ Elliott Bay Pizza (Mill Creek, not to be confused with Elliott Bay Brewing) I was turned on to this happy little pizzeria and craft beer joint a couple of weeks ago by a friend. After some empirical research I am now completely stoked to attend their anniversary party that said friend forced me to buy tix to. It's already sold out so I'm sad for anyone reading this who doesn't have tickets (but still, yay me!) but if you are ever in the area, definitely stop by for a slice and a pint. Hit them up on Twitter for up to the minute tap list.

April 1st - Parkway Tavern AM-PRO Submission Deadline (Bottles can be dropped off at the Parkway or Beer Essentials) Beer submissions for Parkway Tavern's annual AM-PRO brewing are due on April 1st, no joke dudes. Beers will be judged on April 8th and you can find all the detaily things you need at the Washington Homebrewers Association site.

Reoccurring Events

Randall Wrecker Mondays @ Parkway Tavern (Tacoma, 6p) - A new beer (and much more!) will be thrown in the Randall every Monday night for your delight. They even have a punch card!

Beer Tasting Wednesdays @ Tacoma World Beers (Tacoma, 4-7p) Hit up your localest of local beer stores every Wednesday for a $2 beer tasting. You can always make your own tasting from the beers they have on tap but check out their Facebook page or sign up for the newsletter to see what special beers ate being served every week.

Cask Thursdays @ Airways Brewing Tap Room (Kent, 4p) - A firkin will be tapped every Thursday at their Tap Room. You can find weekly updates on what cask ales are being served on their website.

Growler Fills @ Wingman Brewery (Tacoma) - On the off chance that you can't find a pint of Wingman brew on draft in the area, you can now swing by the brewery for a growler fill of the good stuff. Their current growler fillin' hours are on Thursdays (2-6p) and Saturdays (12p-5p). Cash only at this time.

Check this post often for updates on events the fall into my knowledge bubble as March marches on!

the pissed liBEERian 

This is my 'pour faster' face from the last Cask Festival.

Tacoma Drinks Washington Beer! Wed. 2/22 through Wed. 2/29

Get your drinking arm ready, it's time for one of my most favorite events of ever: 

 The Parkway Tavern & The Red Hot present...

Tacoma Drinks Washington Beer Week 2012!

See why it's my favorite? Look how happy I was for the first rendition of this event, with my growler and Eye Luv WA Beer shirt and beer sheet!

I do. I really, really do.

What's not to love about a giant bingo-y punch card-y thing, spending oodles of time at both the Red Hot and Parkway Tavern, special beer related events and the opportunity to win a special made growler for completing the arduous task that has been set forth?

Here's the dealio: 

 (Hopefully you already knew this event was happening and in preparation let your liver rest for a few days or maybe pumped some iron to prep your drinking arm.)

1. Pick up your super special beer sheet (pictured above) at either the Parkway Tavern or The Red Hot.

2. Drink WA beer at the Parkway Tavern or The Red Hot.

3. Get beer sheet stamped for specific breweries or random WA beer.

4. Try your bestest to attend the listed events from the Red Hot blog. I have an inkling that most likely, not every brewery will be available on tap the entire week. Drink the hard to find stuff ASAP.

5. Complete beer sheet by Wednesday, February 229th.

6. Get a 32oz commemorative growler (pictured below) for completing.

7. Pat self on back.

8. Give speech to adoring fans.

9. DO NOT add up how much $$ you spent drinking beer just to get a nifty growler.

10. Possibly finish early and work on completing a 2nd beer sheet like MGD and I did last year. This year we have decided that we will feel fulfilled enough by just finishing uno sheeto. I of course say this now, as it is only the first day of the challenge. I'll let ya know how that's working out later this week. Basically, at what point do we by default finish enough beer and look at the 2nd sheet and state "Damn, we got this! Let's keep drinkin'!"

For all the official info (as if I'm not official) you can check out the Red Hot's blog post: Tacoma Drinks Washington Beer Week 2012. There are links to tap lists etc. that you may want to hang on to, as well as a list of beer related events you don't want to miss. 

As of my being chauffeured into work at 8:30a this morning and going over our MGP (Master Game Plan), MGD & I are planning on hitting every event that's listed. The fun starts tonight with the Tacoma debut of the Wingman/Airways collaboration Chocolate Rye beer (had it in Kent at the Airways Beer & Bistro awhile ago, twas delicious!) at the Red Hot and the Parkway Tavern will be hosting a brewers night with American Brewing Company (6-9p) for the release of their Scotch Ale and much more.

drink local

during this week if no other

Wingman Brewers cruise along the friendly Airways Brewing skies!!!

The flight crews at Kent's Airways Brewing and Tacoma's Wingman Brewers joined forces recently to make a collaboration beer. You can try out the Chocolate Rye Ale with Caraway at the Airways Beer & Bistro in Kent this Wednesday at 5:30p. Head over there and support your local craft beer brewers. Here is the official release...

Airways Brewing & Wingman Brewers Release Collaboration Beer

When: Wednesday, February 8th, 2012 @ 5:30 p.m.
Where: Airways Brewing Beer & Bistro
320 W. Harrison Street
Kent, WA 98032
What: Airways Brewing, at its Downtown Kent Beer & Bistro, taps the first keg of the collaborative beer between it and Wingman Brewers of Tacoma. The beer – a Chocolate Rye Ale with Caraway – was brewed on the Wingman one-barrel system. Brewers Alex Dittmar of Airways and Ken Thoburn of Wingman, worked together to formulate the recipe.
In addition to the collaborative beer, the Bistro will feature Wingman’s Stratofortress – a Belgian Strong Ale aged on Cedar – in its tap lineup for the night.

 the pissed liBEERian

Belgianfest 2012 - Get on it!!!

New venue this year. Waffles. New breweries be a pourin' and old faves still representin'. Waffles. Get your tickets now (advanced tickets are almost sold out) or roll the dice and try buying tix at the door. Did I mention waffles?

You can find all the info you need for Belgianfest 2012 on the Washington Beer Commission website and if you need even more convincing you can read about the amazing good time we had at last year's Belgianfest.

Waffles, general event happiness and the light shineth upon my little blonde head upon realizing that sour beers are included in the Belgian beer family.

Oh how far I've come in a year...

Here's the brewery lineup for this year, lovingly copy & pasted from the Washington Beer Blog event 'FYI'. Cue happy dance at seeing Tacoma represented by Wingman Brewers and Engine House No. 9!!!!

Hope to see you there!!!

The Complete List of Breweries and Beers

 

7 Seas Brewing
1) Le Havre Belgian Winter Ale
This seasonal offering is fashioned with reverence towards the long-standing tradition of Trappist Abbey-style beers of Belgium. Brewed with Pale Ale malt, oats, and dark crystal malts, hopped with Fuggles, and fermented with authentic Belgian Abbey yeast, the ale reveals intricate layers of spice, fig, bitter chocolate.  ABV: 8.0%

American Brewing Company
1) Big Pucker
Wood Barrel aged Sour Beer. Double Flanders Sour Ale aged in a used, oak Cabernet Franc Barrel.

Anacortes Brewery
1) Peppercorn Saison
A lighter 4.5% ABV Belgian farmhouse style made with several varieties of fresh cracked peppercorn.
2) Dubbel
A strong dark ale made with demerara sugar, honey and chocolate wheat.
3) Trippel
A strong 8.5% ABV light colored ale hopped for balance with saaz and styrian golding varieties.
4) Sour Red
Red ale soured with lactobacillis and brettanomyces aged in a bourbon barrel passed between multiple breweries.

Big Time
1) Jack Candy Grand Cru
Jack Candy is a pale Belgian style strong ale fermented with both Westmalle and Achouffe yeast strains. Saaz hops lend bitterness and spiciness. The name was inspired by a Walkabouts Song. 9.3% ABV
2) Black Jack Candy
Black Jack Candy is our Belgian style Grand Cru with aseptic Blackberry puree added.
9.3% ABV
3) Trombipulator Belgian Tripel
A nearly 1-year-old 1/4 bbl keg of our Trombipulator Belgian style Tripel features Fuggle hops, and Westmalle yeast. This was original brew #666 1st brewed in 1994 – named after the Parliament Album Trombipulation.
9.0% ABV

Black Raven Brewing
1) Belgian Style IPA
Northwest IPA that has been through a secondary fermentation with brettanomyces. Dry hopped with calypso, nugget, citra and Chinook. 7.3% ABV
2) Bourbon Barrel Aged La Petite Mort
Belgian style strong abbey brown aged in bourbon barrels. 8.8% ABV
3) Cask Saison
Four grain saison with brettanomyces. 6.6% ABV

Boundary Bay Brewery
1) Belgian Style Tripel
Strong in alcohol, our Belgian Style Tripel is golden in color, medium bodied and moderately hopped. The flavor and aroma are both dominated by alcohol and Belgian yeast. It has a nice malt backbone, is spicy, slightly earthy and finishes dry. Hops: Tettnang, Saaz. Malts: Pilsner, Belgian Aromatic, Caravienne, Munich, Special B, Vienna Original Gravity: 1.082 ABV: 8.9%

Diamond Knot Brewing Co.
1) Strong Belgian IPA
Crisp golden in color with a complex yet delicate flavor with a big hop-forward aroma, that gives away to citrus and floral tones. This will leave you begging for another. IBU: 40 ABV: 7.3%

Elliott Bay Brewing Co.
1) Batch 1000 Sour Blend
Exclusively for Belgianfest: a one-off blend of our 1000th brew fermented and aged in four different red wine barrels.
2) Long Black Veil
Black Ale based on the Dry Stout style and fermented with our house Belgian yeast strain.
3) Nitwit Imperial Wheat (cask)
Cask-conditioned strong Wit-style ale = 8% ABV.
4) Brandy-barrel-aged Fuerte Strong Ale
Rich 9% ABV amber ale aged for three months in Kentucky brandy barrels.
5) Saison de la Chance Redux
Our 13th Anniversary Saison re-created for the patrons of Belgianfest. 8.5% ABV

Elysian Brewing Co.
1) Yuzu’s Belgian-style Golden Ale
Yuzu’s is made with 100% pale malt, Turbinado sugar and Belgian Golden ale yeast. Bittered with Magnum and finished with Styrian Goldings hops. Organic dried lemon peel is added at the end of the boil, and yuzu juice is added both pre- and post-fermentation. 4.5% ABV
2) Bete Noel Belgian-style Ale
Brewed with Pale, Munich, Castle Aromatic and roasted barley and black malts, with amber Turbinado sugar added to the kettle. Bittered with German Northern Brewer, finished with Hallertauer hops and fermented with Belgian Golden Ale yeast. 8.5% ABV
3) Krokus Saffron Sour Wheat Ale
Brewed with pale, malted wheat, flaked wheat and wheat flour and hopped with Hallertauer and U.K. Fuggles. Infused with American saffron and fermented with the 4th generation sour tank collection of yeasts and bacteria. 6% ABV
4) Ferme noire Cascadian Dark Sasion
Our dark and hoppy ale fermented with a Saison yeast. The resulting beer adds a bone-dry, barnyard twang to an already slightly roasty and moderately hoppy beverage. Malts: pale, dark Munich, aromatic, and Carafa III Sugar: 50 lbs of Demerara Hops: Chinook, Amarillo, Cascade 8.2% ABV
5) Backhanded Compliment Belgian IPA CASK
Backhanded Compliment Cask version dry-hopped with Citra. Brewed with organic pale, Munich, Cara-Hell and Cara-Vienne malts and bittered with Chinook and finished with Amarillo and Citra hops. Fermented with Westmalle yeast. 6.2% ABV
6) Bete Blanche Belgian-style Tripel
A twist on the French expression “Bête Noire.” Brewed entirely from Pale malt and augmented in the boil with clear Belgian candy sugar. Bittered with German Northern Brewer and finished with Styrian Goldings hops. Fermented with Belgian ale yeast. 41 IBU. 6.9% ABV
7) Nibiru Belgian-style Tripel
Infused with Yerba Mate. Combining the tasty esters of Belgian yeast and the compelling tea-like flavors of the South American herb mixture. A mixture of German Northern Brewer, Czech Saaz and American Amarillo hops round out the uniqueness of this first beer of the Apocalypse. 7.65% ABV
8 ) The Prefessor
With plums and brettanomyces, Marris-Otter pale, Munich and wheat, and East Kent Goldings to bitter and finish, at the Tangletown brewery.  4.65% ABV


Engine House No 9 Brewery

1) Love child Kriek
5.9% ABV Ruby in color with a pink head. Aromas of cherries and oak. With a cherry and slight sour flavor finishes bright and clean.
2) Bourbon Saison
7.8% ABV Traditionally brewed saison, aged in bourbon barrel. With aromas of oak, bourbon, vanilla, clove and hints of sour. Giving way to flavors of banana, cloves bourbon and hints of sour finishing clean and dry.
3) Belgian White
5.0% ABV Grainy spicy wheat aromatics with hints of coriander and orange. Pleasant malt sweetness with zesty citrus, coriander and subtle spicy hop flavors. Finishes with a slight wheat tartness

Fish Brewing Company
1) Monkfish Belgian Style Tripel Ale
A cracking fine example of the classic style, Monkfish Belgian Style Tripel Ale is the color of nectar, with a sweet malty flavor and subtle hop aroma. Mingling in its character, fruity and spicy esters impart a heavenly complexity to this medium-bodied delight. Brewed using Pale malt, Honey malt, aromatic malt, Belgian candy sugar, Styrian Golding hops and, of course, Belgian Abbey yeast, Monkfish stands firmly in the Belgian triple tradition. 32 IBUs 9.0% ABV

Fremont Brewing Co.
1) The Lamb
Saison aged in French Oak wine barrels with brettanomyces lambicus.
2) Return of Blood Funnel

Gallaghers Where U Brew
1) The Monk
A delicious Belgium Triple with a smooth 8.5% fruity bite. Coriander and orange peel add to the decadence of this ale. The use of Orange peel during the dry hop adds to the amazing aromatics of this popular brew.
2) Black Imperial Belgium
The use of our Belgium yeast allows the fruity character of this beer to stand out. Its dark color compliments the full body mouth feel and is enjoyed by all.

Georgetown Brewing Co.
1) Frosty “The Waldman”
In the Winter Warmer tradition, this dark ale is brewed strong with Pale, Pilsner, Special B, Crystal, and Chocolate malts, and 10 lbs/bbl of rich molasses boost the holiday cheer. Northern Brewer hops contribute the bulk of the bitterness, while Sterling hops, cinnamon sticks, and nutmeg add a spicy nose. Fermented with a Belgian ale yeast strain to lend a smooth and complex character. ABV 7.6%, IBUs 40
2) Waldman
Modeled after an English Ordinary Bitter with a few decidedly Belgian stylings, Waldman is brewed with Northern Brewer hops and 36 lbs of Belgian Candi Sugar then fermented with a Belgian ale yeast. We finish with Brettanomyces “Wild” yeast strain and a heavy does of dry hops. The Brett is carried over to the bottles where Waldman continues to develop complex flavors throughout the bottle conditioning.  ABV 6.1%, IBUs 35

Hale’s Ales
1) Hale’s “25″ Belgian Dubbel
The first edition of this beer was brewed to celebrate Hale’s Ales 25th anniversary in 2008. True to style, Hale’s “25″ Belgin Dubbel is moderately strong, very malty and possesses the unique flavor characteristics imparted by Belgian yeast.  7.3% ABV, 20 IBU’s
2) Hale’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Belgian Gold
Hale’s Belgian Gold is made with Pilsner, C-40 and Carapils Malts with a blend of various sugars. The beer is hopped with Goldings. This delicious beer has been aged in bourbon oak barrels for most of 2011. The combination of the wood and whiskey overtones combined with the belgian beer flavors makes this beer a true delight.  9% ABV, 15 IBU’s
3) Hale’s Belgian Wit
A classic, unadulterated Belgian Wit brewed with no spices. Crisp, refreshing and slightly tart.  4.8% ABV, 5 IBU’s

Hilliard’s Beer
1) Hilliard’s Saison
Simple beer, complex taste and aroma.  A special yeast and unique fermentation profile give this beer hints of coriander, orange peel, and maybe a bit of pepper. Castle Malting Pilsner Malt and Golding Hops, no spices added.  7.4% AVB


Issaquah Brewery
1) White Frog Ale
Belgian Style Ale: Summer Wit Beer. Aromas of coriander and orange spice dominate the nose. A very light mouthfeel is countered with sweet orange peel, coriander and subtle notes of chamomile. It finishes with delicate banana and clove spices. Surprisingly light and immediately quaffable. ABV: 5.2%
2) Menage A Frog Belgian Trippel
Menage A Frog has a brilliant golden amber color. Inviting aromas of toasty baguette, orange blossom honey, and delicate bubblegum spice follow through on a round entry to a fruity-yet-dry medium-to-full body with caramel pear and peach custard tart notes. Finishes in a bold peppery spice, delicate grassy herbal and citrusy hops, and toffee fade with lingering warming alcohol.
ABV: 9%

Lazy Boy Brewing Co.
1)Belgian Golden Ale
2)Belgian Dubbel

McMenamins Pubs & Breweries
1) Reinhold’s Flying Armadillo Dark Belgian Strong
A nice, full bodied Dark Belgian with a mild hop presence and a flavorful malty character.  Made with Wyeast Belgian Abbey II yeast. 7.75% ABV
2) Girl Next Door Belgian Blonde
This is a light bodied, smooth tasting and highly carbonated Belgian Blonde Ale. It is made with Pilsner, Wheat and Aromatic malts and hopped with US Golding hops. Brewed using Wyeast Belgian Abbey II yeast. 6.0% ABV.

Naked City Brewery
1) La Touche De Mal
Belgian Strong Golden Ale

New Belgium
1) Belgo
Belgian style IPA made with an authentic Trappist yeast strain and 4 varieties of hops.  7.0% ABV and 60 IBU’s
2) Trip 11 Farmhouse Ale
Farmhouse ale brewed with Rosemary and Sage.  8.5% ABV

Odin Brewing Co.
1) Thor’s Equinox
this Belgian Dark Strong Ale is a brew that is big in flavor without the chewy body holding you back from finishing the whole glass. We have showcased malt and a unique woody note from Angelica spice, creating a beer that is still Belgian, yet can satisfy stout and strong porter lovers as well. Aroma– dark fruits and portlike notes, Top note– strong maltiness, some molasses, Middle note- malt sweetness,  banana, End note– light tartness, woody, Color– dark nut brown. 9% ABV, 20 IBUs

Paradise Creek Brewery
1) Paradise Hoe
A refreshing and traditional Belgian Wit with a nose that offers you wonderful orange, subtle banana, clove and other sweet fruit. One taste of this cloudy straw colored ale confirms what you smell and opens up notes of coriander and just a dash of pepper. The white wheat and a little oats give this beer a nice medium bodied mouth feel. ABV 5.8%

Pike Brewing Company
1) Saison
2) Pike Monk’s Uncle
Big, full-bodied and complex with a yeasty nose, fruity esters and malty dryness. Hints of honey, spice and exotic fruit play with the senses. Powerful, yet gentle. ABV 9%

Ram Restaurant & Brewery
1) Barrel #1
Light, tart and refreshing – a blonde ale fermented in a barrel by many a mysterious critter – 4.5% ABV
2) Barrel #2
An intensely flavored dark ale, fermented in an old wine barrel with a couple of Brett strains and hints of lactobacilius. 6.5% ABV
3) BBlage-a-trois
A blend of 3 wildly fermented bbls made exclusively for this year’s Belgian Fest.


Redhook Brewery
1) Allocation
Allocation is a super drinkable Belgian Session Ale. Medium in body and amber hued with ample handfuls of wheat malt to keep the beer’s finish light and dry. Mild phenolic notes from the Trappist yeast offer up mild hints of spiciness and banana. It is tradition for the Monastic brewers in Belgium to get a daily allocation of the lightest (session) beer they produce after their work is done.

Schooner EXACT Brewing Co.
1) Schoon White
Belgian-style wheat ale brewed with Pilsner malt, wheat malt, unmalted wheat and oats. Fermented with a traditional Belgian Wit beer strain. Hallertauer hops and a subtle addition of spices including citrus zest and hibiscus make this a thirst quenching and refreshing beverage. 5.2 % ABV
22 IBU’s
2) Biere de SODO
A hoppy Belgian-style pale ale brewed with Pilsner malt, sugar and a generous helping of Styrian Golding hops. Fermented with a blend of a unique Belgian yeast and a special strain of brettanomyces, this beer is easy drinking with an ever so slight funkiness.
6.4% ABV, 38 IBU’s
3) Abbaye de Schooner Dubbel
A Belgian-style ale brewed with a complex and distinctive blend of German and Belgian malts. Hallertauer hops, Belgian candi sugar and organic flame raisins complement the rich, toasted, caramel malt and yeast finish.
6.9% ABV, 20 IBU’s
4) Saison Goélette
A traditional Belgian farmhouse ale brewed with Pilsner malt, rye malt, turbinado sugar and Hallertauer hops.
5.8% ABV, 24 IBU’s

Silver City Brewery
1) The Giant Made Of Shadows
This Dark Strong Ale is rich in big malt character, candy like sweetness, and warming alcohol.  Suggestions of chocolate and dried fruits pair well with oak and vinous notes from extended aging in Tempranillo wine barrels. 9.5% ABV
2) Nutcracker 2005 Special Brown Ale
A festive beer (8.6 % ABV), Nutcracker rings in the Holiday Season with a medley of dark roasted malt, fruit and spice. Some hints of fruit (plum, cherry, peach) come from a wonderful and distinctive Belgian yeast strain. Additionally, ginger, orange and tangerine peel was added to spice things up.
3) La Fat 2007
La Fat is Silver City Fat Scotch Ale fermented with a Belgian yeast noted for creating big, spicy phenol character. La Fat goes through a secondary fermentation on French Oak.  La Fat combines classic Belgian characteristics with Scotch like toffee and caramel notes with hints of oak and peat. ABV 9.2%
4) Whitecap Wit
A Belgian witbeir (white beer) brewed by award winning Seattle homebrewer Nick Ladd in collaboration with Silver City Brewmaster Don Spencer for entry in the 2011 Great American Beer Festival Pro-Am competition. Wheat and oats are mixed with malted barley to make a light and hazy (white) beer. Coriander, Fresh Tangelo and Valencia orange peel are added for a vibrant citrusy appeal. 5.5% ABV


Snipes Mountain Brewing
1) Golden Ale
Belgian-style Golden Strong made with Belgian pilsner malt, clear candi syrup and NW beet sugar. Fermented with an authentic Belgian golden strain. 9.5% ABV, 27 IBU’s
2) Darkstrong
Belgian-style Dark Strong made with three types of rye malt, dark candi syrup and aged for a year with Lactobacillus. 8.5% ABV, 28 IBU’s

Snoqualmie Falls Brewing Company
1) Triskaidekaphobia
Reminiscent of the Millennial Madness we created 12 years ago, Triskaidekaphobia is a great balance of crisp clean malt, lemony hops and spice. Unfiltered but clear to the eye, Trisky is made from 100% German pilsner malt, Belgian candi sugar, 100% Czech Saaz hops and Belgian ale yeast.8.6% ABV
2) Spring Fever
Orange hues, rich malt flavors, spicy coriander overtones and fruity, tropical aromas make this one beautiful beer for fans of Belgian styles. Spring Fever is crafted from the finest Two-Row, Munich, Carastan and Belgian Aromatic malts, Columbus and Czech. Saaz hops, spiced with coriander and fermented with Belgian ale yeast. 7.0% ABV

Sound Brewery
1) Dubbel Entendre
Comforting aromas of chocolate malt and dark toffee, with a hint of banana and stone fruits. A dark abbey style ale with a subtle rich maltiness and a dry, spicy finish. 8.0% ABV
2) Tripel Entendre
Complexity and balance from a simple recipe of the finest ingredients obtainable. Clear and light in color, this strong Belgian ale drinks smooth and easy but has the complexity to complement the finest meals or to savor alone at the end of the evening. 9.9% ABV
3) Koperen Ketel
Biscuity Belgian malt balanced with the finest Slovenian Styrian Goldings hops, Koperen Ketel has a delicate herbal, fruity aroma and a clean dry finish making for a refreshing, easy drinking copper color ale. 5.0% ABV

Wingman Brewers
1) Black Widow
A dark Belgian strong ale aged in a Pont21 Cabernet Sauvignon barrel from 21 Cellars. A Cab Sav nose is followed by the familiar Belgian flavors of ripe fruit and figs. 11.4% ABV
2) Cerise Noire
A light lambic influenced sour ale.  Featuring pediococcus, lactobasillus, brettanomyces, and black cherry tea. 6% ABV
1) Le Havre Belgian Winter Ale
This seasonal offering is fashioned with reverence towards the long-standing tradition of Trappist Abbey-style beers of Belgium. Brewed with Pale Ale malt, oats, and dark crystal malts, hopped with Fuggles, and fermented with authentic Belgian Abbey yeast, the ale reveals intricate layers of spice, fig, bitter chocolate.  ABV: 8.0%

the pissed liBEERian

To my heart's dismay, there will be no repeat of this situation at Belgianfest this year. Big Al Brewing won't be there. Sadness.

Strange Brewfest 2012 starts tomorrow!!

Strange Brewfest Numero Ocho starts tomorrow (Friday, January 27th through Sunday, January 29th) in gorgeous Port Townsend, WA. Head out to the peninsula for a weekend full of mouth hole weirdness and crazy good times. The festivities go on through the weekend but I recommend stopping by early on, so you don't miss out on anything interesting.

Most of the attending breweries don't announce which beers they are bringing to this fest so it's always a fun surprise upon arrival to see what the options are. However, it does mean there is no color-coded excel spreadsheet of beer drinking priority to make. This is one of my most favorite festivals of the year so I'll just have to let my palate lead the way when I arrive on Saturday.

For more information on the festival, check out their website here. If you poke around on the site a bit, you may come across some stunningly loverly pictures of the 2011 event (and even one of me!), all taken by MGD himself. I just found them all on the site today when I was constructing this blog so it gave me a total happy. My stud muffin is such a stud muffin.

For a first hand account of the phenomenaltasticmarvelous time MGD & myself had at last year's Strange Brew, check out my 2011 write up.

still being stuhrange,

the pissed liBEERian

photo by MGD