Belgianfest - Washington Beer Commission style yo!

Weebles WABL, but they don't fall down! WAshington Beer Lovers did the Belgian beers justice this January during Belgianfest. Talk about sensory overload! I didn't realize until recently that so many beers fell into the Belgian Beer category. I'll also shamefully submit that I didn't know that Krieks fell under the Belgian umbrella until right before attending. For anyone who possesses as little knowledge as I formerly did, you can find out more by visiting BelgianBeerMe.com. Because the Krieks are my fave, here's a quick rundown on the style:

Kriek - Well, other than being delicious in my mouth they are categorized as a lambic made with cherries or cherry extract. Similarly Peche (peach), Framboise (rasberry), Cassis (currant)etc.

And now for the even funner stuff... PICTURES!!!! We (we ='s MGD but look, it's MY blog) took a ton so I'll let them do most of the talkin'. For once.

The Representing Breweries
(in order of our visitation)

First stop of the day, Elliott Bay BC

Those pouring for Odin Brewing know their stuff! We got quite the education on mace & it's use in Odin's Pearl.

Issaquah brought a whole lotta Menage-a-Frog along

Anacortes Brewery is having a bit too much fun on the job...

but know how to get down to business when beer is involved.

Dinner & a show. Oh Three Skulls, you always make me laugh.

Big Time Brewing looking as happy as was appropriate

Cheers from Hale's Ales

Quite the selection at Elysian Brewing

Snoqualmie wouldn't give me any beer until I gave them 1 wooden token and said 'Triskaidekaphobia' 3x fast

Something must be good at Black Raven to already be partially out of order

Silver City Brewing

Boundary Bay Brewery

Featuring Carl from Big Al Brewing. Happy brewers make great beer!

The Belgianfest Scene 

(the crazy crowd & late night antics)

Very early crowd shot. Can you spot Brew Dad?

Getting friendly with Kim from the Washington Beer Blog

They say Big Al is so nice 'cause it's freakin' true. He shared his Belgian waffle with me. This was right before I laughed and blew powdered sugar all over him. Please keep your big mouth jokes to yourself.

Mischievously toying with the Scuttlebutt paddle. You should see the look of concern (for his own safety) on MGD's face from behind the camera. Priceless.

A great shot of the entire Belgianfest crowd!

MGD enjoying some Big Al with owner of Beveridge Place Pub, Gary Sink

Even though I look a little crazy eyed, I think we are basically way kewt together.

Chris Miller from Snipes Mountain shows us how it's done. Twangzister... be gone!

Sweet Delirium Tremens suspenders, I lurv those little pink elephants!

Evening crowd shot, not a chance of winding down anytime soon!

Rarely do I have a problem taking matters into my own hands, especially when it comes to a lack of Big Al in my glass.

Snipes Mountain Twangzister is good until the very last drop. Even Bill Jenkins from Big Time lends a hand in order to extract the not-so-bitter end

 Effing Around w/ Big Al 

(a beer festival just isn't a beer festival without these guys!)

Please take a moment to notice the proper pinky placement by yours truly

How could a Belgianfest be complete without waffles!

Cheers from the Big Al booth with Micah Sims

Belgians of Outstanding Nature 

(what our unit loved most from the fest)

Big Al Kriek (well duh...)
Black Raven Pour Les Oiseaux (4 grain farmhouse ale/saison aged in French oak white wine barrels with brettanomyces)
Elysian Brewing Backhanded Compliment (Belgian-Style IPA)
Odin's Pearl White Ale (sweet and spicy Belgian hybrid Wit, made with mace)
Ram Brewing's BBBLage-A-Trois
Snipes Mt. Brewery Twangzister #3 (had the last of the 3 yr old Belgian strong aged in a bourbon barrel with house cultures and obnoxious amounts of Montmorency cherries, blended with a non-infectious Belgian strong that was fermented with two strains of Belgian yeast and Belgian candy syrup. And a partridge in a pear tree.)

Wrapping Up

If it looks like we had fun it's because we did. Major fun and laughs were had both day and night. If the Cask Beer Festival this weekend (another WABL event) is half as great as Belgianfest was, I'll be wearing my ridonkulously happy lady face.

If you are interested in attending the Cask Beer Fest on Saturday April 9th, click here for more info & tickets. I've heard this WABL event sells out like crazy time so hop on it!


the pissed liBEERian

I used this picture twice because I heart it so much. Deal with it.

Photography & Editing by TheRealMGD

The Belgians are coming, the BELGIANS are coming!!! alloveryourface

Coming up next weekend is the Washington Beer Commission's 2nd Annual Belgianfest. Over 50 Belgian style beers (Tripels, Dubbles, Saisons, Wits, Abbeys and Lambics) will be featured by 25 Washington Breweries.

Where: Magnuson Park in North Seattle

When: Saturday January 22nd. 1st Session: 12:00-4:00p, 2nd Session: 5:30-9:30p

Who: YOU! Be there!

Tickets and additional event info can be found here.

Here’s the list of zee Belgians being offered, I am highlighting the ones that I am overly stoked to taste:

Anacortes Brewery
1) Dark Water Dubbel:  ABV: 8.2%
2) Anacortes Sour Brown ABV: 9.1%

Big Al Brewing
1) Belgian Tripel ABV: 9%
2) Local Hero #9 Belgian Dubbel ABV: 7.7%

Big Time Brewery
1) Trombipulator 2010 ABV: 10%
2) Saison Grisette

Black Raven Brewing
1) “Pour Les Oiseaux” ABV: 6.2%
2) “Seasonal Farmhouse IPA” ABV: 7.7%
3) “La Petite Mort” (cask version) ABV: 8.8%

Boundary Bay Brewery
1) Big Belgian Ale ABV: 6.6%
2) Boundary Bay Tripel

Der Blokken Brewery
1) Belgian Gold ABV: 8.5%

Elliot Bay Brewing
1) Belgian Black IPA ABV: 6% IBU: 60
2) Brett von Boorian ABV: 4.75% IBU: 30
3) Imperial von Boorian ABV: 7.25% IBU: 70
4) Red von Boorian ABV: 5% IBU: 20

Elysian Brewing
1) Bête Blanche ABV: 6.9%
2) Bête Noel Belgian-style Ale. ABV: 8.5%
3) Toro Oro Yerba Mate Tripel ABV: 7.2%
4) Yuzu’s. Sour Belgian-Style Golden Ale ABV:4.5%
5) Groaning Board Trappist-style Table Beer ABV: 5.3%
6) Backhanded Compliment (Belgian-Style IPA)  ABV: 6.2%

Fremont Brewing
1) Mystere de Tonneau
2) Blood Funnel-Saison

Georgetown Brewing
1) Donkey Deux!  ABV: 7.9%
2) Georgetown Braggot ABV: 8.5%

Hale’s Ales
1) IX Gold-Belgium Strong Golden Ale. ABV: 9%
2) Quadruppel

Issaquah Brewhouse
1) Cask of Menage-a-Frog: ABV 9%
2) Cask of Menage-a-Frog: Berry Edition ABV 9%

Lazy Boy Brewing
1) Belgian Golden Ale
2) TBA

Naked City Brewery
1) Gilda American Wild Ale ABV: 8.5%
2) Saison De La Ville Nue ABV: 6.5%

Odin Brewing
1) Odin Pearl White Ale ABV: 5.1%

Paradise Creek Brewery
1) Paradise Hoe Style: Belgian Wit. ABV: 5.9%

Pike Brewing
1) Pike Monk’s Uncle Tripel Ale ABV: 9%
2) Pike Tandem Double Ale ABV: 7.5%

Ram Brewery
1) Biere de Mars
2) Rye
3) BBL-a-Trois

RedHook Brewery
1) Dubbel Hook ABV: 8%

Scuttlebutt Brewing
1) Belgian Winter-Belgian Dark Strong Ale
2) Tripel 7 ABV: 9%

Silver City Brewery
1) La Fat-Belgian Inspired Scotch Ale ABV: 9%
2) Katy Saison ABV: 6%

Snipes Mt. Brewery
1) Twangzister #3 ABV: 8.5%

Snoqualmie Falls Brewing
1) Triskaidekaphobia-Belgian Tripel
2) Spring Fever-Belgian Gran Cru
3) Wit-Wit Bier

Three Skulls-Baron Brewing
1) Three Skulls Belgian Trippel ABV: 9%

Two Beers Brewing
1) Crooked Belgian Wit
2) Cask Dry Peeled Crooked Belgian Wit

Famous Belgian Proverbs (you know, to keep it all themey like)

For MGD ~ God heals, but the doctor gets paid. (cha!)

For ALL ~ What you say when you're drunk should have been thought about beforehand.

and for ME ~ Don't make use of another's mouth unless it has been leant to you.

I'll raise a glass to lending our mouths to each other,

the pissed liBEERian

awwwwwww! it's okay to throw up in your mouth, i kinda did.