Is 'Children Welcome' Really Such A Good Idea?

"Children under 21 welcome until 8:00PM".

It's a sign you see often these days, at more and more bars around the Puget Sound (sometimes it's 9:00PM, but the basic idea is the same).  It means, while visiting many local pubs, taverns and breweries, you'll often see teenagers, young kids and even babies around as you enjoy your drink(s).  What prompted this change, and is it really such a good idea? 

I first started seeing these signs pop up in a few pubs/taverns I frequent a little over a year ago.  One of the places I know, Big Time Brewery in Seattle's University district, installed a 'railing' around the bar area just to facilitate this rule (children under 21 must remain outside the railing that indicates the 'bar' area at all times - even before 8:00PM).  And now, it seems even more places are adopting this rule; the latest one being The Yard Cafe in Seattle's Greenwood neighborhood. 

Old Wooly 2011 Release This Thursday

As a fan of big holiday beers, I'm already really enjoying the season.  With the likes of Hoppy The Woodsman from Schooner Exact Brewing, Jolly Roger Christmas Ale from Maritime Pacific Brewing, Elysian Brewing's Bifrost, etc. etc. I'm a very happy beer drinker this time of year.  And for Big Time Brewery fans and barleywine fans alike, it's that most wonderful time of the year.  This Thursday, December 1st, will be the annual tapping of Big Time Brewery's Old Wooly Barleywine.  I'm always a fan of this one, and I may be at Big Time this Thursday when they open to see if I can be the lucky one to get the first glass off the keg. 

Usually fairly hoppy, but with a solid and complex malt character to back it up, Old Wooly is a real treat for Seattle craft beer fans, as finding it outside of Seattle is extremely rare.  Big Time only bottles four of their beers (Prime Time Pale Ale, Atlas Amber, Coal Creek Porter and Baghwan's Best IPA), and they only sell those bottles at the brewery.  The only other way to get Big Time beers is in the keg or on tap at Big Time or other local craft beer bars that carry Big Time selections. 

In years past, every version of Old Wooly I've experienced has been brewed by Big Time's former head brewer: Bill Jenkins.  Bill has moved on and will be the head brewer at Elliott Bay Brewing's new location up in Lake City (due to open early next year), so I don't know for sure if this year's batch was brewed by Bill before he left or if it was brewed by Big Time's new head brewer (former head brewer at Pike Brewing and, incidentally, Bill Jenkins' brother in law), Drew Cluley.  They're both great brewers so it really doesn't matter.  I believe Drew may have told me earlier this year who brewed this year's batch, I just don't recall and I'm curious.  I'll have to ask Drew on Thursday.

Also, for those who've been living under a rock or don't follow my blog regularly, just another reminder that next Thursday is the Big Wood festival at Brouwer's Cafe.  I will definitely be in attendance, so maybe I'll see you there. 

Drink responsibly and stay safe out there.

Happy Thanksgiving - Two Weeks Until Big Wood 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday - and a fun time shopping on Black Friday, if that's your thing. 

Today is my wife's birthday, so we're actually ignoring Thanksgiving this year and focusing on that instead (not an easy task, when just about everything is closed on Thanksgiving!)  So enjoy your bird, we'll be grilling up some salmon and enjoying some great beers.

I also wanted to reminder my readers that the Big Wood Fest is coming up in just two weeks at Brouwer's Cafe in Seattle, and Brouwer's has released a partial list of what you'll see on tap this year.  Here it is:

Some of the Bigwood Beers:

Alaskan Perseverance RIS

Allagash Curieux

Avery Rumpkin

Big Time 2010 Bourbon/Oaked Old Rip

Dogfish Head Palo Santo

Double Mountain Wooden Nipple Barrel Aged Triple

Full Sail Black Gold

Glacier Makers Mark Eisbock

Great Divide Oaked Rumble IPA

Hitachino Classic in Schnider-Wiesse Barrel

HOD 2008 Fred Flanders

HUB Bourbon Baltic Porter

Maritime BBN Jolly Roger

Nectar Black Xantus

New Belgium Love

Oakshire Hellshire II Oaked Imperial Stout

Port Townsend Oaked Mables Best Imperial Stout

Russian River Supplication

Russian River Temptation

Schooner Exact Hoppy the Woodsman

Shmaltz Barrel Aged Blockhead

Silver City 2010 Fat Woody

The Bruery 3 French Hens

Pretty impressive, and this is only a partial list.  Things kick off at 11:00AM on Thursday, December 8th.  I'll be taking the day off work for this one.  Will I see you there?

Drink responsibly and stay safe out there. 

Green Flash Brewery Expansion Announced A Year Early

Green Flash Brewing out of San Diego has been planning a brewery expansion since moving to San Diego in May of this year.  They had originally planned the expansion for 2013, with the assumption that their current production system could meet demand. 

It turns out that has not been the case.  Demand has increased faster than they had anticipated, and Green Flash has moved up their expansion plans to Spring 2012.  Once the expansion is complete, they'll be able to produce 45,000 barrels per year, as opposed to their current capacity of 14,000 barrels per year.  Here's the press release:

San Diego, CA - Nov 16, 2011        Today, Green Flash Brewing Co announced plans to break ground and expand within their San Diego-based brewery, just six months after beginning operations at the 45,000 sf Mira Mesa facility. The craft specialty brewer currently has the ability to produce 45,000 barrels per year and had anticipated this output would be sufficient to satisfy consumer demand until at least 2013. With an increase in sales volume nationally over the past six-months, Green Flash has exceeded sales forecasts, and is already operating at the brewery’s current full capacity. Over one year ahead of schedule, the groundbreaking for the expansion is now slated for Spring 2012 and will allow Green Flash to produce 20% more volume per year  (appx 67,000 barrels annually) by June 2012.   

The summer 2011 move from their Vista location allowed Green Flash to make a sizeable leap from producing just 14,000 barrels a year to 45,000. Green Flash has since focused on increasing beer varieties and on servicing the demand in existing territories.  They have added only a few small markets to the mix.  

“We specifically selected the Mira Mesa location with expansion potential in mind,” says CEO and Owner of Green Flash Brewing Co, Mike Hinkley.  “We have earmarked space in the facility for several phases of growth that we thought would begin in 2013. Obviously, I’m pleased to be in a position that necessitates early expansion. We are all looking forward to the possibilities of what next summer’s increased capabilities will present with regard to brewing new beers, fulfilling our existing demand and possibly expanding into a few new markets. ”  

As they move into phase 2 of expansion, Green Flash will continue to focus on meeting existing product demands, producing new beer varieties and will look at opening distribution in just a handful of small markets by the middle to end of 2012.    When all phases of expansion are complete, the Green Flash brewery in Mira Mesa will be able to produce 100,000 barrels per year. Owner, Mike Hinkley predicts they will reach this milestone late in 2013.

I'm a fan of Green Flash's hoppy libations, so it's great to hear how well they're doing.  I look forward to hearing when the expansion is complete.

Drink responsibly and stay safe out there.

The Vanberg & DeWulf Coast To Coast Toast Is Tonight

Tonight at Brouwer's Cafe is an event called the Coast to Coast Toast.  This is a celebration of the 30th anniversary of Vanberg & DeWulf importers of fine Belgian beers such as: Scaldis, Dupont, Foret, and Moinette just to name a few.

Here's a bit more info about Vanberg & DeWulf:

Vanberg & DeWulf are the original, most ardent and proselytizing importers of Belgian beers in the USA. It’s no wonder they’re called the “Belgian Experts”: ever since 1982, their mission has been to support independent, family-run breweries and indigenous beer styles that express the spirit of a place. The founders, Don Feinberg & Wendy Littlefield, were the first Americans inducted into the Belgian Brewers’ Guild. They published the first edition of “The Great Beers of Belgium” by Michael Jackson, and brought Duvel, Rodenbach, and the lambics of Frank Boon to the States. In the 1990’s they pioneered cooking with beer education at the CIA and The James Beard House. Don & Wendy conceived of and built Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, NY, thereby constructing the first farmstead brewery to be built in over a century… on a former hops farm, no less. Their brewery Ommegang was the first brewery to make all bottle-conditioned, cork-finished, exclusively Belgian-style beers in America. Every beer in their current portfolio is a major or a minor classic.

I honestly don't drink enough Belgian beers, even though I really do enjoy them.  Perhaps this event will be a good way for me to rediscover some Belgian classics I've been overlooking or not getting enough of.  I'm not 100% sure I can make it tonight, but I'm sure gonna try and I'll at least have a few great Belgian beers today to celebrate.  Care to join me? 

If you can't make it to Brouwer's Cafe, you can celebrate by picking up a few good Belgian Beers at your local bottle shop.  Try looking at: 99 Bottles, Bottleworks, The Last Drop, or Beer Junction for your Coast to Coast Toast needs.  If you're in Portland, try The Beermongers. 
Drink responsibly and stay safe out there.

Firestone Walker XVth Anniversary Ale TODAY At Brouwer's Cafe - UPDATED

As my regular readers know, I'm a big fan of Firestone Walker Brewing Company out of Paso Robles, CA.  My favorite beers in the World right now all come from their 'Proprietor's Reserve' series, which consists of:

• Double Jack - Firestone Walker's Imperial IPA - and my favorite Imperial IPA, period.
• Walker's Reserve Porter - With notes of toffee, caramel and bittersweet chocolate.
• Abacus - Just one of Firestone Walker's amazing and complex barleywines (Soon to be renamed §ucaba (Abacus backwards)).
• Parabola - A rich and robust stout with bold bourbon and tobacco aromas and a rich dark chocolate, charred oak flavor.
• XIVth Anniversary Ale - A complex blend of six different FW beers, including Double Barrel Ale, Sticky Monkey, Parabola, Velvet Merkin, Goodfoot and Black Xanthus. Simply amazing. 

Well, I just got some great news about the next offering in the Proprietor's Reserve series.  I've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Firestone Walker's XVth Anniversary Ale.  And now it seems my wait will be handsomely rewarded.  XVth Anniversary Ale from Firestone Walker will be on tap at Brouwer's Cafe in Seattle Today: Monday, November 14th starting at 7:00PM. 

Brouwer's also says they have another little 'surprise' in store for us on that evening, but for now they're keeping us in suspense as to what the surprise might be.  Frankly, I'm hoping they'll put on a keg of a rare beer from Firestone Walker known as 'Sticky Monkey'.  It's a beer they usually only make for blending purposes, but I was fortunate to have some on tap at Brouwer's last year after the Firestone Walker & Homebrew Chef collaboration dinner I attended back in May of this year. 

I'll also be dropping by Bottleworks in Seattle this morning, as soon as they open, to grab a few bottles of XVth Anniversary Ale.  They should also have some rare XIIIth Anniversary Ale available, so I'll grab a few of those as well.

I still have at least one bottle each of Parabola, Walker's Reserve Porter, Abacus (Soon to be renamed §ucaba), some XIVth Anniversary Ale at home.  Once I get my hands on some XVth Anniversary Ale (and some XIIIth Anniversary Ale) bottles this year, I'll have to pick up a Double Jack, have a few good friends over and have an all Firestone Walker Reserve Series tasting.  Talk about a beer-gasm!  I'll have to see what kind of menu I can come up with to accompany this incredible lineup.  My compliments to the Firestone Walker Brewmaster and to their master blenders. 

I will definitely be at Brouwer's Cafe tonight to get some XVth Anniversary Ale on tap (and, perhaps, splurge on a bottle of XIIIth Anniversary Ale as well).  Will I see you there? 

Drink responsibly and stay safe out there.

Alaskan Brewer's Night, The Release of Firestone Walker XV & Coast & Coast Toast At Brouwer's Cafe

There are three exciting events coming up over the next week or so at Brouwer's Cafe, so mark your calendars and set some time aside. 

The first event is tomorrow night, Tuesday the 8th.  It's Alaskan Brewer's Night at Brouwer's, where Alaskan Brewing will have 8 dedicated taps available.  There will be no Alaskan Amber, but there will be their IPA, Oatmeal Stout, Smoked Porter (which was just released this year on November 1st) and their 25th Anniversary Perseverance Ale (A Russian Imperial Stout).  An Alaskan Brewing representative will also be on hand to answer any questions you may have. So if you're a fan of Alaskan Brewing, this is your night.

Another event, not fully featured in this article, will also be happening on November 10th at 6:00PM, when Brouwer's will be tapping two JW Lees Wood Barrel casks: one a port cask and the other a lagavulin cask. 

Next up is an event I've been eagerly anticipating: the release of Firestone Walker's XVth Anniversary Ale.  It arrives in WA state this year on November 14th (check with your local bottle shop), and Brouwer's will have XVth Anniversary Ale on tap starting at 7:00PM, which is quite rare. 

Also availble that night at Brouwer's in the bottle (for consumption only at Brouwer's - they don't sell bottles to go) will be Firestone Walker's Parabola stout as well as their XIIIth Anniversary Ale and their XIVth Anniversary Ale.  I've never had the XIIIth Anniversary Ale myself, so I might just have to order a bottle while I'm there, and/or see if they still have any available at Bottleworks or any of my other local bottle shops. 

As well as enjoying the release of XV at Brouwer's, I also plan to pick up a few bottles at Bottleworks as soon as they open on the 14th, as well as a few bottles of XIII if they still have any.  I'm planning on taking off work early that day just for this event.  You can learn more about the blending process for Firestone Walker's XVth Anniversary Ale HERE. 

On a frosty day sometime this winter, I'm also planning to get together with a few good friends and have a Firestone Walker Proprietor's Reserve Series tasting including: Double Jack IPA, Walker's Reserve Porter, Abacus Barleywine, Parabola Stout, XIIIth Anniversary Ale, XIVth Anniversary Ale and XVth Anniversary Ale.  With that much good beer around, I might just have to pull out my smoker in the dead of winter and make some good BBQ to accompany these fine libations. 

The day after the release of Firestone Walker's XVth Anniversary Ale at Brouwer's will be an event called the Coast to Coast Toast.  This is a celebration of the 30th anniversary of Vanberg & DeWulf importers of fine Belgian beers such as: Scaldis, Dupont, Foret, and Moinette just to name a few.

Here's a bit more info about Vanberg & DeWulf:

Vanberg & DeWulf are the original, most ardent and proselytizing importers of Belgian beers in the USA. It’s no wonder they’re called the “Belgian Experts”: ever since 1982, their mission has been to support independent, family-run breweries and indigenous beer styles that express the spirit of a place. The founders, Don Feinberg & Wendy Littlefield, were the first Americans inducted into the Belgian Brewers’ Guild. They published the first edition of “The Great Beers of Belgium” by Michael Jackson, and brought Duvel, Rodenbach, and the lambics of Frank Boon to the States. In the 1990’s they pioneered cooking with beer education at the CIA and The James Beard House. Don & Wendy conceived of and built Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, NY, thereby constructing the first farmstead brewery to be built in over a century… on a former hops farm, no less. Their brewery Ommegang was the first brewery to make all bottle-conditioned, cork-finished, exclusively Belgian-style beers in America. Every beer in their current portfolio is a major or a minor classic.

I honestly don't drink enough Belgian beers, even though I really do enjoy them.  Perhaps this event will be a good way for me to rediscover some Belgian classics I've been overlooking or not getting enough of.  Care to join me?  As you can see, there's quite a bit to get excited about the next week or so at Brouwer's Cafe. 

Drink responsibly and stay safe out there.

International Stout Day & IPA Cask-O-Rama - UPDATED!

Today I attended the 6th Annual IPA Cask-O-Rama at Beveridge Place Pub, but not until after I celebrated International Stout Day at Brouwer's Cafe. 

My Schooner of Old Rasputin Stout on Nitro

I kicked things off at Brouwer's Cafe with a North Coast Brewing Old Rasputin Stout on Nitro.  Yum, yum!  I followed that up with a Left Coast Brewing Voodoo American Stout, which was also quite good.  I had lunch at Brouwer's too, but didn't have much else to drink there, since I knew I'd be heading for the Cask-O-Rama in a few hours. 

The casks all lined up on the bar

I arrived at Beveridge Place Pub rather early, since I know how crowded the place can get during this event.  I was glad I arrived early too.  By 5:00, a full hour before the Cask-O-Rama kick off, Bev. Place was getting pretty full.

The choices for this year's Cask-O-Rama

Everyone was looking over the selections, which had been placed out along with the taster trays for everyone to mark their selections for the servers.  And speaking of that, I'd like to give the servers at Beveridge Place a big thank you.  The place was, literally, packed; and with everyone ordering taster trays of 6 beers at a time, the servers were kept extremely busy, but they kept up and did a great job.  Thanks guys! 

My Cask-O-Rama taster tray

My taster tray consisted of the following choices:

• Airways Steel Drum IPA
• Elliott Bay Lake City Way IPA
• Iron Horse Imperial IPA
• North Sound Hop Chop IPA
• Port Townsend Hop Diggity IPA
• Sound Humulo Nimbus IPA

They all had their particular charms, but my favorite of the choices on my tray was the Humulo Nimbus IPA by Sound Brewery.  It's the lower-right glass (#19) on the photo above of my taster tray.  It had a prominent hop nose and pleasantly assertive hop flavor with just enough malt and carbonation to back it up.  My #2 was the Iron Horse Imperial IPA and #3 was the Port Townsend Hop Diggity. 

Cask beers are generally served warmer and less-carbonated than usual.  In fact the Humulo Nimbus was fairly low on carbonation, as you can see by it's lack of head in the above photo.  But it had just enough carbonation to carry the aromas and flavors.  Unfortunately, there was one selection on my tray where the carbonation level was just too low.  The Lake City Way IPA from Elliott Bay might have been a good IPA, but its almost total lack of any carbonation provided no effervescence to carry the hop flavors or aromas well.  I usually like most Elliott Bay beers and I believe I know the brewer who created this batch, so I'm hoping it was just a packaging issue or a problem with this particular cask. 

Tonight was also the night that Beveridge Place announced the results of their 'Hoptoberfest' competition.  The winning beer will become their house IPA for the next year.  And the winning beer this year was....... (Drum roll, please!): Lucille IPA by Georgetown Brewing Company.  Congratulations to Georgetown Brewing! 

It was nice to start the day off rather quietly with a couple of stouts at Brouwer's for International Stout Day, where they hadn't gotten crowded at all yet, and then to finish things off at Beveridge Place, which was absolutely packed by the time I was getting ready to head home. 

I had a great day and I'm already looking forward to my next event, which will mostly likely be the arrival of Firestone Walker's XVth Anniversary Ale on November 14th.  It will be on tap at Brouwer's Cafe (which is rare - I'm really looking forward to it), and it should be available in bottle shops around the puget sound also starting on November 14th. 

 (Original post is below.)

California Trip Postponed

This is heartbreaking news for me, as I was really looking forward to this trip.  However, due to unforseen personal issues that have arisen just recently, I will be unable to make my December trip.

During this trip, in addition to visiting some family and spending New Years in Las Vegas, I was planning on visiting the following California Breweries:

• Sierra Nevada Brewing - Chico, CA
• Mendocino Brewing - Ukiah, CA
• Russian River Brewing - Santa Rosa, CA
• Lagunitas Brewing - Petaluma, CA
• Marin Brewing - Larkpsur, CA
• Moylan's Brewing - Novato, CA
• Firestone Walker Brewing - Paso Robles, CA (And Buellton, CA)
• Port Brewing/Lost Abbey - San Marcos, CA
• The Bruery - Placentia, CA
• Stone Brewing - Escondido, CA

The only one of these breweries I've been to before is Marin Brewing in Larksupr, CA.  Most of the others didn't exit yet when I moved from California up to Washington state years ago.  So, I was really looking forward to finally getting to the source of some of my favorite beers.

Though the trip must be postponed for now - I definitely intend to re-organize things agian as soon as possible.  Perhaps next summer - or the same time next year.  I'll keep you posted.

If any of my readers manage to visit any of these breweries, tell them Beer Monger says hello and have a pint for me!

Drink responsibly and stay safe out there.