|
July 2007
Washington Brewers Festival Recap
A huge thanks to everyone who came out to the 2nd Annual Washington Brewers Festival during the Fathers Day Weekend! The much anticipated return to Saint Edward State Park was warmly welcome by estimated 10,000 eager festival-goers despite the occasional cool and wet weather. Plus now all of you have a few new friends- 130 of them to be exact! Say hello to all the new WABLers who joined during the 2-day weekend. WABL is going stronger than ever, now with over 550 members!
Here are some of the highlights from this year’s Mother of All Fathers Day Festivals:
Back at Saint Edward State Park
Thanks to the family-friendly Saint Edward State Park many families including over 1,500 children enjoyed their Fathers Day weekend at the Festival.
Biggest Beer Lineup in the Festival History
This year’s Festival featured nearly 200 beers from 62 breweries, the biggest beer lineup in the Fathers Day beer festival history! Over 70,000 tastes were consumed over the 2 day weekend with Boundary Bay Brewery (Bellingham), Northern Lights Brewing Co. (Spokane) and Diamond Knot Brewing Co. (Mukilteo) leading the token count. That’s a lot of beer! This year’s festival also introduced a few new comers such as Skookum Brewery (Arlington), Schooner Exact Brewing Co. (Seattle) and Stix Billiards and Brewhouse (Seattle).
Return of the Brewers Keg Toss Contest
The Festival favorite, Brewers Keg Toss Contest made its return with a big splash! The winner each day took home a coveted prize by the Keg Toss Sponsor, Micro Matic and Iron Horse Brewing Co. was crowned with the overall championship trophy for the weekend.
Washington Beer’s very own Rootbeer Garden
This year the Festival introduced a real beer garden for the kids- a rootbeer garden, that is. Complete with draft jockey boxes, tokens and fencing, the Rootbeer Garden served the finest craft rootbeer and soda by none other than Washington breweries including Sour Strawberry Lemon by Skagit River Brewery, Raspberry Ginger Ale by Big E Ales and Root Beer by Boundary Bay Brewery, Hale’s Ales Brewery and Scuttlebutt Brewing Co.
Growing Circle of WABL
Whapping 130 new members joined WABL over the 2 day weekend, plus 90 more one week leading up to the Festival. WABL members received a special WABL exclusive tasting glass, discount coupons to Malt & Vine, a new bottle shop in Redmond, and of course the WABL Beer- a Belgian Blonde brewed by Hale’s Ales Brewery exclusively for the Festival.
1st Annual Oktoberfest presented by the Washington Beer Commission
Now the big festival is over, moving on to the next one- the Washington Beer Commission presents the 1st Annual Oktoberfest! As you might have heard the Washington Beer Commission is now officially in business since July 1st, and will sponsor all the Washington Beer festivals from now on. In carefully choosing the Commission’s very first festival, we thought what would be more appropriate than the most widely celebrated “beer holiday” in the world- Oktoberfest!
So what can you expect from this Oktoberfest? We’ll show you how we celebrate the Oktoberfest, Washington style! There will be around 30 breweries from Washington and they are all asked to bring an Oktoberfest-themed beer (plus any other beer of their choice for those who prefer a variety). Since the 19th century the Oktoberfest tradition has spread out to many parts of the world including our home, Washington, where there is no shortage of good Oktoberfest beers. Every year many brewers make an attempt to create their own renditions of the Oktoberfest beer- some stay true to the traditional smooth, malty lager, while others try to be more experimental by adding their own twists. And you’ll be able to try many of them at this Oktoberfest- Oktoberfest, Marzen, other German lagers and harvest ales (from non-lager breweries)! The event will also feature traditional German food by local vendors and oompah music, all under huge Oktoberfest-style tent at the beautiful Saint Edward State Park. So mark your calendar now!
Dates: September 14th - 15th, 2007
Hours: Friday: 3-9pm; Saturday: 1-9pm
Location: Saint Edward State Park, 14445 Juanita Dr. NE, Kenmore, WA 98028
Admission: $25 advance tickets/day of admission
Day of admission includes a 12oz plastic tasting mug and 12 tokens
Happy hour—Friday 3-6pm, extra 2 tokens
Designated driver admission $5 and available at the gate only
21+ ONLY
Sorry, no dogs allowed
Advance tickets are $25 and include a mug and 15 tokens (3 bonus tokens)
Tickets will be available online at www.washingtonbeer.com starting late July and at ticket outlets in early August.
3oz sample tastes are one token each. 12oz full tastes are three tokens each.
Each additional token is $1.00 or bulk discounts also available.
I’m sure you are asking, “So what do WABLs get this time?”. Well, we know how much you loved the special WABL tasting glass at the Washington Brewers Festival so again we’re giving all the current WABL members real 12oz. glass steins instead of the plastic ones that everyone else will get! Plus the event will open 30 minutes early exclusively for the WABL members on Friday so you can be the first ones to experience the event. And don’t forget the WABL Beer which will be brewed by Baron Brewing Co. You know it’s going to be good!
July WABL event @ Brouwers Café
If you need an asylum from this crazy heat wave and are looking for a place to enjoy refreshingly tasty beers, here’s a good one for you- Brouwers Café is inviting WABLers on Sunday, July 22nd between 2-6pm. There will be a special cask-conditioned beer by Pike Brewing Co. on tap ($2.50 /pint for WABL members) plus you’ll get the happy hour deal on beer and food. So bring your friends and, most importantly, your WABL passport!
July WABL Event @ Brouwers Café
Sunday, July 22nd, 2-6pm
Brouwers Cafe
400 N. 35th St.
Seattle, WA 98103
www.brouwerscafe.com
Another reason to visit Brouwers this month- it’s Christmas in July at Brouwers Café! The folks at Brouwers have cellared a handful of their favorite seasonal releases and they're going on tap this Friday. Look for Maritime Jolly Roger, Baron Liberator and many more at Brouwers between July 13-27.
Washington brewers shine at the Brewers Summer Games!
On June 23rd brewers from the Washington Brewers Guild competed in the Pelican Brew Pub's
Brewers Summer Games in Pacific City, OR. The Washington team, lead by Drew Cluley from Pike, included brewers from Baron, Silver City and Elysian, and was appropriately named “Team WABL” to represent Washington Beer. The team competed in the keg toss, yeast balloon toss, service with a smile, the keg sled race, the hand truck race and the race to the surf with a full 1/4 bbl, and came in 3rd place! Not a bad showing considering there were 9 teams competing. Fun was had by all, and next year WABLers should consider
traveling down to Pacific City, OR to cheer on the Washington brewers!
Brewers Firkin Nights at Pike Brewing Co.
Pike Brewing Co. is having Brewers Firkin Night every other Thursday the rest of the summer. On July 26th, August 9th and August 23rd the Pike brewers will tap a firkin of cask ale at 4:30pm. At 6pm the brewers will lead a tour of the Pike facility. $3.00 pints of cask.
WABL Exclusive Offer
Every month, WABL members enjoy a number of exciting offers from Washington Brewers Guild, Guild member breweries, and sponsors. This month's offers are:
July WABL event @ Brouwers Cafe
On July 22nd the WABL members are invited to try a delicious cask-conditioned beer by Pike Brewing Co. for $2.50 /pint at the July WABL event at Brouwers Café. As always, WABL passport is required for this offer. You can also receive the happy hour deal between 2-6pm.
1st Annual Oktoberfest presented by the Washington Beer Commission
At the very first Washington Beer Commission event, WABL members will receive a special WABL-only glass stein and early admission to the event at 2:30pm on Friday (the event will open to public at 3pm). Plus WABL members will get to try a special WABL Beer brewed exclusively for this event by Baron Brewing Co.
Event Calendar
Christmas in July
July 1st - 31st
Elysian Brewing Co.- TangleTown
2106 N 55th St.
Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 547-5929
www.elysianbrewing.com
All month Tangle town will be pouring winter beers. On tap July18th-24th are Sierra Celebration, Elysian Bifrost, St Feuillien Noel, Diamond knot HoHoHo Maritime Jolly Roger and Pyramid Snowcap.
Christmas in July
July 13th – 27th
Brouwers Cafe
400 N. 35th St.
Seattle, WA 98103
www.brouwerscafe.com
Elysian Brewers Night @ Latona Pub
Monday, July 16th, 8 p.m.-
Latona Pub
6423 Latona Ave. N.E.
Seattle, WA 98115
www.3pubs.com
The continuing 20th anniversary series at the Latona for the unveiling of the collaboration between Dick Cantwell of Elysian Brewing Co. and the Guild Executive Director (and a former brewer at Rogue/Issaquah Brewhouse & La Conner Brewery), Arlen Harris. Elysian will be also pouring The Great Pumpkin (from 2006) and Cask Elysian Fields Pale Ale Extra Dry hopped Prometheus IPA.
"Support Washington Beer" Night at the Knot
An evening with Skookum Brewery
Wednesday, June 20th, 6 p.m.-
Diamond Knot Brewing Co.
621 Front Street
Mukilteo, WA 98275
www.diamondknot.com
Lazy Boy Brewers Night @ Woodfire Grill
Thursday, July 19th, 7 p.m.-
Woodfire Grill
1722 West Marine View Drive
Everett, WA 98201
(425) 258-4000
www.anthonys.com
Good food, good beer & prizes!
Fish Ten-Squared Cask @ Beveridge Place Pub
Thursday, July 19th, 6 p.m.-
Beveridge Place Pub
6451 California Ave. SW
Seattle, WA 98136
www.beverigeplacepub.com
10 types of hops, 10% ABV
Baron Brewers Night @ Beveridge Place Pub
Thursday, July 26, 7 p.m.-
Beveridge Place Pub
6451 California Ave. SW
Seattle, WA 98136
www.beverigeplacepub.com
The Lads of Lederhosen (Mike and Jeff) will be on hand as we enjoy their excellent selection of true-to-style German Lagers. You can always get their Pils at BPP, but there's much more than that to sample on this night. They'll bring goodies to give away as well, so get here early.
Brewers By The Bay
Sunday, August 5th, 2-6 p.m.
Depot Market Square
Railroad Ave. & Maple St.
Bellingham, WA 98225
(425) 814-2972
A fundraiser for the Bellingham Bay Rotary (various charities including Food Bank). Tickets are $25
Lazy Boy Brewers Dinner
Monday, August 6th, 6 p.m. -
McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant
1103 First Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 623-5500
A popular monthly feature at McCormick & Schmick’s featuring a 5 course feast with menu items paired with Lazy Boy beers. Fixed price approximately $50 per person. Normally seats 40+ people.
4th Annual Porterhouse Brewfest
Saturday, August 11th, 2-7:30 p.m.
Downtown Mt. Vernon
Gates St. between First & Main
(360) 336-8955
This summer’s sizzling brews and blues block party – bigger and better than ever with 19 microbreweries.
All proceeds benefit the historic Lincoln Theatre. $20 per person includes music and 5 tastes. 21+ only.
Hoptoberfest
September 7th -
Brouwers Cafe
400 N. 35th St.
Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 706-1544
www.brouwerscafe.com
Can a beer be too-hoppy? If you answered no then make sure not to miss this one. It all starts the first Friday of September and goes until they are all gone. As always, expect to see special hopped-out IPA's that you've never had before, and may never have again!
Great Canadian Beer Festival
Friday, September 7th & Saturday, September 8th
Royal Athletic Park
1014 Caledonia Street
Victoria, BC
www.gcbf.com
The 15th Annual Great Canadian Beer Festival will feature over 40 craft breweries including several Washington breweries pouring Washington beers! Buy your tickets now because there will be no tickets on sale at the door. Friday’s tickets are $20 and Saturday, $25.
New and Seasonal Releases
Big Time Brewing
Matt’ Red Eye IPA
Meerkat IPA
Those fabled voyages of the British Empire supplying heavily hopped beer to their troops in India had to travel around the southern tip of Africa, home to the terminally cute meerkat. We paid homage to this often overlooked leg of the journey with this beer; a crisp, citrusy blend of Chinook and Amarillo hops. O.G. 16.0, 6.1% ABV.
Sunbreak Blonde Ale
Very pale, crisp and light with a clean subtle maltiness. Just a hint of wheat and the flavor of czech saaz hops. OG 10.5 Plato (1.042), 4.1% ABV.
Yardbird Wheat
With 30% wheat and a hint of Munich Malt and lightly hopped with Hersbrucker and German Spalt, Yardbird is a quiet, refreshing beer with an accent on wheat. OG 15.8 Plato (1.042) and 3.2% alcohol by weight.
Elliott Bay Brewing
Von Boorian Line
Elliott Bay took on a brewing challenge in 2007...managing a Belgian yeast strain. We've brewed recipes at each of the pubs on an alternating basis in an effort to keep the yeast active and viable, including a hoppy Belgian pale ale called Hop von Boorian and Noir von Boorian, a Belgian black ale. Others now pourning in both the West Seattle and Burien pubs include: Pale von Boorian (a dry-hopped De Koninck knock-off), Red von Boorian (sour-ish Belgian red ale), and Blonde von Boorian (a la Leffe Blond). Coming up will be Trippel von Boorian and Wit von Boorian.
Other Current Seasonals:
Tenth Anniversary Ale
A hoppy ale to commemorate Elliott Bay West Seattle’s 10th anniversary. 10 hop additions were contributed by 10 different local brewers, each of whom collaborated on one of the past nine anniversary recipes.
Golden Promise
a wedding ale brewed w/ local West Seattle wildflower honey and Kent Golding hops
Olde Burien 600
an attempt at replicating the infamous malt liquor style
Three Tree Imperial Porter
a ramped-up version of our house porter recipe that weighs in at ~ 7% ABV.
Sunnydale Pale Ale
a light, bright copper-colored pale ale dry-hopped with Amarillo and Cascade hops.
Schooner Exact Brewing Co.
Gallant Maiden Hefeweize
|
©2007,
Washington Beer Lovers (WABL). All rights
reserved.