WBM: Day 30

December 30:  On the eve of the final day of my Winter Beer Month, I reached for two more international seasonals from Ridgeway Brewery. 

Criminally Bad Elf: A 10.5% Barleywine sporting an imprisoned elf on the label?  Yes please!  Not too hoppy and nicely sweet, this ale had a hint of licorice in the aroma.  Floral notes and a quick finish hid the potency of this pint.

Bad Elf:  Boasting over three pounds of fresh hops per barrel, this festive golden ale was smooth and crisp.  In fact, at 6%, it didn't come across that hoppy at all.  Enjoyed nice and cold, this winter ale helped wash down a late night snack of hummus and veggies.

WBM Day 29: First Day Skiing

December 29:  Last season, I visited three different mountains and tried snowboarding three different times.  Without going into too many details, let's just say my last bout of boarding involved many choice words, too many sips of Crown, and tears.  Yes, tears.  This year, I vowed to try skiing, as everyone and their grandma kept telling me how much easier it was.  First order of business: a winter pint to loosen up.
New Belgium Brewing: Snow Day
Sitting in a crowded ski lodge bar, watching the snow fall down on Crystal Mountain, and enjoying every last sip of this Fort Collins brewery's winter ale was just perfect.  Cascade and Centennial hops along with Midnight Wheat malt created a well rounded, amply hoppy, dark rich ale.  I just wish my day of skiing that followed would have been as satisfying as this brew.

www.newbelgium.com

WBM: Day 28

December 28:  Fighting a sore throat all day and picking up my first pair of full time eye glasses (with the ancient words of my mom replaying in my head, "Guys don't make passes at girls that wear glasses") a trip over to the Harbor for a winter brew was in order.  Entertaining stories of pharmacists and bowling teams going knuckle deep led to the obvious need to be "goosed" by a brewery from the Midwest.
Goose Island Brewing: Mild Winter
The name of this beer struck me as comical.  After spending a few winter days in Chicago years ago, 'mild' would have been the last word I would have chosen to describe that region's seasonal weather.  The medium brown color and hint of rye spiciness went well with the caramel palette.  With only 28 IBUs, this winter ale turned out to be a crowd pleasing thirst quencher.

www.gooseisland.com

WBM: Day 27

December 27:  Living within stumbling distance of half a dozen bars with extensive tap selections has its obvious advantages.  Only having a few minutes to spare, I headed to my neighborhood brewery for a winter pint.
Harmon Brewing Co: Steep and Deep
With the tasty tag line of "Fresh tracks of epic in your mouth," how could I not try this brew.  Turns out this winter ale is one of my new favorites from the Harmon.  In my opinion, their seasonal line knocks it out of the park.  Besides Steep and Deep, I also like Rajah's Royal IPA (April-June), One Hop Wonder (July-September), and their Black Tartan IPA (January-March).  Available until the end of December, be sure to check your local bottle shops and get your hands on this 7.2% ABV pleaser.

www.harmonbrewingco.com

WBM: Day 26

December 26:  Back in town with a newly fixed ride, I grabbed a fellow movie buff and headed to the new Tom Cruise movie.  Yes, I know that he is only like 5'6".  But, for a girl that grew up watching the volleyball scene from Top Gun in freeze frame, height just doesn't matter with a celebrity crush.  Luckily, the theater had a bar.
Alaskan Brewing:  Winter
A few days ago, I mentioned in passing that I wanted to brew a spruce ale in January.  I ordered this bottle and was pleasantly surprised with the floral and spicy taste.  This was due to the use of spruce tips during the brewing process.  No more arm twisting was needed to embark on next month's brew task.

www.alaskanbrewing.com

WBM: Day 25

December 25:  Volunteering to cook Christmas dinner resulted in some of my beer, chicken, and noodle crockpot magic.  Convincing my parents that one could solely cook with beer was one task.  The other, to get them to try another winter beer.
Sierra Nevada: Celebration
This orangey pale colored brew poured a thick hop foam.  The aroma, coming from my favorite C hops (Cascades, Centennials, and Chinooks), instantly hooked me on this untraditional hoppy holiday ale.  The taste was crisp and piney.  Enjoying this prior to dinner had Dad realize that Celebration went well with just about anything, as the hoppiness was mellowed out by our predinner salty snacks.

www.sierranevada.com

WBM: Day 24

December 24:  Nothing like dragging my non-beer drinking mom to a bottle shop on Christmas Eve.  Hop n' Grape in Longview, WA exceeded my expectations for brew selections, let alone their pulled pork was to die for!  While I found several to try, we enjoyed these two while opening Christmas gifts that evening.

Terminal Gravity Brewing: Festivale
This strong winter ale brewed in Enterprise, Oregon was just that...strong!  It poured with a strong thick foam that almost reminded me of a latte.  The creamy bourbony taste that followed was just delicious.  Not your typical malty hop bomb, Festivale provided a unique old ale option for this year's seasonal selections.

Full Sail Brewing: Session Fest Lager

This deep red, full bodied, Czech-style lager was Dad's favorite.  He found it to be light and refreshing, with just a hint of caramel sweetness.  I picked up a bit of piney bitterness, which I was pleased to taste in a lager.  This employee owned and operated brewery out of Hood River, Oregon, undoubtedly hit the nail on the head with this tasty 6.2% winter brew.

www.hopngrapelongview.com     www.terminalgravitybrewing.com     www.fullsailbrewing.com

 

 



WBM Day 23: Hood River Beerventure with Dad

December 23:  Dragging Dad to Hood River in search of winter beer was easier than one would think.  By the time I arrived at the house, the car was warmed up and he was rearing to go.  An hour later, we arrived in this quaint tourist town, thirsty for a pint.

Big Horse Brewery:  EOTW Mayan Style
Anytime I come across a beer aged in oak, I am a bit leery.  Sometimes the liquor-ish flavor is a bit too strong for my taste.  That was definitely not the case with this perfectly executed 7.1% stout.  Light and flavorful, the oak seemed to mellow out the often astringent stout malts.  Even Dad, a pale ale lover, enjoyed every last drop.

McMenamin's Brewery at Edgefield: Kris Kringle
No road trip to Hood River is ever complete unless one stops off at McMenamin's Edgefield.  Besides being our halfway point home, this old Poor Farm has a spa, amphitheater, brewery, distillery, winery, golf course, and pool hall.  But most importantly, they are the purveyor of Cajun tots: quite possibly the world's best beer food.  To wash those tasty tots down, I ordered a pint of Kris Kringle.  Excellently hoppy with two of my favorite varietals, Cascades and Centennials, this winter warmer reminded me more of a hearty IPA.  Its ample malt structure kept those strong hops in check.  Dad noted that paired with the spicy Cajun tots, he could enjoy this seasonal all year long.

www.mcmenamins.com

WBM: Day 22

December 22:  Between having a broken car, working at a distillery, and attending a Christmas party (the smell of cinnamon still haunts me, thanks Fireball), I had to make sure to get in my daily winter beer.  So, I leaned on an old favorite to carry me through.
Redhook Brewery: Winterhook
Back in the good ole days, circa 1999, I would often find myself hanging out at the Trolleyman's Pub in Fremont.  Sitting around the fire, drinking some classic Redhook brew, and dominating at a killer game of Scrabble is how most of my Sunday afternoons were spent.  It was there that I was first introduced to Winterhook.  Brewed since 1985, this winter warmer's recipe is changed just a smidgen each year.  This season, it came across more hoppy than usual...which, let's be honest, was just fine with me. 

www.redhook.com

WBM: Day 21

December 21:  Patiently waiting for the end of the world, I reached for a seasonal Cascadian Dark Ale (Black IPA) out of Pacific City, Oregon.

Pelican Brewery: Bad Santa                                                                            

With the aroma of roasted malt and hops, this CDA poured rich black into the glass. At first, the Fuggle hop aroma over powered the dark malt flavor I was expecting. As the beer warmed up, that malt became more prominent and the beer was quite pleasing.  While I am one that usually loves a strong hop presence, I recommend letting this Bad Santa warm up by the fire to get that signature CDA taste.

 

http://www.yourlittlebeachtown.com/pelican

WBM: Day 20

December 20:  My first official day of Winter Break.  So many reasons to love being on vacation: visits with friends, road trips, but especially the day drinking (for research, of course).
Ridgeway Brewing: Santa's Butt
My first international winter beer, Santa's Butt is an English style porter out of the United Kingdom.  Dark in color and roasty in aroma, this pint poured with minimal head.  Light malt and hops made the sweet mocha flavor easy to drink.  Paired with conversation and Christmas chocolate, this novelty beer was a tasty afternoon treat.

WBM: Day 19

December 19:  Finally, I came across a winter beer that I had been searching for.  Not only did I find it at my favorite local spot, The Parkway Tavern, but it was on cask...a true midweek treat.

American Brewing's Winter Classic

Besides being near and dear to my heart, American Brewing out of Edmonds, WA has been rocking out solid brews for nearly two years.  This American Strong Ale exemplified a winter warmer in the Northwest.  With 80 IBUs and 8.2% ABV, this hophead was instantly hooked.  Creamy white cask head followed by a smooth dark chocolate hop palette pleaser made this pint a meal in a glass.  Skip and Dan once again showcased their innate ability to intricately brew true to style with perfect combinations of hops and malt.  

www.americanbrewing.com                    www.parkwaytavern.com

Pints and Puddles: North Seattle Rainy Day Respites

With Seattle noted as one of the top ten vacation cities for beer lovers, it doesn't come as a surprise that there might be a few breweries nearby.  In a ten mile radius of Wallingford, a north central Seattle neighborhood, there are seventeen to be exact.  What better way to spend a rainy afternoon than tooling around with the locals enjoying some brew.  

Best place to keep your dog dry:  Fremont Brewing

Since 2008, Fremont has been brewing up small batch beer with fresh local ingredients.  Just a few short months ago, they opened the doors to their taproom expansion.  Long tables line the front of the building, while stadium seating, benched tables, and cozy half moon cushioned seats grace the indoors.  An impressive ten beer taplist adorns the wall, including their Abominable Winter Ale and Dark Star Imperial Oatmeal Stout.  A table by the front has a bowl full of dog biscuits, apples, and a cooler full of water.  Whether your kids are actual kids, or just well loved dogs, both are welcome at Fremont.  

Best place to small talk with the brewer:  NW Peaks Brewing

On the corner of 17th and 50th in Ballard sits a relatively new nano-brewery.  Pictures of mountaintops line the walls.  Brewing equipment, taps, and a few seats welcome drinkers from the rain.  Kevin Klein, brewer and avid mountain climber, bops around the brewery, chatting with newcomers and old friends about beer, climbing, and the rain.  With every beer of NW Peaks being named after a peak that Kevin has personally summited, one quickly gains admiration for the guy.  Besides that, the brews are spot on, being true to style with both malt and hop structure.  

Best place for groups: Hillard's Brewery

Around the corner from NW Peaks, Hillard's warehouse-chic brewery is bustling with noise.  Plenty of seating, beers available in cans and on tap, a well used pool table, and spontaneous brewery tours are all held in this open space.  Hillard's is definitely the place to see and be seen.  Beer lovers young and old mingle and stare in awe at all the shiny brewing equipment, while enjoying a freshly made pint.


Since we are well into our six month rainy season, brew seekers take heed.  Put on your Gore Tex, slip on your galoshes, and go enjoy a local pint.


www.fremontbrewing.com                    www.nwpeaksbrewery.com                   hillardsbeer.com

WBM: Day 18

December 18:  On the eve of my last day of work for 2012, a trip to The Red Hot was in order.  For all of you that don't know, The Red Hot is a legendary hot dog and craft beer joint in Tacoma, WA.  Rotating tap handles and exquisite dogs (try the Hosmer Hound: a dog with peanut butter and bacon), one is never bored with the options.  Being over half way done with the month, my list of untapped winter beers was becoming limited.  Luckily, I found a local brew to satisfy the challenge.
Foggy Noggin's Christmas Duck Porter
Jet black with minimal head, this slightly sweet pint was a welcome refreshment to my peanut butter coated tongue.  I caught a bit of smokiness on the back that was a perfect pairing.  Available all year long, this 6.6% ABV porter can be enjoyed throughout the seasons.  

www.foggynogginbrewing.com

redhottacoma.com

WBM: Day 17

December 17:  Anybody that has spent any beer time with me knows that my love for Bridgeport Brewery out of Portland, Oregon goes way back.  The year?  1999.  A spur of the moment trip to Portland with a long time friend ended with my taste buds being ever changed in favor of the hop.  It was Bridgeport IPA that became my first beer love; always remembered and never matched.  That being said, I was a tad excited to add their seasonal to my Winter Beer Month challenge.

Bridgeport Brewing's Ebenezer Ale

This winter warmer provided a palette worthy mix of four different malts.  As the deep brown color filled the glass, the aroma of local and imported hops wafted out.  The strong body lasted throughout the sip.  Before I knew it, my glass was empty.  Definitely a must have this season.  

www.bridgeportbrew.com

WBM Day 16: First Sunday

December 16:  Behold the first "First Sunday" of my Winter Beer Month.  Born out of a common love of beer and my need for a home cooked meal, this monthly meet up with the Js is close to celebrating its one year anniversary.  As expected, I came fully equipped with two growlers freshly filled with winter brews.

Double Mountain's Fa La La La La
Dark amber in color, this winter beer out of Hood River, Oregon demonstrates an ability to uniquely showcase a keen balance of malt and hops.  Nutty and malty with 85 IBUs, Fa La La La La seemed to get better with every sip.  Even JJ, who isn't that fond of overly hoppy beers, was able to attest that this beer was hoppy in all the right ways.  In my opinion, Double Mountain can't brew a bad beer.  That was once again found to be true with this seasonal.

Lagunitas Sucks Holiday Ale
Once upon a time, last year to be exact, Lagunitas Brewing Company out of Petaluma, CA ran into a bit of a snafu with their brewing capacity due to construction.  This inhibited the production of their regular seasonal, Brown Shugga.  The result?  An Imperial IPA to please the masses.  This ale had a strong hoppy aroma that made my eyes light up at the impending hop explosion.  MJ, my hophead sister, was also expecting a hop bomb.  However, the aroma gave way to a smooth, citrusy, mildly hopped pale ale.  At 7.85% ABV and 60 some IBUs, this IPA could be enjoyed any time of the year.

doublemountainbrewery.com               www.lagunitas.com

WBM: Day 15

December 15:  One great thing about being an avid beer lover is that you can find at least someone that will meet you for a late night pint.

Shocktop's End of the World Midnight Wheat

Not knowing much about this AB affiliate, I daringly ordered a glass.  I was surprised with the heaviness of this wheat, hearty and pleasing all the way across the palette.  A slight hint of spice, which I later found to be the use of chilies in the brewing process, encompassed what I would imagine a winter wheat to be.    

www.shocktopbeer.com

WBM Day 14: Ballard Beer Crawl

December 14:  My beerventure travel services were once again called upon Friday night.  Armed with the task of educating a novice beer drinker named Tucker, a Ballard beer crawl soon commenced.  Winter beers and trendy bars became the theme of the night.  First stop:  The Noble Fir

Roslyn Brewing's Winter Red Lager
Known for the 90s television show Northern Exposure, Roslyn is a quaint town with great chili, excellent pizza, and a brewery that has been around since 1990.  Featuring lagers, I was interested to see Rosyln's take on a winter seasonal.  This brew came across light and nutty, with only a slight bitter aftertaste.  Expecting it to be a heavy ale, Tucker's palette was surprised with the light chocolate taste.

Southern Tier's Krampus Imperial Lager
Last winter, a brewer house guest of mine gifted me a bottle of this beer.  I remember not being too terribly impressed with it.  This time around, on draught, Southern Tier did not disappoint.  I was pleased with the super hoppy aroma that I didn't expect in an Imperial Helles Lager.  Tucker noted some caramel smoothness in the front with some light pepper on the back.  Named after the Christmas Demon that allegedly helps St. Nick enforce the "Naughty List," Krampus warmed my belly with its devilish 9% ABV.

www.roslynbrewery.com                    www.stbcbeer.com

WBM: Day 13

December 13:  After another strong showing at my weekly bowling league (and by strong I mean that I broke 100...once), I searched for Ninkasi's winter seasonal based on a recommendation.
Ninkasi Brewing's Sleigh'r
Named after the Sumerian Goddess of Beer, this Eugene, Oregon brewery has been brewing it up since 2006.  A huge fan of their double IPA, Tricerahops, I was interested to see how they could make an Alt style beer into a Northwest winter warmer.  Crisp like a lager, Sleigh'r has hints of chocolate and roasted barley.  This winter seasonal would be ideal for those that like the dark feel of a winter beer, but enjoy a lighter malt taste.

www.ninkasibrewing.com

WBM: Day 12

December 12:  On a repetitive date that won't happen again for the next 88 years, I ventured to one of my old favorites, Dog and Pony Alehouse in Renton, to meet up with B, noted beer lover, for a few pints.
Great Divide Brewing's Hibernation
If any brewery would know how to make a winter beer, it would be based in Denver, Colorado.  Great Divide has been brewing this old ale since 1995.  Standing the test of time with a hearty 8.7%, Hibernation had an essence of coffee and bitter chocolate.  While this is their original old ale, they also make a Barrel Aged Hibernation that spends nine months in Colorado Whiskey barrels.  I can only imagine that it wouldn't take too many of those before one would forget how cold it was outside.

greatdivide.com

WBM: Day 11

December 11:  Well into my month of winter beers, I knew that it was time to enjoy one of my favorites.
Deschutes Brewery's Jubelale
Since 1988, Deschutes has been brewing this seasonal ale down in Bend, Oregon.  The art on the label is different each year, with regional artists vying for the honor of being commissioned to design it.  Available from October to December, this 6.7% winter warmer is a perfect blend of malt, hops, and spice.  The taste is consistent whether on tap or in the bottle, a feat seemingly difficult for some breweries to achieve.  With the end of December, as well as the world, right around the corner, be sure to stock up before this year's beer treasure is just a memory.

www.deschutesbrewery.com

WBM: Day 10

December 10:  The hidden gem of Powerhouse Brewery in Puyallup, WA often gets overlooked.  Within a stone's throw of my day job, this hometown brewery was my rendezvous point for dinner and a beer on Monday.

Powerhouse Brewery's Winter Warmer

Paired with their delicious fish and chips, this 70 IBU ale hit the spot.  Relatively pale in color and substantially hoppy in taste, this pint was just the beer to warm up those soon to be cold winter nights. 

www.powerhousebrewpub.com

WBM: Day 9

After a successful brewday, I headed to another favorite family of mine, the Ks, for our once a month Sunday dinner.  While we usually enjoy brews that I have made, this time I came armed with three packs of different winter treats to get their opinions on.  With the usual suspects and a few new friends, here is what quenched our thirst while enjoying stories, including the "Legend of Pooh Xander."

Full Sail Wassail
Only available for 90 days out of the year, Wassail was a pretty smooth winter ale.  Toasty malt without a big bite, it was noted as being able to do the trick.  Drinkable alone or with appetizers, this employee owned brewery knows exactly what will please the masses.

Bison Gingerbread Ale
The aroma of freshly baked gingerbread came out right out of the bottle.  Chewy and warm, this dark hued ale was great alone.  When paired with food, the gingerbread taste seemed to take a backseat.  This organic beer is a must try during the holiday season.

Mike's Hard Winter Blackberry
Beer snobs, take note.  Although I am not one to reach for a malt beverage, this Mike's varietal did not disappoint.  Reminiscent of grape kool-aid in both color and taste, we quickly polished off the entire six pack without even noticing.  The aftermath of purple festive tongues was only a bonus to the pleasant sweet taste left on our palette.

www.fullsailbrewery.com          www.bisonbrew.com          www.mikeshard.com

WBM: Day 8

December 8:  A quiet night at home, fighting an impending cold, led me to search for a winter beer from one of my well stocked beer fridges.  
MacTarnahan's Winter HumBug'r
This holiday porter delivered a decent malt body with minimal hops.  With only 27 IBUs, the pint went down easy with my cold medicine.  I could see this beer pairing well with some holiday comfort food, whether it be macaroni and cheese or chicken casserole.  A visit to their taproom might just be in order during my stay in Portland over the holidays.

www.macsbeer.com

WBM Day 7: Winter Beer Fest

December 7:  How convenient was it that during my Winter Beer Month Challenge there just happens to be a Winter Beer Fest?  WABL (Washington Beer Lovers) puts on an annual beer fest at Hales Palladium in Seattle.  Filled with high octane winter warmers, brew nerds come from far and wide to imbibe.  Here were my top picks from the night.

Laht Neppur Brewing's Holiday Hefeweizen
This wheat beer was beyond fantastic.  The peach and honey notes reminded me of a cider with just a touch of spice.
Iron Horse Brewery's Cozy Sweater
It's not a surprise that I am loving everything coming out of this Ellensburg brewery.  Roasted chocolate notes and vanilla bean sweetness makes this winter beer a true treat.
Elysian Brewing's The Dread Imperial Stout on cask
This strong imperial stout at 9.6% ABV was mellowed out with the addition of vanilla beans soaked in Buffalo Trace Bourbon.  With each sip, one could enjoy the levels of flavor from the black flaked rye to the bittering Chinook hops. 

www.lahtneppur.com          www.ironhorsebrewery.com          airwaysbrewing.com 

WBM: Day 6

December 6:  With almost a full week of visiting beer bars and bottle shops under my belt, I upped the ante when I continued my search for winter beer during my first night of bowling league.  Yes, I said, bowling league.  For what better way is there to spend a Thursday evening than with used shoes, heavy balls, laughter, and beer.  Luckily, the alley bar has plenty of craft beer on tap.  There clearly wouldn't be any other way to survive two 10 frame games without it.

Samuel Adams Winter Lager:  As noted in previous posts, my desire for lagers is a bit immature.  I can appreciate the craft, but the lack of hops and maltiness is something that I am working on enjoying.  This winter lager had that typical lager mouthfeel and refreshing taste.  It actually proved to be a good pairing with the strenuous activity of bowling.  

www.samueladams.com

WBM: Day 5

December 5:  The first "hump day" of the challenge and I headed to Pint Defiance in Tacoma.  A new bottle shop with rotating taps, I knew that I could swing in there and grab a few.  Awed by the selection to choose from, I went with some unfamiliar ones to test out.

Two Beers: The Hearth Winter Warmer
In my opinion, Two Beers Brewing Company up in Seattle, WA has the handle on seasonal beers.  Their Pumpkin Spice Ale is to die for.  As expected, this winter warmer did not disappoint.  Like an oatmeal cookie in a glass, it poured dark and rich.  The allspice and orange peel convinced me to look for this beer on tap.
Alesmith Brewing: Yule Smith Holiday Ale
Based in San Diego, this brewery is one of the leading reasons why my next beerventure will include Southern California.  Alesmith produces artisan beers with a traditional twist.  This Holiday Ale is categorized as an Imperial Red Ale.  For me, it was the perfect marriage of an IPA and Winter Ale.   Hopheads weary of seasonal ales could flock to this one time and time again.

www.twobeersbrewery.com

alesmith.com

WBM: Day 4

December 4:  As I started out my fourth day of this challenge, I realized that I had already enjoyed quite a few winter beers.  If I kept this pace up, how would I make it through the entire month?  While the thought of limiting beer consumption is beyond absurd, it became evident that I just might.  That realization made my choice at The Swiss Tuesday evening a difficult one.
Maritime Pacific: Jolly Roger Christmas Ale
Located up in Seattle, Maritime Pacific Brewing Company boasts a well brewed line up of beer.  Their Jolly Roger Taproom, named after this beer of course, not only has a plethora of available beer offerings, but the best deep fried bacon I have ever had.  And if there is one thing I know, it is bacon.  Oh, well that and beer.  

This Northwest Winter Warmer melds caramel malts, citrusy hops, and holiday spices together in one hefty 8% ABV pint.  The hops I want, the dark malts I expect, the holiday sweetness I crave, and the heavy alcohol I need makes up the perfect recipe for what I am looking for this time of year.  So far in my challenge, this beer is leading the pack.

maritimebrewery.com

Winter Beer Month: Day 3

December 3:  After a parking lot fender bender, a seven hour math training, and an allergic reaction to allergy shots, it went without saying that I was having more than a case of the Mondays.  An afternoon winter beer tasting with my favorite family, the Js, proved to be the perfect remedy.  Armed with garlic white cheddar and potato lefse, we embarked on the following three.

Rogue: Santa's Private Reserve Ale

Over the years, Rogue bottled beers have been hit or miss for me.  Therefore, I was a bit trepidatious to try what they considered to be their ale to celebrate winter.  Upon the first sip, this beer was sweet and tasty.  MJ noted that it resembled a beer that she had had before.  A few more gulps and we determined that this beer bore a striking resemblance to an Irish Red.  It was easy drinking with some mild spruce flavor on the back.  Definitely a brew that we could drink any time of the year.

Silver City Winter Bock Lager

If there is beer category that I need to explore, it undoubtedly is lagers.  I currently don't have an immediate draw to them.  Whether I am just born to be an Ale Girl solely or not, that has yet to be determined.  When we poured this Bock into the pint, the dark barley wafted out.  I stuck my nose in for more.  The aroma was spot on to what I would quantify as a Winter Warmer.  My first sip caught that lager taste and the mouth feel threw me off.  MJ's German palette absolutely loved it.  She excitedly went to her fridge to show me that she had picked up a bottle of this one too.  When JJ came home, he couldn't get enough of this one either.  The German malts, lack of astringent hops, and lager love is definitely a souvenir brought back with them from Germany.  I learned one valuable lesson after drinking this beer, I MUST go to Germany.

HUB Abominable Winter Ale
Amber in color and citrusy in flavor, this brew instantly became my pick of the night.  Not quite as dark as a Black IPA, or IBA if you will, it had roasty malts with a great balance of hops weighing in at 70 IBUs.  MJ didn't think that this ale was much of a winter warmer, but did confirm that she would reach for it any day of the year.  Not much of a hop chaser himself, JJ remarked that he still enjoyed the dark flavor and citrus bitterness the hops delivered.


rogue.com     www.silvercitybrewery.com     hopworksbeer.com

Winter Beer Month: Day 2

December 2: I found myself at the Ale House in Tacoma for an afternoon of beer and conversation.  With 64 beers on tap, I knew that I wouldn't have a problem finding a few winter ales to satisfy my challenge.

Widmer Brrr Winter Ale
One of the first professional big time brewers I met was Kurt Widmer.  True, I might have conned him into a picture, but the fact remains that Widmer Brother's Brewing out of Portland, Oregon holds a special place in my heart.  It was there where my dad experienced his very first brewery tour, compliments of his beer loving daughter, of course.  Their winter ale has a mild ABV, 6.4%, with no alcohol burn in sight.  Rich with caramel, Brrr's sweet nectar reminded me what I love about Northwest winters.

Full Sail Wreck the Halls
Numerous beerventures have led me to Hood River.  Although I don't always end up at Full Sail, I tend to look for their Brewmaster's Reserve line whenever I'm out buying beer, which is more often than not.  This particular ale filled my pint glass with a sweet cloudy syrup.  It was dark and smooth with roasted notes and bitter sweetness.  At 6.5% ABV, Full Sail delivers a strong, yet drinkable, winter warmer.  

www.alehousepub.com                    widmerbrothers.com                    www.fullsailbrewing.com

December: Winter Beer Month (Day 1)

December is the month where the halls are decked, the lights are lit, the parties are aplenty, and the beers are strong and dark.  Behold my December challenge: try a different winter beer each day of the month.  Some people do crazy workout challenges, some people do juice fasts, but a hophead like me must expand my horizon into the world of winter beer.

December 1
Beer Church (Two Beers): Midnight Mass Holiday Ale 
Lighter in color, this ale does not come across as your quintessential winter warmer. The  smoothness on the palette quickly warms the belly with its imperial amber type characteristics.

Diamond Knot: Winter Ho Ho
Weighing in at 8.5% ABV, this winter ale is everything that you would expect: strong, dark, and bold.  Minimal hops and lots of malt makes this beer an easy pairing with any winter comfort food.

Tieton Cider Works: Holiday Spice
Ciders for me have become the breakfast beer of choice.  Nothing goes better with a greasy spoon than some alcoholic apple juice.  With Tieton's spice forward cider, I could see pouring this over some vanilla bean ice cream and having a slice of pie ala mode in a glass.

www.twobeersbrewing.com     www.diamondknot.com     www.tietonciderworks.com

Cooking with Beer: Drunken Sweet Potatoes

Ask this Brewette to bring a side dish to Thanksgiving dinner, you are going to end up with something cooked in beer.  The assumption that every brewer is a great cook goes right out the window with me.  My kind of cooking consists of one of three things: frozen pizza, microwave enchiladas, or crockpot chicken.  Faced with the challenge of making a side dish of sweet potatoes, I went to my nearest beer fridge.  I pulled out one of my brews, PBP (Peanut Butter Porter), took a sip, and was instantly inspired.

Drunken Sweet Potatoes
serves 8

* 4 sweet potatoes
* 22 oz of dark beer (I recommend H2 Brewing's PBP)
* Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and Allspice
* Butter

1.  Open 22oz beer and drink.
2.  Start pealing and cutting four medium sweet potatoes
3.  Have another sip of beer
4.  Bring to boil 32 oz of water with 16 oz of beer.  Put in sweet potatoes.
5.  Let sweet potatoes cook for 30 minutes until soft.
6.  Drain potatoes and mash in a mixing bowl.  Add a smidge of butter, the rest of the beer, a pinch of salt, and some cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice to taste.  You might want to add a bit of brown sugar if you like a little more sweetness.
7.  Put mash into an oven safe dish and reheat at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes.
8.  Serve with a full pint of beer and enjoy.

Spice up your Turkey Day spread with a dish that will entice the beer lover in all of us.

Beervalation: Pyramid Brewery

Pyramid Brewery started back in 1984 in the town of Kalama, WA.  Over the last 28 years, they have made history with their Pale Ale being deemed America's first microbrew, along with having the first wheat ale available all year long post Prohibition.  Growing up in Seattle, I remember always seeing empty Pyramid Hefeweizen's bottles in my garage recycle bin.  Throughout my beer years, I have come to disregard Pyramid as a go to brewery in Seattle.  A happenstance stop last week changed my mind.

Looking at the beer available on their taplist, I was intrigued with all the unfamilar ones.  I quickly filled up my tasting board with five newbies.
Sample #1:  Fresh Hop Amber Ale (MacTarnahan's)
I'm a sucker for anything with fresh hops.  Blame it on my great grandfather, the hop farmer.  This amber was mildly malty which helped showcase the citrusy hop taste straight off the vine.  Clean and refreshing for any hophead to enjoy.
Sample #2:  Hop Tep 2
An American IPA with a mild citrusy nose, I enjoyed every sip.  At 6.7%, this was a hearty IPA, but not overpowering with malt.  In a head to head battle with Pyramid's Thunderhead IPA, Hop Tep would dominate.
Sample #3:  Super Snow Cap
Snow Cap is by far my go to winter warmer.  When I saw that there was a Super Snow Cap, I knew that it would become an instant favorite.  Same great flavor, same great malt profile, just a ton more ABV.  I think this brew would be fantastic on nitro.
Sample #4:  Chai Wheat
I have found that all hoppy beer drinkers have one thing in common.  Well, honestly, more than one thing.  But what I am trying to get at is that we all tend to love super strong coffee.  That being said, I find myself enjoying a hot chai every now again.  With only a few chai beers under my belt, I cautiously ordered a sample of Pyramid's Chai Wheat.  Finally, a brewery got it right.  A wheat beer was the perfect vehicle to carry the chai spice throughout.  This one sample made me daydream of a hot crackling fire, a DVD, and a growler full of this brew.
Sample #5:  Eye of Ra
Beer played a prevalent role in Ancient Egypt, much like Pyramid Brewery has played a vital role in the growing popularity of the American microbrew.  Used as a symbol of protection, the Eye of Ra also ensured the safety of the bearer.  This rye beer was aptly named as it would be a safe bet for whatever your style preference.  A little spicy, a little hoppy, a little malty, and a lot of goodness.

Whoever said, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks" obviously didn't know Pyramid Brewery.  An inspiring leader for the 140+ microbreweries in Washington alone, the brewers continue to reinvent their styles and stretch their creativity.  Stop in, grab a sampler board, and be amazed.


Pyramid Brewery
www.pyramidbrew.com

Above the Bar: 2bar Spirits

With less than a month under their belt, 2bar Spirits already has all the support that they need.  Friends, old and new, gathered at their benefit on Wednesday night.  Not knowing much about the distilling world, I met up with Nathan Kaiser, owner and head distiller, to get a run down on how he got that full bodied vodka I quickly fell in love with from those huge sacks of wheat.

2bar, whose namesake comes from the five generation ranch in Kaiser's family, uses all Washington grown wheat, corn, and barley in their spirits.  By the time I had arrived to their new facility in SoDo,  Nathan had a batch in mid sparge.  Much like beer making, distilling involves getting the sugar from the grain in order to ferment into alcohol.  2bar was in the midst of sparging a 200 gallon batch.  The wort running off the grains into one of his four country women crooner named fermenters, was light and sweet.  Nathan used a refractometer, the same tool I used at Two Mountain Winery last month, to determine the sugar content.  Once the wort was in the fermenter and the yeast was pitched,  it would only be about seven to ten days until the batch was done.

2bar currently has Vodka and Moonshine, with many more ideas in the works.  Their vodka was unlike any vodka I have had, and you all know I have had a lot.  My thimble sample was full of flavor, and I enjoyed the trip it took across my palette.  Many times, I find myself wincing at straight vodka samples, yearning for a splash of tonic and a lime.  That was not the case with 2bar.  Eyeing a bottle to take home, I eagerly tried their Moonshine.  Unbeknownst to many, moonshine is just unaged whisky.  This sample once again exhibited Nathan's soon to be famous full flavored spirit style.    

Besides the obvious reason to visit the city's newest distillery, what brought me to 2bar was their Superstorm Sandy Benefit.  Nathan was in New York during 9/11 and was obviously moved by the recent devastation to the East Coast.  A silent auction, live music, appetizers, and free tastings enticed do-gooders near and far to stop by for a midweek treat.  With all profits going to the relief efforts, my arm wasn't twisted too hard to walk out with a bottle of 2bar's nectar.

2bar Spirits proved to be more than just another distillery. High quality products, personal tours, and conversations with Nathan and friends made everyone who walked through the door a part of 2bar's story.  This Hophead can only hope that one of their next creations includes a dry-hopped whisky!

      

2bar Spirits
www.2barspirits.com
2960 4th Ave S  Seattle 98134
Mon-Fri 4-7pm/Sat 2-7pm

Helping Seniors One Beer at a Time

Last weekend, in the quaint farming town of Snohomish, was a beer fest unlike any other.  Was it the heaping plates of German food?  Was it the life-sized Alf serving beer?  Was it the plethora of drink tickets and generous pours?  The answer is YES.

For the second year in a row, the Snohomish BrewFest invited beer lovers into their Senior Center for two days of tasty seasonal brews.  With 20 breweries ready to fill up my hefty 4oz tasting glass, I headed for the nearest tap handle.

Notable Beer #1:

Old Schoolhouse Brewery's Imperial Stout

One of their Brewer's Reserve beers, this imperial weighs in around 10% ABV.  Smooth, creamy, malty love swept across my palette.  Convincing my friends to try it wasn't difficult.  

Notable Beer #2: 

Paradise Creek Brewery's Pumpkin Porter
Located over in Pullman, WA, Paradise Creek has been making more appearances at beer fests around the state.  This season, I have tried dozens of pumpkin beers.  This PC Porter was impeccable.  It had the chocolatey malt with creamy pumpkin.  Extremely well balanced on both ends.

Notable Beer #3:
Big E Ales' Blackberry Ale
Usually I am picky about the fruit beers that I like.  This one had me at hello.  One sip and I was sold.    A dark ale at 7.2%ABV, I wasn't expecting the pleasant mouth full of jam.  Not sweet and syrupy, just wholesome blackberries.  Even after spending a few tickets at the Big E table, I yearned for more.  But, unfortunately, I was still in search of notable number four.

Notable Beer #4:
Iron Horse Brewery's High Five Hefe
I'm a little embarrassed to note that with all of my ventures over to E-burg to this brewery, I never reached for this hefeweizen.  Being a hophead, I tend to shy away from wheat beers.  Maybe if the sun is hot and the lawn needs to be mowed, I could make an exception.  (Who am I kidding?  I don't mow.)  Bottom line folks, I have been missing out.  This brew didn't need the obligatory lemon to spice up the often bland wheat taste.  With hints of honey and ginger, I could dream of drinking this brew all year long.

Besides the great beer, the Snohomish Beerfest was filled with kind people.  Hard to find these days in over crowded, filled to the max, festivals.  All the volunteers were there to help out this community's senior center, a well used building right across from the library.  With senior parents of my own, I know first hand how that social outlet for the retired can literally be a life saver.  And if I have to drink some beer to help, sign me up!


Snohomish BrewFest
www.snohobrewfest.com  

Beer: The Only Way to Survive Zombies

Tis the season for goblins, ghosts, and ZOMBIES!  While we all will be welcoming costumed youngins' on our porches tomorrow night, let's not forget about the always frightful and ever looming threat of zombies.  After surviving the Dawn of the Dead Dash last Friday, I realized that I couldn't have done it without beer.  Behold the top three reasons why beer will undoubtedly help you survive a zombie invasion.

1.  Beer will help you not care!

When my girls showed up for a zombie run with bags of dress up clothes, I shuttered.  Not being a dress up kind of gal, I poured a big glass of brew, took a deep breath, and embraced it.  In a real zombie invasion, the first step should be to drink a couple beers.  It does wonders for calming nerves and after a couple, you forget what you were even worried about to begin with.

2.  Beer will motivate you!

After being debriefed at the safe house prior to the zombies being released, I looked down at my race bib.  Was that a free beer waiting for me if I survived?  Instantly, I felt like I could fly.  Trying to convince the girls that they could also move fast might have been the more difficult task.  Knowing that motivation would have to occur prior to the finish line, the promise of a cold beverage at my favorite tavern immediately spurred their speed.  Soon, we were between checkpoints, safe at my neighborhood watering hole, oblivious to the obvious threat.    

3.  Beer will heal you!

The day after any zombie dash, I mean invasion, it is imperative that your "hair of the dog" consists of water, barley, hops, and yeast.  Nothing cures a pounding headache from zombies more than another brew.  With the end of the world right around the corner, best to start stocking up on your favorite beer in order to survive.  We are less than two months away!

While the idea of zombies might be comical to some, my experience was real.  Be sure to understand and respect the power of the brew.  Your post-Apocalyptic survival might just depend on it!


Dawn of the Dead Dash
www.dawnofthedeaddash.com

Brewette Does Wine

Although dipping into the wine world might seem like a slight departure from the norm for this Brewette, my love affair with wine has been a long and winding road.  Almost a decade ago, I would spend my weekends talking to sippers and gulpers at the Silver Lake Winery tasting room in Woodinville, WA.  I had my share of intellectual conversations over one ounce pours of vino.  While I still make my way to a tasting room every now and then to imbibe, I haven't ever been behind the scenes of wine making....until last Saturday at Two Mountain Winery.

  

Two Mountain Winery, located in Zillah, WA, is a 10 year old estate winery owned by Matt and Patrick Rawn: two brothers with a passion to keep the family farm land profitable.  Being classified as an estate winery means that they grow all their own grapes for the wines that they produce.  They also sell their grapes to several wineries in Woodinville, California, and even some on the East Coast.  

The first half of the day was spent with Matt, the winemaker.  He let us see all the equipment and helped us understand exactly what goes into winemaking.  We were able to taste fresh pressed juice, newly fermented wine (which ironically tasted like beer), and wine that had been punched that morning and was still in the fermentation process.  The basic ingredients start the fermentating process with wine as is with beer:  potential sugars, yeast, yeast nutrient, and oxygen.  The potential sugar in wine is measured as Brix, instead of Plato.  Conversionally speaking, the difference between Plato and Brix is 0.1%.  While Plato measures the potential fermentable sugars from extract or grain, Brix measures the dissolved sugar to water ratio in a solution.  Much like brewing, winemakers measure the sugars prior to fermentation as well as after in order to determine the alcohol content.  Matt had a few hydrometers and graduated cylinders to show us how it was done.  A few more samples of wine in process, and then it was our turn to go out into the fields.

The second half of the day was spent with Patrick in the vineyard.  After a quick ride out to Copeland Vineyards, we found ourselves amongst 40+ acres of grapes.  While Patrick talked with us about the family legacy of farming in the Yakima Valley, I began to inhale all the ripe Merlot grapes around me.  Although some varietals had already been harvested, there were still plenty to snack on.  Patrick gave us a plastic bag and set us loose.  Our task: to pick grapes from all regions of the vine.  We were to get a cross section of the Merlot grapes in order to determine whether they were ripe for picking.  While Matt used hydrometers during the wine making process to measure the Brix, Patrick used a Refractometer to gauge the sugars of the fruit straight off the vine.  A  Refractometer measures the density of a solution based off how sunlight refracts through the liquid.  We squished up our selection of grapes and then put a bit of the juice into the refractometer.  According to our tastes and the actual sugars in the grapes, we all agreed  it would be prime time to harvest.

While we didn't get to actually make wine, the day spent behind the scenes of this winery made their wine taste even better.  Matt made sure to note that a lot of good beer goes into making great wine.  Well, this Brewette would have to agree.  Two Mountain wines are top notch...and I've got beer to thank for that!


Two Mountain Winery
www.twomountainwinery.com
2151 Cheyne Road, Zillah, WA