Hoppin' To It: Yakima Valley Hops

In today's world, people of similar interests have several opportunities to interact with each other via social media.  I've been able to connect with beer friends all across the country, even world, through the interweb.  One of these people is Jeff Perkins.  While at Hop and Brew School in Yakima last September, I met up with Jeff for a beer to chat about his business, Yakima Valley Hops.  Five months later, I made a trip back out to see first hand what Jeff and his business partner John Snyder had been up to.  

Walking into YVH's unique warehouse space, I loved the sheik industrial feel they had created.  Walls were lined with homebrew supplies, everything from brewing kits to malt extracts to flavorings to adjuncts.  Exposed wood beams within this open floor plan only added to the ambiance.  Obviously, what caught my attention were the two large refrigerators filled to the brim with hops.  In fact, hops are the reason why Jeff got into the homebrew business.  

TGB:  How did this all come about?

YVH:  We got started by seeing potential in an underserved market in Yakima and [with] home brewers [and] craft brewers world wide.  I started selling [hops] on eBay and created the [web]site.  We secured a warehouse in a unique part of Yakima and opened our doors this month.

TGB: How was the response to selling hops on eBay?

YVH:  It was paramount to starting my business.  I started selling on eBay and quickly realized the demand for bulk hops.  I used the captial from eBay to create a brand and a website.  I [had] even met a few people in parking lots for [hop] pickups.  

TGB:  So if hop selling was going so well, why get into the homebrew supply business?

YVH:  The homebrew store was a natural next step.  In Yakima, there wasn't a local all inclusive homebrew store and we decided to create one. 

TGB:  That surprises me since we are in the middle of hop country.

YVH:  Exactly.  We hope to create a craft brew destination and be a catch all for all hop related tourism.

TGB:  Sounds like this area needed it.  What are your next steps?

YVH:  Our next steps are to increase our online presence with every hop variety, and introduce homebrew supplies at some of the best prices.  Also, we look to expand our hop importing and exporting to serve the pico/nano brew market.  Finally, we hope to open up a tasting room with rotating taps from local breweries.

Huge thanks to Jeff for taking the time to chat about his new endeavor.  By the looks of it, Yakima Valley Hops has this market cornered.  Be sure to check them out the next time you are over in Eastern Washington, definitely worth the trip!

www.yakimavalleyhops.com

Bay Area Brew Tour 2013

Two sunny days in San Francisco with the only task of drinking beer?  Yes please!  Our Beerventure continued, jetting around to different neighborhoods, trying out these strategically placed watering holes.

Jupiter (www.jupiterbeer.com)

In the heart of Berkeley, CA sits this old livery stable turned brewery.  Thirsty and hungry, we snagged an outdoor table in the patio between buildings.  Exposed brick with a European feel, we enjoyed the last few hours of sun beating down on us through the structure.  While Jupiter doesn't actually do a sampler of their beers, we ordered a few imperial pints of their Quasar Double IPA, along with splashes of their XHP and Porter.  Pairing that cold hoppy DIPA with their wood fired Marghertia pizza, we were quickly refueled for our trip into the city for the night.

21st Amendment Brewery (21st-amendment.com)

After an exciting ten minutes of running out of oil, being panhandled, and then asked to be interviewed for a Spanish speaking television station, we finally made it to 21st Amendment Brewery.  Scoring a parking spot out front and a table in their loft bar, we started down the list of their Strong Beer selection, waiting for the rest of our group to arrive.  What better way to celebrate the amendment that reversed Prohibition than with their Dub Step, a 10.2% Imperial IPA.  Two Lane Blacktop, their Imperial Black IPA, and the Nelson, Jade, and Helga Collaboration IIPA, all hovering around 10% ABV, rounded out the pack.  Hours of conversation, an order of famous onion rings, and 21st's great beer obviously made our first day in the Bay complete.

Lagunitas Brewing Company (www.lagunitas.com)

How do you follow up a night spent crashed on a couch in a USF dorm room?  With Sunday Communion at a brewery, of course.  Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, we ended up at Lagunitas in Petaluma.  Another patio table and a full line up of their beers, we were anxious to share a taster with our friends and family that had come up to visit us.  Even though the brewery was busy, we didn't feel rushed by the staff to vacate our table of seven.  While I had tried most of the samples before, a few beers stood out.  Their Wilco Tango Foxtrot, aka WTF, was a deliciously complex Imperial Brown Ale at 7.8%.  I made sure to finish the rest of the Brown Shugga' and Hop Stoopid sample glasses too.

Russian River Brewing Company
(russianriverbrewing.com)

With the hopes of tasting the highly sought after Pliny the Younger, we raced up to Santa Rosa.  Last year, we spent quite a few hours in line.  When we finally did get to the bar, we enjoyed every last drop of our allotted rations.  Driving up to RRBC this year and not seeing a line circling the block should have been our first clue.  Alas, the Younger had ran out two days prior.  We still maneuvered our way to the counter, ordering a few pints of hard to get brews.  On a side note, my absolute favorite hop to brew with, drink, and smell is Simcoe.  In fact, it was RRBC that revitalized this varietal with their popular Double IPA, Pliny the Elder.  I noticed a 100% Simcoe Pale on the beer board: Row 2, Hill 56.  Light and crisp, I gulped down this gem in the sunny heat of their front beer garden.  Without the Younger to keep us around, we continued our venture north to Healdsburg.

Bear Republic Brewing Company (www.bearrepublic.com)
Once finished with our private wine tasting at Blanchard Family Wines (www.blanchardfamilywines.com), we took the winemaker's suggestion to try one of Bear Republic's many gourmet hamburgers.  While waiting for our table, I tried their Apex IPA.  Minimally malty with hops throughout, it was what my palette needed after a full day of imbibing.  The choices for burgers were crazy good.  From duck to elk to salmon, there was literally something for everybody.  A few went for the Jalepeno Tower, others went for the Black and Blue, while I went for the grilled chicken sandwich with brie, caramelized onions, and bacon.  As the outdoor heaters flickered in the early night, we enjoyed our last moments with long distance friends and family, already charting the course for next year's Beerventure. 

Dream Come True: Blanchard Family Wines

Four and a half years ago, I landed in sunny Santa Rosa, California on a girls' wine weekend.  Before I knew it, I was at a tasting room enjoying the local sips in downtown Healdsburg.  This is where I met Mark Blanchard.  An invitation to Tuesday night Music in the Park lent itself to even more friendly conversation with more local wine lovers and, of course, more wine.  Keeping in touch with Mark and friends over the years, I caught wind that Mark and his brother, James, opened up their own winery.  Already in the Bay area for beer, I gathered the crew and headed straight to Blanchard Family Wines, where Mark met us for a private tasting.

Working weekends for a large volume winery back in my day, it was quite educational for me, along with my wine novices, to hear about how Mark and James got into the business from the ground up.  While letting us sample the last of his 2009 Chardonnay, Mark explained the differences between owning their own vineyards and being able to buy grapes from independent growers.  Currently, BFW is able to cherry pick the fruit they want.  They aren't stuck to what their land would yield them, they get the best of the best.

The day before we came through town, BFW was pouring at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition public tasting.  Being the largest wine competition in the nation, over 5500 wines were entered.  Different medals were given: bronze, silver, and gold.  But, the most coveted award was Best In Class.  This was given to the absolute best wine in its category.  BFW's 2010 Red Scarf Blend was one of those top winners.  As we sipped on this Best in Class, we all knew why it won.  An impeccably balanced blend of six different grapes made this unlike any other blend I've had.  Since 10% of the sales of this wine went directly to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, we knew we had to load up on this before it was gone.

Whether it was the graciousness of entertaining an old friend, the willingness to take the time to share their story and passion, or the exclusive barrel tastings we tried of upcoming vintages, this is evident.  Blanchard Family Wines is not only a dream come true for Mark and James, but for wine lovers everywhere.

www.blanchardfamilywines.com

Beer Destination: Eugene, Oregon

Any weekend I can get away to visit a brewery, you know that I will.  Give me four days to work with, and well you have yourself a full on Beerventure!  Our first stop on the second annual SFBW (San Francisco Beer Week) pilgrimage was Eugene, Oregon.  Noted for being the home of my beloved Oregon Ducks, it has also has become a premier beer destination.  Our evening of visiting old friends led us to these three places.

Best Outdoor Patio: Ninkasi Brewing (www.ninkasibrewing.com)
Rolling into town early Friday evening presented quite a bustling Ninkasi tasting room.  Thankfully, we were greeted with a fabulous outdoor patio fully equipped with tables, heaters, and open flame.  Although Ninkasi is becoming one of those breweries whose beers are easily available in my neck of the woods, it was refreshing to try a taproom exclusive.  I enjoyed the refreshingly crisp taste of the El Dorado Single Hopped Pale.  It was not too hoppy and had just enough maltiness to please my palette on that brisk February evening.

Best Atmosphere: Oakshire Brewing (oakbrew.com)
Off the beaten path and equipped with a wood fired pizza oven food truck, we knew we had hit THE spot.  Walking in to see a lone fiddler entertaining a modest crowd only further sealed the deal.  We gathered our crew at a picnic table shared with others and started in on our dozen or so samples.  Visiting with out of town friends, drinking delicious brew served by friendly, unpretentious staff, and listening to the sounds of country made this locale feel like America, I mean 'Merica.  My traveling partners agreed that this was the place where you could feel like you: no ifs, ands, or buts about it.  Plus, they had their Watershed IPA on Nitro...win win!

Best Place to See and Be Seen: Falling Sky Brewing
(fallingskybrewing.com)
On our way to meet up with another old friend, we traversed the trendy part of Eugene to find Falling Sky Brewing.  Friday night had this place bursting at the seams.  Long community picnic tables lined the inside and out, with only a few single tables available for intimate seating.  The tap selection was quite impressive, boasting quite a few offerings for these picky hopheads.  Pairing those with their daily special truffle fries made this stop the perfect night cap for our first day on the road.

Coming Soon: Bale Breaker Brewing Company

Last September, I had the honor to go over to Yakima for Hop and Brew School through Hopunion.  Besides touring hop farms, talking to brewers, and breathing everything beer for two straight days, I also was able to catch wind of a new brewery that would be located in the middle of hop country.  Bale Breaker had just broken ground.  Over the past five months, the Smith family has carefully researched and constructed a state of the art brewery on the land that their ancestors once grew hops.  With hops running in my family as well, I knew that I needed to know more about this up and coming brewery.

Meghann (Smith) Quinn graciously opened the doors and took me on a private tour last Sunday.  Walking up to this beautiful new facility, it was difficult to not get excited.  While touring, I discovered a gorgeous taproom with flat screen televisions, exposed beams, along with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.  On this sunny afternoon, I instantly pictured myself spending hours on their patio during the summer months, enjoying the aroma of hops growing nearby.  This 30 barrel brewhouse will be making two beers straight out of the gate:  Topcutter IPA and Field 41 Pale Ale.  With a canning line en route, Bale Breaker will, without a doubt, appeal to the masses.  If you can't make fantastic beer in hop country, where can you?  Look for their grand opening to be within the next few months.  Yes, of course, I will be there.

www.balebreaker.com

Ellensburg's Brewing Trifecta

Any road trip going through Eastern Washington deserves a stop in Ellensburg.  Named after a trading post owner's wife and home to Central Washington University, this rodeo town has a lot more brewing than meets the eye.  A stop at Iron Horse Brewery's (www.ironhorsebrewery.com) tasting room off of Prospect Street for some samplers, pints, and popcorn was a must.  Enjoying their Double Rainbow on tap along with a new favorite, Insane with the Grain, the sunny afternoon soon beckoned us outside to a parking lot discovery of two more notable pit stops.

Ellensburg Distillery  (www.wildcatwhite.com  amethystgin.com)

Right next door to Iron Horse, with a rolled up garage door, sits Ralph Bullock's distillery.  Waving us in to come and taste his goods, Ralph quickly poured a sample of his Wildcat White, an unaged whisky made with some Irish Death from Iron Horse.  While tasty, I was anxious to try the lavender gin named Amethyst.  Lately I have been pleasantly surprised with many craft distillers' creative take on gin.  Ralph vapor infuses his with lavender grown on his own farm right outside of town.  Imagining this liquor over ice with fresh berries and lemonade, per his suggestion, made me immediately yearn for summer.

Central Washington Biodiesel  (centralwashingtonbiodiesel.com)
In the market for a new car, and road tripping in a biodiesel/veggie oil burning rig, this facility was intriguing.  A quick peek in the shop along with a business card exchange, we promised to call on our way back through the next day to fill up.  Doug met us there on Sunday evening, within an hour's notice, and let us traipse through his place.  Learning more about the incubating process of used frying oil than I ever knew was possible, I instantly committed to making sure that my next car would be able to utilize this nontoxic, biodegradable fuel source.

Malt Ball 2013: A Rocking Good Time

What do you get when you put 26 breweries and a dozen bands into a trendy Portlandia event space?  Malt Ball 2013.  This second annual union of local bands, courtesy of the Portland Mercury, along with participating breweries, through the Oregon Brewers Guild, made for yet another epic volunteer opportunity.  Last year, I accidentally stumbled upon Malt Ball 2012.  Rocking out to music and talking about beer hardly seemed like a chore at all.  Not to be out done, this year's Ball at the Wonder Ballroom didn't disappoint.  With more beer, more bands, more space, and way more people, this event was split into two sessions.  So popular, the evening session was sold out before the taps were even hooked up.

By the time it was my turn to test out some brews, I headed straight for Solera Brewery's Hank is Dank IPA.  I stood next to this tap for five hours during my shift, listening to lucky imbibers rave about it.  As expected, I was thoroughly impressed with the thick hop tea that filled my mug.  Another notable taster came from Migration Brewing.  Their Black Hearted Ale, a Cascadian Dark Ale, was the perfect blend of roast and hops.  

Haven't been to a Malt Ball yet?  Don't let next year's pass you by.  Undoubtedly, the best beerfest you'll find in PDX.

www.solerabrewery.com  migrationbrewing.com  www.portlandmercury.com  oregonbeer.org

New Still On the Block: Port Steilacoom Distillery

The sleeper town of Steilacoom, WA is home to a new distillery.  Kevin Laughlin Stewart, along with his wife Jennifer, opened Port Steilacoom Distillery back in December 2012.  On a research trip with a fellow wannabe moonshiner, I visited their nautical themed tasting room earlier this week.
Warm and welcoming, Kevin took us back to his "lab" where he explained the whole distillation process.  Answering all of our questions and sharing his own experiences was beyond helpful.  After opening up the jar of juniper berries for us to smell, we sampled his Homeport Gin.  Not being much of a gin girl, I was hesitant.  However, Kevin's aromatically tantalizing citrus infused honey based gin was nothing more than amazing.  His Chambers Bay Vodka was equally crisp and delicious.  With a spiced spirit in the works, it is safe to say I will be back to this tasting room very soon.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Port-Steilacoom-Distillery/353481884723680?ref=ts&fref=ts

P-Town Throwdown: Puyallup River Brewing

Tuesday night +"soft" opening = a crowded Puyallup River Alehouse.  I think it goes without saying that downtown Puyallup has needed this kind of attraction for awhile.  Rolling in at 7:30pm, 2+ hours after the doors opened, the place was standing room only.  Brewmaster Eric Akeson amply prepared the taps with eight of his own and sixteen guests.  Our first round consisted of PRB's Fryingpan Cascadian Red IPA and Valley Farmhouse IPA.  With great brews across the board, I caught a quick sip of Jack O'Lahar Pumpkin Ale: a full pumpkin pie experience.  The next pints were filled with MT Head Imperial IPA and a Great Divide Dopplebock.  Again, a solid line up.  If you end up in the humble abode of the South Sound, head on over to the Puyallup River Alehouse and enjoy your pick of twenty-four different beers.  Chances are you'll find something you'll like!

puyallupriverbrewing.com

Double Trouble: Two Brothers Brewing

A three day weekend translated into a two day trip out to Chicago to visit one of my favorite breweries.  My long distance relationship with Two Brothers Brewing has consisted of a few bottles making their way to me out West via friendly travelers feeding my addiction to craft beer.  Within an hour of landing at Midway, I was saddled up to the bar at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora, Illinois, a newly acquired facility that previously held the Walter Payton namesake.  Twelve hearty samples later, I discovered my top three: Revelry, Outlaw, and Cane and Ebel.

Revelry, an imperial red ale coming in at 9.5% ABV, started off a bit bready.  The slow release of that malt into a bittery citrus hop finish captured my palette.  I think it goes without saying that I brought a full growler of this home, taking the risk of my luggage becoming beer soup.  The Outlaw IPA was light and citrusy, with just enough pine to please this NW hophead.  Cane and Ebel, on the other hand, was a totally different animal.  Described as a "hopped up red rye ale," this heavy weight was impeccably balanced between the spiciness of the rye, sweetness of the Thai Palm Sugar, and the bitterness of Simcoe, Columbus, and Summit hops.  

My Two Brothers checklist didn't stop there.  The next day, I headed out to Warrenville to tour the actual brewing facility.  With a snifter of Revelry, I traipsed around the well equipped brewery that currently distributes their goods to only five states: Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New York, and Ohio.  Not hearing Washington on the list prompted me to fill my already at capacity suitcase with more Two Brothers Brew.  If you ever find yourself in Chicago during the middle of winter, or anytime of the year for that matter, head out to the 'burbs and see for yourself what these guys have been brewing up for the last sixteen years.

www.twobrosbrew.com