Kickstart Ghostfish

Last night I tried some fantastic gluten-free beers.  Yes, I know.  There might be a lot wrong with that sentence.  1.  What am I doing drinking gluten-free beers?  2.  Did I really mean "fantastic"?  Let me give you some back story.

I have known about Ghostfish Brewing from the beginning. Watching a trio of passionate beer loving guys take their dream of creating Seattle's first gluten-free brewery to a reality has been nothing short of inspiring.  What was even more inspiring were the four beers I tried last night.  From a wit to a pale to a porter to a dry stout, I had to keep telling myself these were actually gluten-free.

Now, here is where you come in.  The Ghostfish Brewing team needs your help in the next two days.  They are less than $5000 away from making their Kickstarter goal of $30,000 for an R&D lab.  Why does this matter to you?  Research and Development labs are how breweries make exciting new beers.  After tasting what they already have brewed, I couldn't be more supportive for this cause.

And you should be too.

Act now...the clock is ticking!

Boo Brew Bash

When NWBeerBabe invites you over....you go.  It doesn't matter what time or how long it will take you to get there...you go.  When she invites you over for her second annual Adult Halloween...you get there early. With strict instructions to bring a snack, bottles of beer, and to arrive before the first Elsa rang the door bell, we headed up north to her very own Naughty Gallagher's Pub, a self named residential beer paradise.

The next few hours flew by.  Bottles opened.  Steaks grilled.  Laughter heard.  Elsas spotted.  Trick or Treating parents hydrated.  Stories told.  Memories shared.  Too many home brewing beer lovers were present to not have an elite beer line up.  Now that my Untappd app has recovered from overuse, let's review my favorites from the night.

1.  Eclipse Elijah Craig 12 from FiftyFifty Brewing Company
This imperial stout aged in heavily sought after Elijah Craig Bourbon barrels from Heaven Hill Distilleries was a luscious treat.  After learning more about this brewery, I am more than tempted to find a way to get my hands on a ticket to their 2014 Eclipse party on December 4th.

2.  16 Barrels from 10 Barrel Brewing Company
One thing that I love about anything else is finding a unique bottle from a favorite brewery.  I thought I had enjoyed every 10 Barrel beer there was, so when 16 Barrels came out, my jaw dropped.  This smooth Golden Ale aged in Pinot Noir barrels was nothing short of delicious.

3.  Cowiche Canyon Fresh Hop from Fremont Brewing
With the overload of barrel aged treats, this fresh hop from Fremont was a welcomed refresher.  Toting a nice bright hop aroma, its bitterness balanced perfectly with the malt.  Rumor has it that there were four cans at the table.  However, they mysteriously disappeared before I could get my hands on another taste.  If you see this treat around town, scoop it up.  Like Halloween candy, Fresh Hop Season won't last forever.

WHL #4: Tri-City Americans "Glass Pounding Fights" (2013-2014 season)

After WHL teams within an hour's drive were checked off the list, it was now time to plan a weekend venture east of the mountains to knock off the rest of the American teams in the division.  Luckily, our winter break left us with some time to high tail it over to see the Tri-City Americans.

Fans:  The moment (and yes I mean THE moment) we sat down, some enthusiastic hockey lover shook the chairs we were in asking if we were ready for some hockey.  They really had no idea, did they?  Heck yeah, we were!  Throughout the entire game, fans were on their feet pounding on the glass, screaming at the refs, cheering on the numerous fights, and high-fiving strangers for each home goal.

Arena:  Similar to where the Winterhawks play, the Toyota Center was like stepping back in time.  We quickly realized that the names above the concessions booths didn't necessarily mean that was the food they were serving.  Except when it came to the Papa Johns booth.  An enclosed corner alcove with big screen televisions playing the Husky game was sponsored by a local cable company.  Getting our much needed pic with the mascot resulted in us chasing Winger down, spinning him around, and finally getting a halfway decent photo.

Beer:  While the food didn't knock our socks off, I was impressed with the local beer choices.  I had a couple of IPAs from a Richland based brewery.  Domestic choices were available for those that feared the power of the hop.

Smashed Pumpkin Brew Day

Last weekend of October.  Pumpkin Spice Lattes on the brain.  Rainstorm outside.  It must be that time of year to make my Smashed Pumpkin Ale.  The last  time I was brave enough to brew this pesky squash quencher was back in 2010.  That year, I was still a novice brewer making partial mash/partial extract brews.  With friends and family alike begging for this harvest beer, it was time to make it an all grain masterpiece.

Smashed Pumpkin Ale

Yield:
10 gallons

Grains:
3.0 lbs Rye
3.5 lbs Crystal 80
3.5 lbs Crystal 20
18 lbs  Gambrinus Pale

Mash:
45 minutes at 152 degrees

Sparge:
12 gallons

Boil:
60 min:   2oz Cascade hops
20 min:   9.5 lbs of 100% canned pumpkin
15 min:   2oz of Mt. Hood hops
10 min:   1 tbsp each of Nutmeg, Cinnamon, All Spice, and Cloves
               1 oz of pure vanilla extract

Yeast:
NW Ale 1332 by Wyeast (2)

Original Gravity:
1058

Conditioning Options:
Four years ago, I put in a bottle of Pinnacle Whipped Vodka after fermentation was complete.  I immediately force carbonated the batch and bottled it a week later.  When the boil kettle was filling our humble garage brewery with pie spice, two alternate options came to mind: taking half the batch and throwing it in a cask with Mexican vanilla beans to be enjoyed a month from now or putting the whole batch into a Bourbon Whiskey barrel from Woodinville Whiskey and see what magic happens.  Check back in a few weeks to see what we decided.  If you try this recipe at home, let us know any adaptations you made and how it all turned out in the comment section below.  

Happy brewing!

My First Look: Heritage Distilling Company

A well timed invitation from a coworker found me out at Heritage Distilling Company in Gig Harbor yesterday afternoon.  Anxious to try his Cask Club creation, I was surprised at how well established this quaint distillery had become in just two short years.  With a bar full of bottled spirits to try, I set my eyes on their Bourbon first. 

About once a month, I tend to enjoy an Old Fashioned cocktail.  Now, the ones I make are a bit off of a traditional recipe.  I use a packet of Splenda instead of a sugar cube.  (Don't knock it until you've tried it.)  In lieu of an orange slice and splash of bitters, I generously douse handcrafted orange bitters from Scrappy's Bitters over ice.  After trying both of the Bourbons HDC had to offer, I chose the Elk Rider; a strong, yet smoothly balanced whiskey that would compliment my unique blend of bitter and sweet. 

Next up: flavored vodka.  With 23 flavors and three holiday ones in the works, HDC was not short on variety.  From Hibiscus to Cherry Lime to Sweet Ghost Pepper, it was difficult to choose which ones I wanted to try.  Tasting the Blood Orange, Coffee, and Coconut, I wanted a bottle of each.  As I looked down the line, a flavor I didn't see was Ginger.  If you know me, you know that I love anything ginger: ale, bread, cookies, chicken, etc.  I can't recall if I either asked about a ginger flavored vodka, or they could feel my yearning, because soon enough, a new bottle was brought out for tasting.  Winner.  I couldn't wait to get that home, pour over ice with a squeeze of lime, and imbibe. 

Don't make the same mistake I did and wait two years to visit Heritage Distilling Company.  Come next weekend to celebrate their second anniversary and keep an eye out for their new locations in Roslyn, WA and Eugene, OR.

From Professional Brewer to Guest Blogger

Introducing DUO Dan ... a man not necessarily with a plan, but definitely with a beer in hand.  Meet the guest blogger here at ThisGirlBrews.

Dan O'Leary is a Minnesota native, currently residing in Washington State. He is a BJCP Recognized Beer Judge with over nine years of brewing experience. He owned and operated the nanobrewery DUO Brewing from 2011 until its closing in 2013. He and his fiancé Heather enjoy beer centered travel, home brewing, and the occasional glass of wine.

While waiting for his beer posts, you can follow him on Twitter: @olearydan

WHL #3: Everett Silvertips "Twitter Mascot" (2013-2014 season)

It didn't take long for our WHL quest to get around to friends.  Soon, season tickets were coming our way and we had a fun group of beer lovers to meet with for the Everett Silvertips game.

Fans:  For this game, we were hanging with those in the know.  Sitting right on the ice in the front row near the goal opened our eyes to a whole different type of fan.  There were cowbells.  There was screaming.  Did I mention the cowbells?  I think my ears might still be ringing.

Arena:  This arena, from the moment we entered it, took our breath away.  The smells from a dozen different eateries, the encased memorabilia along the concourse, and the extensive gift shop (in which you could actually walk around in) had us mesmerized.

Beer:  Wow.  No, seriously.  Wow.  A measly little tweet of mine a few nights earlier caught the attention of a beer lover who worked for the Silvertips.  They boasted of the beer selection.  My beer friend season ticket holders did also.  It wasn't until I saw the plethora of local taps that I believed it.  Without a doubt, THE best WHL arena for craft beer.

Twitter Mascot?  Yes.  Behold the power of Twitter.  A huge thank you to Aaron who not only loves hockey and good beer, but had the ability to send Lincoln, the Silvertips' mascot, to the seats of some crazy hockey loving ladies.

Has it really been 10 months?

What happens when you get engaged, combine houses, switch jobs, and actively start brewing again? 

You don't blog as much. 

Now that life has settled down. 
Routines set.
Calendars synced.  
Priorities handled.

It is time to resume doing what I love.

Fresh off a trip to Oktoberfest in Munich, a weekend hockey bender in the Great White North, and a double brew day a week away...one can say that I have too much to write about.



Welcome back, readers. 

WHL #2: Seattle Thunderbirds "Spilled Sportsmanship"

My home team:  The Seattle Thunderbirds.  While I have been to about a dozen of these home games over the years, I hadn't been to one when on this official WHL pilgrimage.  So, yet another Friday night was planned to meet up and enjoy some hockey.

Fans:  I've got to be honest.  The Thunderbird fans completely disappointed us.  Not only did they interrupt the National Anthem by shouting "Portland Sucks," they proceeded to shout that phrase at any and every opportunity during each period.  Yes, I understand rivalry.  Totally get it.  I even participate it in from time to time.  However, it seemed just a tad bit excessive to interrupt the group of nervous middle schoolers singing the hardest song ever prior to the puck drop.

Arena:  I totally love the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington.  Ample concessions, clean concourse, decent gift shop, and plenty of room to move around.  The regular stadium offerings were present with some alternatives to please any picky eater.  I watched them hand carve my turkey for an epic sandwich full of meat and fresh veggies.

Beer:  Being the first of our hockey games to enjoy some suds, I opted for some Canadian beer, of course.  Was it Kokanee or Molson or Labatt?  I can't remember.  What I do recall is enjoying one, spilling the next, and carefully holding my third.

WHL #1: Portland Winterhawks "1970s Portlandia"

Probably more well known for their exceptional breweries, organic living, and Trailblazer basketball team, it was actually at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum one random Friday night where our plan was hatched.  A quick Google search for all the WHL (Western Hockey League) arenas and before the end of the second period, we had committed to visiting every single one of them.  Why?  Because I love a good checklist.

Each one of our visits will include the following information:

Fans: Taking in the home team and observing the fans.  How they react to the opposing team, how they support their home team, and how they treat a couple of crazy girls on a hockey mission will all be taken into account.

Arena: The overall feel, technology, refreshments, gift shop, and other amenities will be the focus of this rating.

Beer:  Well, let's face it.  It really is all about the beer, right?

Portland Winterhawks at Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Fans:  We attended a home game during a Living Social promotion at the same exact time that the Chicago Bulls were playing the Portland Trailblazers just a stone's throw away.  So, the fans were more interested in the score of THAT game than the one they were watching.  If they weren't shouting out the basketball score, they were knitting scarves or noshing on all sorts of food offerings.

Arena:  It was like a trip back into the 70s.  Men on scaffolding were operating the lights, random cheerleaders that looked like they were my age (which is WAY too old to be dancing on ice), and lack of technology felt like I was back in yesteryear.  Refreshments ranged from the typical stadium type food to some key Portlandia type offerings, such as an artisan veggie panini with homemade potato chips.  

Beer:  Well, let's be honest, this WAS Beervana.  More people were in line for beer than actual food itself.  Unfortunately, I was doing a cleanse during this game so I didn't partake.  Yes, I know.  Shame on me.

Moscow Mules: A Ginger Beer Comparison

A few months back, a happy hour date ended up at quaint little bar in the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle.  There, I had my first Moscow Mule: a flavorful yet light drink made up of vodka, ginger beer, simple syrup, and lime.  While I rarely find a vodka drink that I don't like, I particularly loved the ginger spice in this mix.  In fact, I loved it so much, that I set out to find the best ginger beer in my town to make this new fave at home.

Even though I just learned of this cocktail, the story of the Moscow Mule goes all the way back to 1939.  It is believed to have been the brain child of John Martin, a then new owner of the Smirnoff brand vodka.  While gin was preferred in the United States at the time, Martin promoted the Moscow Mule to get the word out about how versatile vodka was.  Now as you know, history has a tendency to rewrite itself, but Martin maintained that this cocktail was indeed an invention by him and his good friend Jack Morgan, owner of the Cock'n'Bull pub, which had a house brand of ginger beer.  It wasn't long for the Moscow part of the moniker to cause a bit of controversy.  While the recipe stayed the same, Smirnoff Mule became the stand in name to reference this quencher by.

For my comparison, I picked up five different ginger beers from my local boutique grocery store.  Usually a free pouring mixologist, I made sure to make each Mule the same way:  1oz of Ketel One vodka, 3oz of ginger beer, and one lime wedge.  I decided to skip on the simple syrup.  After all, a lady has to watch her figure.  Noting the aroma, color, and taste, I gave each mix a rating out of 5, with five being the highest.
1.  Rachel's Ginger Beer
This first ginger beer poured lighter in color than I expected.  The aroma was also faint.  But when I took a drink, it went from being a bit tangy in the front to having a pleasurable ginger zing in the back.  Rating: 3
2.  Fentiman's
The aroma was botanical, like that of a sachet.  On first sip, the taste of drinking a medicinal syrup overpowered my mouth.  I had to dump it out.  Poor Ketel.  Rating: 1
3.  Cock'n'Bull
The original ginger beer to make a Moscow Mule had to be the best, right?  The color was deep and rusty.  Refreshing aroma greeted my nose, almost like that of a light Pepsi cola.  The taste? Like I was drinking a dirty ginger root.  I could have drank it if I had to.  But I didn't have to.  Down the drain it went.  Rating: 2
4.  Bundaberg
First of all, I loved the packaging.  I know, that sounds like I follow a football team based off of their uniforms.  But in a market saturated with trendy sodas, Bundaberg's team got it right.  The clean aroma had a gentle ginger taste.  It almost had a creamy texture and there wasn't a harsh medicinal after burn.  I had to finish this bottle.  Rating: 4
5.  Ginger People
This was the final cocktail of the night.  After seeing too many sacrificial dumps of my precious Ketel, I crossed my fingers for this one to make it.  Unfortunately, I spoke too soon.  The spicy aroma had me hopeful.  But, as soon as it touched my lips, it was as if I was drinking the disinfectant I was forced to scrub desks with back in private school  Needless to say, this was a dumper.  Rating: 1

But fellow imbibers, don't take my word for it.  Pick up some artisan sodas, a fifth of your favorite vodka, and have your own tasting party.  And yes, a tasting party of one is totally acceptable.

2014: Hockey, House of Cards, and Home Brewing

A new year.  A new beginning.  Here is what I'm looking forward to in 2014.

Hockey

One thing I love about my social circle is the ability to find someone to go along with just about any haphazard hair brained plan.  While I won't take full credit for this one, a Western Hockey League tour of all the arenas is underway.  What does that mean?  That means that two girls in a Mazda are making their way across the Western states and provinces to root on future NHL stars.  Look for blog posts about the games, the teams, and, of course, the beer.

House of Cards

How have I not heard of this series until now?  For the last two days, I have been consumed with Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his tyrannical reign on the happenings in DC.  This is smart backstabbing political drama at its best.  Even though I am three episodes away from completing the first season, I know that I will be rewatching every single one of them in preparation for the Season 2 premier on Feb. 14.  Don't worry, this new addiction will fit into beer.  Just wait and see.

Home Brewing

With the exception of putting some hard cider of mine in a bourbon barrel (yes, it is THAT good), I haven't stood over a brew kettle for nearly five months.  How is that so?  It is time for me to throw on those brew boots, measure out some hops, and get my tush back in there.  First up, a tasty milk stout that will entice even those friends of mine that claim that they still don't like beer.  Hopefully brewing is like riding a bicycle and I haven't forgotten how.