Beer and Diapers: The Ultimate Baby Shower

With only five short weeks left until I meet my daughter, it was essential that one of my baby showers needed to include my beer loving friends.  My last few months of pregnancy have been filled with love from every gamut: girlfriends, family, coworkers, and students.  It was time to include the group of friends that I have missed imbibing with.  Here is my guide on how to plan and execute the perfect co-ed baby shower.

1. Invitations

Parties and job interviews have one thing in common: the first impression is the one that sticks.  Take the time to find the invitation that fits exactly what you want.  I had great success on Etsy.com with ModernBeautiful out of Boise, ID.  Not only were they able to revamp one of their samples, they even matched the printing ink to the colors of my nursery.  Don't be afraid to ask the artist to taylor their design for your needs.  It is YOUR party after all!




2.  Contributions

Nobody likes to show up to a party empty handed.  Instead of leaving it up to your host to figure out the logistics, be clear on your invite on how the guests can help.  With beer drinkers, I thought it to be best to have them bring some of their favorite sippers, along with some much needed diapers for Baby Girl.  That way, guests are happy with their drinks and can share with others.   This helps break the ice in conversation before the ABVs kick in!


3.  Location

Step one: scout out the backyards of your friends.  Step two; pick your favorite.  Step three: con them in to hosting your shower.

4.  Recommendations

As a first time mom to be, I am a little unsure of what to expect.  While everyone's take on parenthood is different, I thought it would fun to call upon my experienced mom, dad, aunt, and uncle friends for some tips.  I had these advice cards printed out by the same great artists over at ModernBeautiful.  Hand out a writing assignment after a few beers and watch your friends squirm!

5.   Confections

Don't let anybody tell you differently, every party needs a good cake.  Pair that with a hoppy IPA, a refreshing Blonde, or a crisp Pilsner and your beer loving guests are in heaven.  For some added fun, make sure the frosting is brightly colored and stains your guests' lips and tongues.  The photo opportunities are endless!

Brewing Up Baby: A beer lover's guide to pregnancy

My 2015 came in with a bang.  Not only did my husband and I pull off a surprise wedding for all of our friends, we also found out that we were expecting a future homebrewer of our own.

Over the past few months, my happy hours have been replaced with afternoon walks and my nightly brewski is now a flavorful cup of tea.  While the adjustment has been...well...an adjustment, I have also noticed friends are a bit unsure of how to act.  Here are three steps on how you can support your favorite beer lover while they aren't able to imbibe.

1.  Include them.
Even though I can't drink, I still love to be a part of the beer scene.  Don't assume that you can't still offer up an invite for a brewer's dinner or tap takeover with your pregnant friend.  Keeping up on the new trends and styles is what every beer geek is about.  Just remember that they might not close the joint down like they used to.  I've found that my nose has become so fine tuned that I can smell off flavors a mile away.  Invite, geek out, and have fun!

2.  Find new hobbies to enjoy.
The reason why you enjoy your beer lover is because they are well versed in all things beer.  But don't forget, they also can probably school you at pool, get you by some strokes in golf, and maybe even be the best teammate for pub trivia.  While all these activities should include beer, it sure doesn't mean that they have to.  Saddle me up with an NA macro or pint of root beer and I'm a happy gal.

3.  Make plans for a post birth beer celebration.
Come August, I will be primed and ready to enjoy some beers after this span of dry months.  With an eye on beer travel and festivals, I can't wait to get back in the game.  Support your bumped buddy with some plans to look forward to.  Not only does it keep their spirits up, it also reminds them that there still will be a beer life after baby.

Don't worry friends, while my palete is resting and I'm growing a human, I am still the same beer loving girl that you love.  Hang in there, I'll be back before you know it!

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.

Cleanse Weekend: Days 3-5

Believe it or not, the cleanse weekend was a piece of cake.  My body has gotten used to eating every two to three hours and almost, dare I say, is starting to crave the healthy stuff.  What seemed to challenge me this weekend was trying to get in all of the food I needed to eat, when I didn't really get moving until the late morning.  On Saturday, I found myself eating dinner at 10pm, just to be able to get all the food in before going to bed.  Crazy?  Totally.

Using the required food elements, I started to figure out what I could make that would combine what I needed to consume.  For my fat and fruit snack, I put peanut butter on my blueberries.  Sounds gross.  Looks worse.  But the taste was delicious.  Think a PB&J sandwich without the sandwich part.  My Advocare connection mentioned an egg white pancake with peanut butter, which is nothing pancake and everything egg white.  Flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg, it actually almost resembled a crepe.  Of course, the regular grilled chicken breast, seared veggies, and brown rice made up my lunch.  But this time, I spiced everything.  Garlic herb, lemon pepper, and chili powder were all over my palate.  If only I could wash it all down with a nice hoppy IPA...

Cleanse: Day 2

Today will be remembered as the day I truly missed cheese.  Starting the day off with a quick 5k treadmill run, a guzzled fiber drink, and another chocolate MRS, I scurried out the door with my commuter mug full of green tea.  Weird thing was, I didn't seem to miss my morning pot of Joe.  It seemed like my day whizzed by as I was constantly eating my prescribed portions every few hours.  My chicken, green bean, and brown rice lunch would have been nicely enhanced with a few shreds of parmesan.  My afternoon strawberries and peanut butter would have been so much better with a stick of string cheese.  Even a short trip to the grocery store had me avoiding the cheese aisle, yet I had no problem gazing at the beer.  Was I really addicted to cheese more than coffee or beer?

While I stuck to my guns and stayed away from cheese, even when choking down my third portion of chicken for the day, I couldn't help but think how eight more days were going to be survived without my beloved dairy.  Luckily, I picked up some salt free spices to try out on tomorrow's journey.  Will it really only be Day 3?

Cleanse: Day 1

Beans and tomatoes w/ balsamic drizzle

Alarms for meals set.
Green tea and bottled water ready.
Measurements and weight recorded.
It was now time to get on with Day 1.
After chugging the morning fiber drink like a warm can of PBR, I started off the morning with a Chocolate MRS (meal replacement shake).  Knowing that those would be the most calories I would get all day, I cherished the richness.  Water and more water went down the hatch as a gallon each day is required.  Every few hours I had some premeasured fruits and vegetables, green tea, and more and more water.  A packet of Spark helped me get through the day without coffee.  As long as I had a warm mug of green tea, I didn't seem to miss the coffee.  Well, at least not yet.  Hardest part of the day was looking at that tasty block of cheese in the fridge and choosing green beans instead.  Tomorrow my morning starts off with a much needed workout.  Bring on Day 2.

The Cleansing of a Brewer

Every sixth months I find myself needing a kick in the keister to get my good habits back in line.  With a tumultuous start to my school year, I haven't been working on my beer fitness since summer.  Let me rephrase that.  I have been working on the beer part no problem, just not the fitness.  So what was this brewgirl to do?
Enter the Advocare 10 Day Herbal Cleanse.
Even though this was only part of the 24 Day Challenge, I knew that I only had time to start small.  With Winter Beer Fest season almost upon us, I couldn't commit to abstaining from beer for much longer than a week...for research purposes, of course.  The results that I hear from people completing the cleanse are amazing.  Besides that, getting rid of all the toxins and resetting my metabolism was beyond over due.  But at what cost?  I was having to say good bye to my favorite cajun tots and other pub food, my addiction to cheese, my need for coffee, and my beloved beer.  What was going to happen to me?  When I shared my plan with close friends, most just looked at me in bewilderment.  Me without coffee was enough to scare anybody away.  Needless to say, I went full throttle and dove right in.  After the supplements were ordered, the 10 days without a beer event scheduled, all that was left was to psych myself up.

The Night Before Binge
With my start date for the challenge to be November 13, I gorged on everything forbidden on the 12th.  Copious amounts of cheese, bread, and coffee made their way into my belly.  Not a scrap of leftover Halloween candy was spared.  I washed it all down with a beer of course.  In between the moments of feasting, I made my way to my favorite grocery store to get the goods for my 10 days.  Fresh fruits, veggies, free range chicken, unsalted and unroasted nuts, oatmeal, and brown rice filled my cart.  Of course, I tortured myself by going down the beer aisle.  Mentally making my list of beers to try after I completed the challenge, I quickly went through the checkout in order to get home and get cooking.  A fridge full of portioned out meals for the next three days prepared and the last drops of beer in my pint, I headed to sleep as Day 1 was just a few short hours away.

Top Pumpkin Picks

The Great Pumpkin Beer Festival, GPBF to those in the know, was this past weekend at the Elysian Brewing production facility.  Boasting 40 some beers over the course of three days, along with gourds upon gourds for the carving, this ninth annual event signified the kick off of harvest beer season.  Being my fourth beer event in that many days, I mustered up enough energy, and a few willing beerfriends, to spend the unseasonably warm afternoon together.  Here are my faves from the fest.

Alaskan Brewing: Pumpkin Porter
While I went for this one initially because it was so close to my coveted seat in the sun, I went back for a second sample because it was THAT good.  Smooth and rich, the smoky notes of the Porter melded well with the pumpkin spice.

Fremont Brewing: Pumpkin B-Bomb
Thanks to a certain someone that has gotten me into barrel aged beers, I was excited to see what Fremont did with their Abominable Winter Ale in a Heaven Hill barrel.  The result was a 9.5% ABV sipper that would pair well with stormy nights by a fire.

North Peak Brewing: Hooligan
It is obviously expected that a hophead, such as myself, might gravitate towards an IPA, even at an exclusively all pumpkin beer fest.  So, that is what I did.  Other imbibers didn't necessarily enjoy this one, as it didn't have that sweet savory taste other pumpkin beers had.  I, however, loved it.  Chocked full of hops from Michigan, this IPA was just what I needed.

Elysian Brewing: Punkuccino Coffee Pumpkin Ale
Arriving right when the fest opened at noon after a drive from Eastern Washington, this beer lover was needing some coffee.  Without hesitation, my first taste at GPBF was this coffee/pumpkin combo.  Pumpkin added all throughout the brewing process, along with my favorite Stumptown Coffee, made this one my favorite of the day.

Harmon Brewmaster's Dinner 2013

Given the close proximity of the Harmon Brewery to my humble abode, I rarely find myself there these days.  A well timed email invitation and a willing beerfriend to accompany, I made plans to visit my first Harmon Brewmaster's Dinner.  Five courses with five new-to-me beers promised to be an intriguing event.  Familiar faces and friendly conversation only sweetened the deal.

Course #1: St. Helens Anniversary IPA
While my "go to" Harmon beer has been their Pt. Defiance IPA, it isn't necessarily my favorite.  I tend to check out their seasonal and cask offerings.  I have to be honest, I was a bit leery to try this first sip.  Pleasantly surprised by this moderately malty yet adequately bitter IPA, I enjoyed sip after sip of the Citra and Simcoe notes in this hidden 7.5% ABV.  It was gone before I knew it, and little did I realize, that would become the theme of the night.

Course #2:  Oatmeal Pale Ale
An Autumn favorite I tend to lean towards when the days get shorter is an Oatmeal Stout.  The creaminess of the oatmeal paired with the roastiness of the grain is a winning combination.  This Oatmeal Pale threw me off a bit.  The same creaminess was there, yet the roastiness wasn't.  While that was expected, my taste buds wanted a crisp pale at the sight of this straw colored pint, not a smooth creamy one.  But don't worry, a plan was made to try this OPA once again in order to fully assess its palate worthiness.

Course #3:  North Cascades IPA

The impression that the St. Helens IPA left had me intrigued to see if those Harmon brewers could impress this hophead once again.  A Pro Am selection created by a home brewer, this IPA seemed a bit too malty for my taste.  You see, I like IPAs that just kind of slap me upside the head with a big old helping of lupulin.  The rest of the table enjoyed this beer while I eyed the upcoming promise of an Imperial Red.

Course #4:  Fall Ball Red
Wow.  Even a day later, I can't get this beer out of my head.  Like a first date gone absolutely right, I find myself wondering when I will see this Imperial Red again.  It is hard to focus.  I can't think straight.  I find myself checking taplists around town to see where I might run into it.  The depth and complexity was beyond compare.  A hint of cinnamon and harvest pumpkin amongst the perfectly malted red provided an incredible seasonally perfect ale.  Before I knew it, my glass was empty.  I scanned the table and helped myself to others.  Who would have thought that those components would make such a great brew?  I'm running out of adjectives.  Bottom line:  get some.

Course #5:  Pumpkin Spice Blonde
Seated at a table of Harmon dinner regulars, the buzz was about where the hop ice cream went.  Apparently in years past, the final course was a hop vanilla ice cream paired with a worthy beer.  This year, a sessionable Pumpkin Spice Blonde was paired with praline vanilla ice cream.  When the snifter of my final beer came out, I took a quick whiff and a sip and well, I wasn't that blown away.  After coming off of that Imperial Red high (did I mention I finished off others' samples too?), I was hoping for more.  Then, the ice cream came out.  Silence fell over our table as everyone took a bite of ice cream and followed it with a sip of this blonde.  Reactions were unanimous.  This pairing was the best of the night.  Creamy praline with delicate pumpkin was, without a doubt, perfect.  Again, I finished my beer before everyone else.  The ice cream was long gone too.  And let's not forget, I don't really like sweets.

Rediscovering an old standby can yield surprising results.  Harmon Brewery, you are once again on my radar.  Well done.