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.

How I Survived CanFest 2013

CanFest.  This annual celebration of canned beer was the one and only reason a 24 hour trip to Reno happened the weekend before I had to go back to work.  Throw in a couple of local brewery visits and an exciting road trip home, it soon became the one summer adventure I can't stop talking about.

After a day of Reno breweries that you can read about here, it was off to the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino for CanFest 2013.  Walking through the casino, one quickly joined the flow of beer lovers that were heading to the festivities.  A couple close by mentioned how this was their go to beer fest each year, they hadn't missed one.  Once I stepped into the ballroom and heard the live band, excited beer drinkers, and the constant opening of cans, I knew immediately why.  Here is how I survived.

Survival tip #1:  Create a plan of attack.

Walking into a room full of breweries, most you haven't even heard of, creates a sense of urgency to get in their line right away.  But stop and think.  Do you want to check off breweries on the list that you have mapped out and prioritized?  Or, do you want to just walk around the perimeter of the room hitting up the ones that sound appealing?  I have approached beer fests in both fashions.  For this three hour stint, it was easier for me to just walk the perimeter and enjoy sips at my leisure.

Survival tip #2:  Feel free to dump.
With free reign to try anything and everything as many times as you wanted, one had to get over the feeling that dumping beer equated to alcohol abuse.  The fact is, your palate will be wrecked, your belly full, and your memory failed if you drank every single sample it its entirety.  Did you notice a fill line on that festival glass?  Nope.  You didn't.  Because there wasn't one. 

Survival tip #3:  Meet the staff.

Most of the breweries represented there brought either one of the brewers or some sales staff to chat up willing imbibers about their wears.  Walk on up, ask them questions, even ask for a pic or two.  If you can, quickly step behind the table without getting caught.  You won't find a nicer bunch of people than those that live and breathe beer.

Survival tip #4:  Check out the other "stuff."
A live band, silent disco, mini bike riding, dancing, and a dress up photo booth were just some of the many offerings that CanFest had besides, well, cans.  Sporting some disco music filled head phones and dancing around to your own beat, literally, was a fun intermission between beer lines.  Even better, dressing up in boas, tutus, and hats and posing for the photo booth.  All of this while toting a freshly filled sample glass, of course.

While you might not have been at CanFest with me, these survival tips are transferable.  With beer fest season in full swing, be sure to get the most out of your allotted session time.  Wait, why weren't you at CanFest?  Next year, no excuses.  Get on it.  Keep an eye out.  And, I'll see you next year in Reno!

Must See Breweries in Reno

While my recent trip to Reno, Nevada was primarily to attend CanFest 2013 (which you can read about here), I made sure, as I always do, to get in a couple of local brewery visits.  Below are the places you can't miss the next time you are in The Biggest Little City in the World.

The Brew Brothers at the Eldorado Casino

I know what you are thinking.  What kind of brewery would be legit if it was inside a casino, right?  I thought the same thing at first.  But once I stepped foot inside and escaped the constant dinging of the casino floor, I was pretty impressed.  I enjoyed the Saison, an emerging style favorite of mine, and their Rye beer.  If the beertender hadn't mentioned that it contained rye, I wouldn't have known.  This lager had a unique depth and complexity that I wasn't expecting.  Once the sample was gone, I promptly ordered a full size thirst quencher.  Insider tip: feel free to order as many pints as you want.  No need to guzzle them prior to leaving.  Just ask for a to go cup and walk around the casino enjoying your craft beer.

 

The Brewer's Cabinet

A short walk from downtown led me straight to The Brewer's Cabinet.  After perusing their taplist online, the thought of their IPA on Nitro is what kept me trekking through the desert heat.  When I got to the bar, I realized that they only had three of their own beers on tap, none of which were the Nitro IPA.  Initially disappointed, I quickly built a bridge and got over it when the first few sips of their current offerings met my palate.  Their Phantasm IPA and even their Hopy Monk, a Belgian pale, were superb.  The offering of guest handles was also top notch, ranging from the tasty Enjoy By 9-13-13 from Stone Brewing and the intriguing Citra Hop from The Brewing Lair.  Hours passed and we soon forgot about what other breweries we wanted to go to.  Insider tip: order the fork and knife appetizer of tater tots.  Unlike anything you've ever tried, they are generously smothered with crispy bacon, fried egg, ketchup, and cheese sauce.  It was plenty for a shared meal.  

The Final Days of Summer Beer Month 2013

Day 28:  Sixpoint Brewery Sampler

Refreshed from my final all nighter at BBC 13, I cracked open a trio of beers from Sixpoint Brewery.  Luckily these cans made it past TSA in my travels back home.  Some of my loot from my East Coast beerventure included their Righteous, Sweet Action, and Resin.  My favorite of the three, by far, was the Resin.  Any ale that boasts over 100 IBUs gets my attention.  Whether it was my thirst for hops or my overall love of this 9.1 percenter, I wished that this twelve ounce can lasted all night.

 

Day 29:  Sierra Nevada Brewing Company: Ovila

One of the many beer styles that I came to appreciate at the Beer Bloggers' Conference was the Saison.  A style that originated in Belgium during the 19th century, it was one that, over the years, I haven't exposed myself to.  My recent trip opened my eyes to this Farmhouse style ale.  What I loved about Ovila was the combination of pepper and mandarin oranges.  The sweet funky finish was delightfully sippable.  As it warmed to room temperature, the complex palate just kept going and going.

Day 30:  Anthem Cider: Hops

What says summer more than a cider with hops?  Anthem prides itself in making "true cider", pressing whole apples, and using some of my favorite apple varieties: Honeycrisp and Fuji.  So when you put my favorite apple in a hard cider and then hop it up with one of my favorite hops, you get a winning combination.  Dry hopped with Cascades for about three weeks, this hophead might have just found a new breakfast favorite.

Day 31:  Yakima Craft Brewing: Heather

On the last day of my Summer Beer Month, I found myself in Yakima, WA.  Regardless of what needed to get done that day, beer was on the agenda.  After a quick pint at The Beer Shoppe, I headed over to Yakima Craft Brewing.  My eyes must have lit up when I saw that they had Heather on tap.  Ok, I know, I might be a bit partial.  This ale had a mild honey sweetness that just popped with the addition of Heather tips.  So much so, that it was decided at that very moment to make a Heather ale of my own.  Maybe even barrel age it. All Heathers get better with age, right?

SBM: Day 12

Day 12:  Fremont Brewing's Organic Pale Session Ale
The official beer of Seattle Beer Week 2013, this easy drinking bright pale, weighing in at 4.5 % ABV, is a perfect summer choice.  Equipped with essential camp/hike/bike/travel/summer packaging, Fremont nailed this Pale using organic Cowiche Canyon Citra and Simcoe: two hops that are near and dear to my palate.  When I was in Yakima last month, I was able to attend Pecha Kucha: an I Heart Yakima event.  Learning about all the beauty and adventure that Cowiche Canyon has to offer, it was all I could really think about while drinking this can.  Next adventure I take east of the mountains will undoubtedly include a cooler full of this Fremont creation.

www.fremontbrewing.com                    www.iheartyakima.com     

SBM: Day 11

Day 11:  Georgetown Brewing's Manny's Pale Ale

This Northwest staple might not appear to some to be a summertime beer.  For me, this is an all the time beer.  Whether I am at a baseball game, playing pub trivia, or here, writing in the sunshine waiting out traffic, Manny's is a fine choice.  Hoppier than other pales on the market, Georgetown's signature English Ale yeast makes the barley and hops sing in harmony.  Yeah, I said sing.  Go get a pint of this already.

www.georgetownbeer.com



Birthday Eve Celebration: SBM Day 8

Day 8:  Big Time Brewery's Sunbreak Blonde Ale
Any chance I get to spend some time with my 35s, I know that it is going to be good.  Throw in a "grumpy hour" in the U District with the promise of a hookah lounge in our future, and there you have it: the ultimate Birthday Eve celebration.  My first pint at Big Time was their Sunbreak Blonde Ale.  After a toasty drive up north in traffic, it was just what I needed.  At only 4.1% ABV, I didn't feel guilty when I had a few more.  A girl's gotta hydrate, right?
Another taste: Old Sol Wheatwine.  When news of my impending oldness caught our beertender's attention, he promptly poured four shots of Old Sol (no pun intended, I'm sure).  While one of my 35s shot it back immediately, I sipped mine.  At nearly 10%, I savored every last drop.

bigtimebrewery.com

SBM: Day 7

Day 7:  Black Raven Brewing Company's Sun Thief
When in the neighborhood of Redmond, WA, it is imperative to stop by Black Raven.  With ample seating both inside and out, it makes for a nice respite in between places to be.  Sunday afternoon, with an hour to spare, I went in for a cold Sun Thief Kristallweizen.  All the times I have been to Black Raven, I have never tried this ale.  Nice and crisp, this German style wheat beer was a thirst quencher.  Paired with great conversation and a warm breeze, I could see how this beer could appease the masses with its low ABV and touch of banana.

blackravenbrewing.com

SBM: Day 6

Day 6:  Hopworks Urban Brewery's Evelyn's Imperial Sunshine IIPA
A day trip down to Portland for few birthday weekend beers landed us at Hopworks Bike Bar.  With an extensive patio, it was hard to start our PDX journey anywhere else.  Sitting in the Pacific Northwest sunshine, I grinned at the beertender when she told me that their seasonal beer was an Imperial IPA.  Perfect!  This IIPA is named after the brewer's daughter, whose 8lb 4oz entry into the world prompted 84 pounds of hops into this brew.  A welcomed and tasty alternative to the last five days of lighter hopped beers, a couple of pints went down without hesitation.  This hophead needed a good dose of lupulin to get through the rest of the month's challenge.

hopworksbeer.com


SBM: Day 5

Day 5:  Widmer Brothers' Citra Blonde Summer Brew
My recent jaunt over to Yakima taught me a lot about the beloved Citra hop.  First, it is hard to get.  Second, it smells amazing.  Third, I have become a bit obsessed with finding beers that contain it.  That being said, when my eyes spotted a six pack of Widmer Brothers' Citra Blonde, I was sold.  That sought after Citra aroma floated out of the bottle as I poured it into a pint.  My first sip didn't match the hoppiness I expected.  As the beer warmed up, the pale malt and citrus hop melded better together and made for a more enjoyable beer.  Although your instinct will be to drink this one ice cold, do you taste buds a favor, and let it warm up just a bit to unleash all of the flavor.

widmerbrothers.com

Happy Birthday America: SBM Day 4

 

Day 4: DUO Brewing's Earth & Wind Wheat

Where do I start with my love affair with this beer?  This Wheat and I first laid eyes on each other back in March, a brief meeting at DUO headquarters.  Like a cheesy personal ad, I haven't been able to get my mind off of it.  For months, literally months, I have been begging its brewer to reintroduce us.  You see, I like very few Wheats.  Growing up in the land of Widmer and Pyramid, I always thought that Wheat beers needed a slice of citrus to give them flavor.  Not the case with Earth & Wind: a mildly cloudy wheat with just a touch of hop spice to give depth across the sip.  This quickly became a refreshing crowd favorite at a muggy holiday afternoon BBQ.   

 

www.duobrewing.com



Cheers to Cheese and Beer

There is a time and a place for a stick of string cheese and an ice cold Rainier, a handful of Colby Jack shreds and a PBR, some queso and a longneck Corona.  Cheese and beer have an inevitable union.  Pairing the products of two businesses within a block of each other, forty lucky locals were treated to a palate journey unlike any other at Cheers to Cheese and Beer.  Puyallup River Brewing's ales along with My Cheese Shoppe's treats made this an event to remember.  A few unplanned surprises even made their way to our table.  Put down your squeezy cheese folks and check out these fancy duos.



Pariing 1:  Paradise Blonde Saison with Coastal Chili Lime Cheddar.
Not a big Saison fan, I was interested to see how the cheese would help make this beer drinkable for me.  The subtle heat from this grainy cheddar complimented the coriander and lemon zest essence in the beer. As the beer came to room temperature, I even enjoyed it by itself.

Pairing 2:  Cucumber Lemon Saison with Lemon Stilton.
A small ball of lemon cheese sat on my plate.  A quick first taste revealed a sweet flavor, almost like that of a lemon flavored cream cheese blend.  Spread on a water cracker, the cheese was tasty.  This Saison was a quirky little devil.  While it wasn't my favorite sip of the night, I could see how using this as a base for a homemade Shandy would be unique.

Pairing 3:  Fryingpan Cascadian Red Ale with Huntsman
We first taste food with our eyes, and then with our memories.  A childhood full of blue cheese, which now might be considered child abuse, had me wincing at sight of the blue Stilton layered Huntsman.  I took an adventure bite of the cheddar side, which still hit me with too much blue.  One of our crew, on the other hand, finished off his own Huntsman, as well as mine, and even took home a slice.  The beer was a malt bomb with just a tad of bitter.  Best of both worlds.

Pairing 4:  Point Success Porter with Comte
This raw cow's milk creation caught my eye from the beginning.  A rectangle of aged cheese goodness was begging for a nibble.  Flavorful yet mild, it was well enjoyed alone or with a dried apricot.  Paired with this Porter, it had to have been one of my favorite duos of the night.  This cheese gently brought out the chocolate notes in the Porter without overpowering it.  A match made in beer cheese heaven.

Pairing 5:  Electron IPA with Double Gloucaster
Finally, an IPA for this patient hophead.  I made my way through two Saisons without complaint, but really could only think about getting some hops in my mouth.  This IPA delivered the right amount of bitter bite to work with the cheese.  A one made with full fat milk, the Double Gloucaster made an indulgently nutty appearance. 

Notable Special Somethings
As promised, Eric from Puyallup River Brewing said there there wouldn't be any shortage of tasty surprises.  The first was a baguette with goat cheese and lavender honey.  A unanimous favorite at our table, the honey gently glazed the mild goat cheese to give it just a touch of sweetness.  There wasn't a scrap left of this little treasure.  Our final beer of the night was a snifter of Meeker Street Madness, PRB's Barleywine.  That style of beer is a bit finicky, both for the drinker and the brewer.  Too hoppy, too sweet, or too much alcohol burn tends to be the result.  When it is done right, the beer knocks one out of the park.  In my opinion, PRB hit a homer!

Final Thoughts
Everybody's palate is unique.  One man's trash is another man's treasure.  Each attendee was able to find at least a few combinations that pleased their taste buds.  That's what is so great about beer.  And cheese.  So many choices.  So many opportunities for new discoveries.  Who would have thought that I would like a Comte...let alone a Saison?

 

www.puyallupriverbrewing.com                www.mycheeseshoppe.com