Dinner with Will and Mari Kemper

Things have just been crazy this past week, and I have not gotten around to writing about last weekends dinner with Will and Mari Kemper at the North Cascade Institute. It was a wonderful evening full of good food, good beer and good conversation. I will spare the details and just hit some of the highlights and share some photos.

If you get a chance take a look at the Institutes website. They are doing a lot of good things up there for kids, and events like this dinner really helps them with their mission.

I also recommend that you check  out the Chuckanut Brewery the next time you are in Bellingham or see them on tap at you local pub.

Highlights:

• The location. The North Cascades are Beautiful, and the North Cascade Institute Learning Canter fits right in to its surroundings.
• The Kolsch ale served with fresh Veggie Brochette, Goat Cheese, and crackers. The Chuckanut Kolsch was light an crisp, and very easy drinking.
• Meeting and sitting with Don and Janet Webb from Naked City Brewery. They were very nice, and told us about their recent adventure in Chicago at the World Beer Cup and told us about all their planning for Seattle Beer Week.
• The Rauch lager served with Fresh Greens tossed in tomato vinaigrette, topped with seared Vashon Island Beef. The pleasantly smoked lager really brought out the flavor in the beef.
• Mari Kemper talking about opening breweries around the world, from Poulsbo, to Philadelphia, to D.C, to Mexico, to Turkey and back to Bellingham. (and other stops in between)
• Learning about the  history of the Kolsch, Rausch, Schwarzbier, and Bock. Will is an excellent speaker, if you get the chance to hear him speak, go for it.
• The Shwarzbier served with Raspberry crusted wild Salmon with garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus wrapped in a flaky pastry drizzled with a lemon sauce. The rich dark robust flavor of the Schwarzbier really paired nicely with the sweet Raspberries.
• Will Kemper talking about the importance of the ingredients in Beer, and Reinheistgebot the German beer purity law. Oklahoma may have stolen the Sonics but they have horrible water.
• The Bock served with layered chocolate mousse. Talk about sweet, malty, and rich.
• Talking to Will and Mari after the dinner. What a great couple.
• The nice moderate hike on Sunday Morning. It is beautiful up there.
• The friendly staff at the Learning Center.

Photos:

On Golden Kolsch - by DraughtE, 2010

Brewers Talking (Will Kemper and Don Webb) - by DraughtE, 2010

The Glass Matters - by LushC, 2010

Deer Butt- by LushC, 2010

Cheers,

DraughtE

FTC Info: This evening was paid in full by GoodBeerTrips.