Elliot Bay Brewing Co – West Seattle, WA
The West Seattle SummerFest is one of a few can’t miss summer events for us. A weekend where the West Seattle Junction closes its streets to vehicles and opens it up for three days of food, fun, music, arts, crafts, and booze. This year was no different.
If all the festivities weren’t enough, it coincides with Elliot Bay Brewing Company’s (EBB) Anniversary. For thirteen years they have been a pillar of the Junction, and for twelve years they have been our home brewpub. We’ve been to a few brewpubs and breweries in our time, but have been to EBB more than any other. We will return for many years to come and are Mug Clubbers for life.
For the SummerFest, they expand from their normal cozy confines on to the sidewalk with lots of sunny and shady outdoor seating. This year, I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived and was able to get a seat in front of a 55” TV they brought out for the World Cup Third Place Futbol Match. I got there right before the opening kickoff and was stoked. We ended up staying for the entire game, rooting for the underdog Uruguay, who couldn’t overcome the Germans.
On any other visit we would normally be inside the long narrow building that is the pub. It’s lined with the bar and kitchen on one side, wood booths on the other and tables down the middle. House Beer logo flags hang from the ceiling and the brick walls are the perfect display for local artists. (Often paintings from their long-time, now former, waiter extraordinaire TS Pew). There is an upper mezzanine in the back with additional seating and a large TV for sporting events. This used to be the home of the smoking section, but to EBB’s credit, they went non-smoking way before the law said they had to. They are very family friendly, making them a go to stop for many. It is a rare evening or weekend that they are not packed. My only wish is that they had more bar seating.
The menu at Elliot Bay is the typical pub fare made with local, organic and sustainable ingredients. We enjoy their burgers, fish and chips, salads, sandwiches, wings and their monthly specials. One of the best deals on the menu though is their daily homemade soup or chili and salad deal. Really, you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.
Blackened Salmon Salad
Elliot Bay has one of the largest selections of handcrafted, certified organic ales on tap in the N.W, including most of their year-round beers and many of their seasonal beers. (Per their website) Their beers range from good to exceptional and I’ve only met a few that I have not liked. Some of our favorites include: Demolition Ale (Imperial Pale Ale), Black IPA, B-town Brown, Coffee Stout, No Doubt Stout, Riot Ale (American Strong Ale), and their Orange Infusion. If it’s your first visit, you may just want to start with a sampler so you can try everything they have.
On this visit, since I knew I might be there the full 90, I wanted start of light and got a Klondike Gold. It came out a nice golden orange, with a thin head and a sweet aroma. It is a nice pleasant summer beer, with tastes of honey, malt and nice subtle hop finish.
Meanwhile LushC, thinking the same as me, went with the Pilot Light. It pours a golden yellow, with a thin head, and is well carbonated. The aroma is of sweet malt and it has a nice crisp light malt flavor with a hint of honey. Definitely brewed as their light macro alternative, this beer has more flavor but, not too much to scare away the beer shy. LushC thought of it as a nice nod to the light Mexican style beers, but with more flavor.
For our second round, LushC went with the Klondike Gold and I opted for the Anniversary Beer, Lucky 13 Saison de la Chance. Billed as a Belgian Amber, this beer was a cloudy orange, and had a spicy (clove) aroma. Drinking it was pleasure. It started off with sweet malt, clove, and Belgian yeast flavor and finished with a distinctive hop bite.
If the location, food and beer wasn’t enough the, the staff, many who have been there for years, are super friendly. It gets a near perfect score in my book. Keep in mind; it is my local brewpub so I might be a bit biased, so you should head on over to the Westside and judge EBB for yourself. Just remember it’s a bridge not a freeway.
Cheers,
DraughtE
P.S. Thank you Emily from Shadowlands for letting us park in your spot.
Dear FTC, I am not affiliated with Elliot Bay Brewery and did not receive anything in return for this post. Although, as a Mug Club Member, I do receive 20 ounces of beer for the price of 16.
Guest Tap: Issaquah Brewhouse – Issaquah, WA
Our NW spring 2010 has been quite wet, but Sunday the 13th was a beautiful day to take the family out hiking. I could go on about the hike, but this is a beer blog and I had better focus on what is important. We stopped in to the Issaquah Brewhouse (Rogue) for a couple beers and a snack. I have always been a fan of the Issaquah Brewhouse and Rogue beers. Rogue always has a very wide variety of beers and the Issaquah Brewhouse makes a few house beers as well. My first offering was an old favorite “Dead Guy Ale”. Inspired after a Maibock, it has a strong malt body and a snappy hop finish. I think this beer could be a big seller in NW brewpubs if people knew what it was…I think the hoards of IPA fans would find this a very good beer. As our snacks came (got some tots and chicken strips….no laughing here) and my daughter was off in the pub playing legos, I asked for the Gold medal winning Rye IPA (a beer brewed in house), they were out but the server suggested a Red IPA. The beer did not disappoint, it had a classic malt nose and a nice hoppy finish, exactly what I expected.
Now…sorry to rant a bit, but as a reviewed my bill, I noticed that they charged 5.50 for each beer. 5.50? REALLY? The beers were standard strength, in a standard sleeve (16oz pint). How can I justify the post hike beer to my wife if they are going to charge 5.50? I shrugged and offered my card and my WABL passport to the server…she said “oh, I will apply your discount” I learned today that WABL members get a 75 cent discount on beer. Pleasantly surprised, I left the establishment quite happy and relieved. I still like the Issaquah Brewhouse….as long as I get a discount.
Cheers!
Shaqfeasel
FTC INFO: As you can tell from the post, Shaqfeasel purchased his beer and meal, and received nothing for free.
Checkout Part 1 if you missed it, or else.
Our plan for the third day of our Memorial Weekend Good Beer Trip to the Columbia River Gorge was to go to Walking Man Brewery in Stevenson, Washington. That morning, we got a surprise as we found out that my Aunt (Jules) and Uncle (The Dancer) from Portland would meet us there. The only problem was what to do until 3:00 when they opened? It was a nasty, rainy morning, so we weren’t to excited about going on any serious hike or anything. Remembering my childhood trips to the Gorge, and a failed attempt to summit Beacon Rock, I decided this would be the challenge for the day.
After a quick breakfast we were soon on the road, heading west on SR-14. We drove through Stevenson, breezed past the town of North Bonneville, and made it to the road side parking lot for the trail that leads to the top of Beacon Rock (30 miles West of White Salmon). With the rock looming over the parking lot, and a Turkey Vulture circling above, I was wondering if this was a good idea, but I wasn’t about to turn back now. Named by Lewis and Clark in 1805, Beacon Rock stands on the shores of the Columbia River at a height of 848 feet. In 1918, a three-quarter mile trail was created that leads visitors to the top. The trail is partially paved and has many switchbacks, bridges, and handrails as it winds it way to the top. You gain a a bit of elevation fairly quickly, so it is a bit strenuous if your not in shape. The breathtaking views at the top were well worth the effort.
Beacon Rock
Bonnevile Dam from the top of Beacon Rock
When we rolled back into Stevenson, we still had about two hours to kill before Walking Man opened. We thought this would be how much time we would need to check out the town. Well, we could have done it in a third of the time. Don’t get me wrong, the town had lots of charm, a small town Americana, all dressed out for the holiday with American flags lining the street. If you’re hungry, you’re in luck as food establishments far outnumber retail shops. Since we were going to eat at Walking Man we walked around and went to the handful of interesting shops and ended up at a small Coffee Shop for a caffeine and sugar fix. They were fairly busy, okay six orders, and the baristas were a bit stressed, as though this was not a normal rush. We relaxed a bit, and then pondered what to do with our next hour or so. Stevenson’s riverfront trail helped us kill a bit of the time, but we ended up jumping back in the car and driving around, and around. Waiting is the hardest part.
Walking Man Brewery
Walking Man Brewing Co. – Stevenson, Washington
Finally, at 2:57 we entered Walking Man. There were already a fair number of people already inside, and with in 20 minutes it was packed. Apparently we weren’t the only ones waiting. We arrived before Jules and the Dancer so we grabbed a booth. Surprise, shortly after arriving Shaqfeasel and his family walked in. I was starting to think they were following us. Not sure when the rest of our party would show-up, we went ahead and ordered a sampler tray and a pizza (since we were starving by now).
This was LushC’s first visit to Walking Man, and my second. The pub is located on the ground floor of an old building. It has a great British pub feel, with fantastic attention to detail. There are several booths, a few long tables to share, several bar seats, and a patio outside. It is very comfortable, and I could really see myself hanging out there a lot.
The menu looks simple, but as they put it, the food is stellar. The focus is on salads, gourmet pizzas, and enticing appetizers. I can only speak for the Black Pesto Pizza which was superb.
Our sampler came and we started right in. After our third or fourth taster my Jules and The Dancer arrived. Jules helped us finish the sampler, and The Dancer e went straight for a pint of the IPA. Upon completion of the sampler, Jules ordered up a full pint of the Ramblin’ Raspberry, LuschC a water (what a safe driver) and I an IPA. We all enjoyed our beers while catching back up, and planning for their upcoming visit to Seattle. It was a great afternoon as we always enjoy their company. Regretfully, the fun had to end, and we each headed off in our separate directions.
BEER SAMPLER Pale Strider – Nice well balanced citrusy hopped pale ale. Light Foot Lager – Okay, but not as smooth as I like my Lagers. I prefer the German malts as opposed to the Northwest malts in my German Style beers. Ramblin’ Raspberry – Very pleasant wheat ale with definite raspberry flavor. A good choice on a hot summer day or for those non-beer drinkers. Crosswalk Wheat – smooth summer wheat ale, with hints of orange and coriander. Walking Man India Pale Ale – A Northwest IPA classic, malty up front with a piney and citrus hop finish. Knuckle Dragger (Strong Pale Ale) – Smooth, well balanced malt and pine hop flavor. Homo Erectus Imperial IPA – Sweet, malty, piney and citrus hop goodness. ’09 Old Stumblefoot (Barleywine) – Very smooth, sweet, and flavorful. The finish has slight mead like taste. Another dangerous beer at 11% ABV. ’10 Old Stumblefoot (Barleywine) – More hop presence than the ’09 and not as sweet, with a hint of oak. Very smooth, but strong. Walking Stick Oatmeal Stout – Smooth, Sweet, roasted malt and chocolaty. Oh so delicious!
LushC and I were a bit tired when we got back to the Blue Sky Cottage. It was finally sunny, and Mt Hood was out, clearly visible from our deck. Instead of going out, we just sat out, cracked opened the growler of Starfish, and soaked up the rays. We ended up staying in the rest of the evening.
Looking at the weather forecasts before heading down, it looked like Sunday (day 4) was going to be the best chance for good weather, and to get out and do some hiking. When we awoke, it was overcast, not the sunny day I was hoping for, but it wasn’t raining so I couldn’t complain. The decision was made to do the same hike to Tom McCall Point that we made last year.
I bite - by LushC (2010)
The hike begins at the Rowena Overlook which is less than 15 miles east of Hood River. This is the beginning of the Oregon high desert so you can expect warmer/dryer weather. The sign at the trail head warns of Rattlesnakes and Poison Oak, we saw both. (Yes, we saw a Rattlesnake, cold, coiled up, and at a fairly safe distance.) It’s a moderate 3.4 mile hike that climbs 1000ft to Tom McCall Point. On a clear day you are rewarded at the top with a panoramic view from Mt Hood to the South, Hood River to the West, Mt Adams to the North, and The Dalles to the East. On this day, neither mountain was visible, but the hike was still well worth it.
Mt Hood is in there, I think
On completion of the hike we were famished and parched, and a trip to Full Sail was in order. After lunch at and a couple of pints of Vendell Veizen we did a little more shopping in Hood River, and then moseyed on to Double Mountain to finish out the afternoon.
Double Mountain Brewery – Hood River, Oregon
A nice pair of Double Mountains - by LushC (2010)
Double Mountain was packed, both inside and out, the only seat we could find was on the very low sitting sofa. Of the three brewpubs in Hood River, they definitely attract the younger, more active, and liberal crowd. Wind Surfers, Kit Boarder, Mountain Bikers, Hikers, and who knows what else were all in attendance. (There were also some Mt Bike events going on in the street outside) They are in what looks to be an old garage, pretty much across the street for Full Sail. I really like their atmosphere, and the vibe they have. Unfortunately, on this visit, I just wasn’t feeling it and wish we had gone there on day two instead.
We had already eaten, so we didn’t order any food. Their Menu consists of pizza and sandwiches, all of which looked awesome on the tables around us. I remember really enjoying the pizza we had last year too.
I did belly up to the bar, and after finally getting someone’s attention picked out a couple beers for us. For LushC it was the Black Irish and for me it was the Vaporizer. I followed my Vaporizer up with a Hop Lava, which I really liked, but LushC thought was too bitter. At this point neither of us was really feeling it; we were both tired, and were ready to go. We will definitely be back though.
BEER SAMPLER Vaporizer (dry-hopped pale ale) -Very well balanced and smooth, with a sweet citrusy dry hop finishBlack Irish (Irish Stout on Nitro) – Darker more roasted malt flavor than Guinness. Very good and drinkable. A little earthy for LushC’s taste. Hop Lava (IPA) – sweet malty with a smooth hop finish, very well balanced beer.
We returned back to White Salmon (after a coffee break),and while walking Malti I began to feel a scratch in my throat. It became all too apparent why I did not love Double Mountain like I should. I was sick.
The trip back was miserable for myself, and not that much fun for LushC either. It was down pouring, traffic sucked, and I was a horrible passenger that struggled to stay awake. We did make a brief stop at McMenamin’s Olympic Club in Centralia for lunch and Birthday Terminator Stout. Yeah, I spent my birthday sick; it just means next year’s trip will have to be that much better.
Cheers,
Draught(sick)E
FTC INFO: Everything in this post was purchased.
Our Memorial Weekend Good Beer Trip to the Columbia River Gorge is in the books. World renowned for its Windsurfing and Kite Surfing, Hood River and the surrounding region can more than hold its own for Good Beer. On this trip we visited five of the area’s best breweries: Everybody’s, Full Sail, Big Horse, Walking Man, and Double Mountain and made a few pit stops on the way down.
LushC and Malti on her first GBT
On day one we drove 230 miles southeast of Seattle to White Salmon, Washington. We got a later start than we wanted and decided to alter our plan from lunch at Salmon Creek Brewery in Vancouver, WA to lunch at Fish Brewing in Olympia. We’ve been to Fish before, and always love their beer, food, and environment. This stop did not disappoint. For our first beers of the extended weekend LushC went with a Leavenworth Eightmile Alt, and I went with a Starfish Imperial Red.
The Eightmile Alt was crisp, clean and very true to its style. A very refreshing beer with a nice German malt aroma and flavor, and a slight hop finish. At 4.8% ABV this is another great Washington session beers. I ended up drinking half of LushC’s beer for her.
Sometimes Imperial Reds can be too sweet for my taste, but the Starfish Imperial Red was not. It was big, but very well balanced with a rich malty flavor, and ample hops to keep it from being too sweet.
We enjoyed our beverages and meals, Salmon Salad for LushC and the delicious Seafood Stew for myself, and chatted up our excellent server Jill. When were about to leave, Jill came to us with an offer we could not refuse. Apparently the night before someone ordered a growler of the Starfish to go, but they refused to take it because the art on the growler was not perfect. (Some of the fish heads were separated from the body) Jill asked if we had a cooler, and offered us the growler for FREE. Sweet! What a great way to start the Good Beer Trip.
Soon, we were back on the road. The stretch of I-5 between Olympia and Seattle is fairly boring. I’ve done this stretch so many times that it is easy to zone out. (Good thing I wasn’t driving) After one quick rest stop we finished the I-5 portion of our drive, merged onto to I-205, crossed into Oregon, and eventually exited onto I-84 to head east towards Hood River. To get to White Salmon, you can either go the Washington side, which is a 2 lane winding highway (SR14) or go the Oregon side which is a 4 lane interstate (I-84) and cross back into Washington at Hood River. We opted for the quicker Oregon route, but returned via the Washington side.
We made a quick detour to McMenamin’s Edgefield (in Troutdale, Oregon 8 miles east of I-205) to pick up bottles of their Hogshead Whiskey and Penny’s Gin for our liquor cabinet back home. The Edgefield is a magical place. An adult Disneyland that is complete with Lodging, Spa, Restaurants, Bars, Movie Theater, Brewery, Winery, Distillery and a Par 3 Golf Course. What could be better? Unfortunately, on this trip, we would not be staying, but we will be back.
About an hour later we were crossing the Hood River toll bridge back into Washington. Just up the hill, we drove into the small, cute, town of White Salmon. We easily spotted our dinner destination, Everybody’s Brewing, but had to go check out or vacation rental first.
Woo hoo! The Blue Sky Cottage was only a couple blocks up from the brewery, in what looks to be a converted garage. Although small, about 300sq feet or so, it is nicely decorated and has all the comforts of home. There is a small kitchen, a dining table, a futon and tv/dvd player in living area, a ¾ bath, and a separate bedroom with a comfortable bed. There is free Wi-Fi (it was slow), and they accept pets! If you do bring your four legged friends, there is a decent size yard (no fence), and large town park a block away. It was a perfect resting and launch pad for our Good Beer Trip.
Everybody's Brewing
Everybody’s Brewing Co. – White Salmon, WA (#210)
After unloading the car we walked down the hill to Everybody’s Brewing. If you make it to White Salmon, you will not be able to miss this place, and you shouldn’t. It is right in the heart of town in what was originally an Odd Fellows Hall, then a sporting goods store, an most recently a liquor store. It’s latest incarnation has to be the best though. The interior has been beautifully restored exposing the large old growth timber beams that had been hidden for years behind the walls and drop ceiling. The Restaurant/Bar is a large open area with plenty of tables, a long bar made out of an impressive piece of wood, with many stools. There is a stage in the front, with couches for those nights there isn’t a band, and a Shuffle Board table to enjoy. Out back there is a large patio which we are told has a magnificent view of Mt. Hood on clear days.
We opted to sit at the bar so we could talk to the staff, and be close to the action. Soon after arriving, Shaqfeasel and his family arrived, we just happened to be going to the same place for the weekend, but we opted to remain at the bar. We ordered a sampler tray, and perused the menu for something good to eat. Everything on the menu sounded great. LushC would say that it is Northwest style pub food for a foodie. It included enticing salads, seasonal entrees like Lamb Riblets and Pork Schnitzel, Burgers, gourmet sandwiches, and some really excellent sounding Burritos. LushC decide on the Sweet Potato Burrito, which was huge, very tasty and was served with house made tortilla chips and salsa. I took the recommendation from the Washington Beer Blog and went with the XXX Burger which includes a healthy spreading of peanut butter and pickles. It sounds strange, but it was finger licking good! Kendall did not steer me wrong.
The beer sampler included all their house made beers, with the exception of the Pilsner and the Stout which they were temporarily out of. After the sampler LushC went with the ESB and Brown, and I ended up with with a Seasonal IPA and the Porter.
Beer Sampler Law of Nature Pale Ale – well balanced hoppier Northwest Pale Ale, that was light and refreshing. Bro Brah Bitter ESB – a traditional nutty sweet bitter with a pleasant hop finish. Daily Bread Common Ale – a little too citrusy and piney hop aroma and flavored for my taste, but LushC liked it. Country Boy IPA – nice citrus hop aroma and finish Seasonal IPA – A little more citrusy hop flavor compared to the Country Boy . Very quaffable though not too aromatic. Hoedown Brown – nutty malt aroma and flavor with a smooth finish Porter – Smooth, well balanced, dark malty goodness.
Two Beers at Everybody's
While sitting at the bar, we had a nice conversation with co-owner Christine. We learned about their history and how they were surprised of the quick success of Everybody’s. They have been open since 2008 and began brewing their own beer last July. Now, they seem to be the “place” to be in the White Salmon area.
A little later Doug, co-owner and head brewer, came over and introduced himself. We chatted about the brewery, and his past experiences. He was a very nice chap, and spent a fair amount of time with us. If you would like to meet him, he has a few upcoming beer events in the Puget Sound Region. On June 17th he will be at the Parkway Tavern in Tacoma for a battle of the Gorge which will pit Full Sail and Double Mountain vs. Walking Man and Everybody’s. Go Washington! He will be in Bellingham at the Green Frog on June 15th . In addition, he will be making deliveries on the trip, so expect to see some Everybody’s beer in pubs around the Sound.
On day two, we ventured to Hood River which was just listed number 5 on Tripadivsor’s Top 10 Charming Small Towns. We agree, it is a charming small town. There are many specialty shops, boutiques, cafe’s, restaurants, theatres, a restored historic hotel, and three breweries! With the bounty of outdoor adventure options, it is a great place to visit.
Full Sail
Full Sail Brewing Co. – Hood River, Oregon
After checking out a few shops, and stoking the meter (we were warned that the meter man is a stickler, and likes to give tickets), we headed down to Full Sail’s Tasting Room and Pub for Lunch. Yes, Full Sail is a big brewery, 22nd largest in the country, but they do a lot of things right. Besides making very good beer they are: employee owned, one of a few manual “hand crafted” breweries of its size, dedicated to operating in the most socially and environmentally sustaining manner possible, and the ones who kept Henry Weinhard’s a Northwest brewed beer. For these reasons I give my respect to Full Sail.
You can add the Pub to the list of things they do right. It has is very bright and clean Northwest Pub atmosphere, with a lot’s of brick, wood, and windows with a great view of the river. There is an outdoor patio for those that want to be in the fresh air. The menu is full of the typical pub fare that is both fresh and delicious.
The Full Sail Bar - by LushC 2010
On tap, they have all their Core Beers (Amber, IPA, Pale) plus a few special small batch beers. Since we came all this way, we weren’t about to try anything that we can readily get back at home. LushC went with the Spotless IPA which she says was a nice IPA. It had citrus aroma and peppery citrus hop flavor. For her second, she went with a half-pint of the very robust, sweet and hoppy Old Boarhead Barleywine. At 9% ABV and 91 IBU this beer is not too sweet nor too hoppy.
My first sampling was the Vendell Veizen (Weisen Boch) which was released for American Craft Brewery Week and was developed by the Assistant Packaging Supervisor. It had a sweet German malt aroma and a smooth, rich wheat and malt flavor with a slight hop and sweet finish. For my dessert I had the Imperial Stout. Dark brown with a tan head it had a sweet chocolate aroma and flavor. It was Smooth, robust, stouty, goodness.
Upon finishing our meals and beer we joined Shaqfeasel, who arrived with his family shortly after we arrived, on the FREE Brewery Tour. The tour is yet another thing Full Sail does right. Randy, the tour guide, does an excellent job of telling the history of the brewery and explaining the brewing process while weaving you through the entire operation. It is an impressive brewery for sure. There are no free beer samples at the end, but you do get a FREE logo pint glass. The tour is well worth the 30-45 minutes of your time.
The view from Full Sail - by LushC 2010
Shaqfeasel, "It's all mine"
Big Horse Brewpub
Big Horse Brew Pub
Feeling good from beer we drank, we walked around downtown a while before heading to our next destination. Soon enough we made the turn up the hill and spotted the Big Horse Brew Pub perched on the side of the hill in a historic building. Several flights of stairs later, we were sitting in the bar, ordering our sampler tray, and snack.
The beer maybe the main attraction here, but the view of the river is a close second. The main seating area is full of light wood booths and tables, and large windows to take advantage of the view. Hovering above, there is a stage for live music. The bar area is rather small with only a few bar stools. Out back there is an outdoor patio that looks to be a great place to hang out and relax when the weather is nice. On the bottom floor there is a pool room with additional seating. They are kid friendly, but not sure that they are ADA approved.
The menu is fairly simple pub food. On this visit we only ordered an appetizer, which was good. When we visited last year we had horribly slow service, maybe they thought the view would mesmerize us. Luckily, the service was much speedier this year.
As we often do, we split a sampler tray. This is a good way to taste all the beers at a brewpub before deciding on what to order. Plus, it allows the driver to get a taste of everything without drinking too much. On this day the sampler include four ounces of eight of their beers.
Beer Sampler Easy Blonde – pleasant, easy to drink, but not to exciting Pale Rider IPA – The Columbus hops give it a very floral hop aroma and flavor. I like it. Brother Pucker – A nice lemony sour beer, but not too sour. It reminded me of Saxer Lemon Lager. MacStallions Scotch – Smooth , with hint of peat smoked malts. A very nice Scotch. Nightmare Stout (Oatmeal)- Fairly smooth, rich and malty and a coffee finish. Double Rider IPA – Nice mix of floral and piney hop flavors. Not to sweet for a double IPA. LushC really liked it. Smoke of Hell (German Helles Boch w smoked malts) – Light blonde color with a smoked malt aroma and flavor. It’s no Chuckanut Rauch Bier, but it was good. 2009 Phat Dog (12.5% Barleywine) – Sweet, malty, complex, amazingly smooth and drinkable. A very dangerous beer!
Round of Beers at Big Horse - by LushC 2010
We returned back to our cottage in White Salmon, and eventually headed back down to Everybody’s Brewing. It was Friday night and they were packed. Luckily, there were two seats at the bar for us. We ordered up our dinner, Spinach Salad for LushC and the Vegetable Pot Pie for myself, and a couple of pints of one of the beers that eluded us the night before.
As Doug mentioned it would be, the Cash Stout was back on tap. It stood tall, dark, and mysterious, just like its namesake. It had a nice dark malt flavor that was smoothed out by the oats. Slightly hoppier than other stouts, but not too hoppy, it was a fine beer.
Once again, the service was excellent. Doug, Christie, and the entire staff made sure we really felt welcome. We left very happy and full, ready to relax for day three.
To be continued…
Caught in the act - by LushC 2010
What's so funny LushC?
Full (Sail) of Awards
Inside the Big Horse
I just love Session Black
FTC INFO: Unless otherwise specified, GoodBeerTrips received nothing for free.
It’s over…
Seattle Beer Week that is. Next year, I think I will take some vacation days so that I can partake in more events. As it was, I only made it to four events. I know, pretty sad.
My favorite event was the Good Beer Hike 5k (of course) that Dave from UrbanBeerHikes and I put on. It was a a fun filled afternoon of walking and beer drinking in some of downtown Seattle’s best Beer spots. We’ve received good feedback on the event, and look forward to doing it again next year.
After over doing it on the first Saturday, it was a couple days before venturing back out. On Tuesday night LushC and made it down to Full Throttle Bottles for “Tri-Can-Athon” where we sampled fine craft beers, all from cans. Oskar Blues, 21st Amendment and local boys 7 Seas were all there, showing off what they can do.
Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA
Firestone Walker was at Elephant & Castle on Wednesday night. They brought with them some very excellent beers. Both The Double Barrel Ale on Cask and the Velvet Merkin were incredible, if you see them, you must try them.( The Union Jack IPA wasn’t so bad either.) Every FW beer came with a free souvenir pint glass, so we left the evening with a new set of glassware.
Thursday, Night New Belgium did a Flight of pairings at Beveridge Place Pub. Unfortunately, after previously eating a great dinner, and drinking two beers, by the time the time came for the New Belgium Flights, I was to full. If they hadn’t been 18 bucks I probably would have done it anyways.
After three nights in row, it was time for a break. On Saturday, we had a wake to attend in the afternoon and then headed up to Bellingham in the evening. I failed to get tickets for Last Call, and even though they were available at the door, I just couldn’t find my way to a Beer Festival on Sunday. Besides, I needed to save my liver for my Memorial Weekend trip to White Salmon and Hood River.
Many thanks to the Seattle Beer Collective for putting on such an amazing week (11 days) of beer events!
Yeah, I better put in my vacation request for next year.
Cheers,
DraughtE
Dear FTC, other than the pint glasses, nothing was received for free,and those were not received for writing this post. If you make it to Seattle Beer Week next year, I’ll go have a beer with you.
Good Beer Hike 5K Results
The first Seattle Beer Week Good Beer Hike 5k is now in the books. Dave and I were pleased that 23 of the 33 Good Beer Hikers that were with us at the start made it to the finish line. Congratulations to all those that finished!
We walked 5.3K from Pyramid Alehouse, to Collin’s Pub, to Pike Brewery, to Pioneer Square Saloon, to Elysian Fields (some made it to the Historic Triangle Pub too), and finally to Hooverville. There was a great mix of people of all ages, including two guys from Ohio and a couple from Vancouver, BC, making this truly an international event. Dave and I both had a great time, and at least I look forward to doing this again next year. (if not sooner)
Unfortunately, after several hours of drinking I’m not able to recall a lot of the details. Therefore, I will hit a few of my highlights, point you to the photos Dave posted on Picasaweb, and invite the Good Beer Hikers to comment on their experience.
Highlights
- The beautiful Seattle spring weather. You could not have asked for a better day for a beer hike.
- Pyramid Brewery setting aside one of their banquet rooms for us. It gave us a great location to start the Hike, and made it look like we knew what we were doing. Good Beer too!
- Link, the official mascot of Seattle Beer Week gracing us with his presence.
- Everyone that RSVP’d (plus 2) showing up.
- Dave’s awesome full color two-sided maps.
- Terry from Ohio getting his picture on the pig outside of Qwest Field.
- Tom’s excellent photos.
- Collin’s Pub’s great selection of beer! I was so beer shocked, I had to play it safe with a Boundary Bay ESB.
- The five guys at Collin’s pub that decided to join us (even though they only stayed with us until Pike). I did feel bad for Collin’s pub when we left, because we took the entire bar.
- The Pike Brewery reserving space in their Beer Museum. Once again it looked like we knew what we were doing. It’s too bad they didn’t have anyone available to give us a tour.
- The hike from Pike to the Pioneer Square Saloon that took us past the Lusty Lady, down the Harbor Steps, along the Waterfront and back up to Pioneer Square. Thank you Dave for planning this route, when most would have just gone down 1st Avenue.
- The Pioneer Square Saloon. I’ve not been there for probably 10 years or more, and I forgot how much I used to like it. It has a nice kick back, relax, non-pretentious vibe, and an excellent beer selection.
- Elysian Fields for putting up with us. We forgot to notify them when we were about there, plus at that point the group was fairly separated. Some went there straight from Pike, some straight form Pioneer Square Saloon, and others (not I) went to The Triangle Pub. When I arrived there were hikers all over the bar, dining room and patio. Eventually, we all ended up together pretty much owning the dining area.
- Hooverville. What a great location to finish the hike. There was plenty of room for all of us, a great beer selection, and they didn’t even seem to notice or care that 23 drunks showed up, continued drinking, and started throwing peanuts around.
- JP the Bike Taxi Driver joining us for a few beers at Hooverville.
- This was an easy and safe Good Beer Hike to do on your own, without a tour operator. Here is the route if you are interested.
- Everyone seemed to have a great time!
- I wasn’t hung-over on Sunday!
Here are some email comments from our hikers.
“Thank you Dave and Eric! The hike was definitely a highlight of our visit to Seattle. It was very well executed and you guys didn’t disappoint in the stop selections. A great selection of tap handles everywhere we landed. I don’t think we could have asked for a better group of people to spend the day with either. Everyone was very welcoming. Please send my appreciation to all the outstanding Seattle-ites (and Canadians lol) who participated. What a beautiful city!”, Gary & Terry, Ohio
“We just wanted to thank you guys for hosting a great Beer Hike! We had a great time and look forward to next year’s hike!” , Jim & Tracy, Washington
The dudes we picked up from Collin's Pub
Looking at the lead group
Random?
I remember that!
Hey Ladies
Cheers,
DraughtE
Georgetown Brewing Company’s retail shop was buzzing with excitement when I stopped in after work yesterday. The reason for all the commotion was the 2010 Release of Bob’s Brown Ale. I was expecting a line, but was able to walk right up to the counter and order my four growlers of Bob’s and a couple of 2010 shirts. After paying up, I was given my free sample of the sweet brown nectar, and I joined the rest of the packed house in sampling this fine Beer.
They are located in the original Malt House of the old Seattle Brewing and Malting Company, the original brewers of Rainier Beer, in the heart of the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle. They are a production brewery most know for their Manny’s Pale Ale which can be found in just about every bar in Seattle. In their retail store they sell kegs of all sizes and growlers to go, offer free samples of their beer (Manny’s, Roger’s Pilsner, Chopper’s Red, Super Chop, 9lb Porter), and have t-shirts , hats, and sweatshirts for sale. Their staff is super friendly, and always makes sure you get a sample or two or three. If you come to Seattle, make sure you stop by, or at least try one of their beers when you or out.
Bob and Bob
To help celebrate this special day our friends Bob and Shirley (from Vancouver, BC) came down. We joined up with WineyS to find Bob some Bob’s. Since the weather was beautiful, we wanted to go somewhere with a view. Off the list of establishments with Bob’s Brown Ale, we decided to go to Ivar’s Acres of Clams on the Seattle Waterfront. At first we thought we may need to leave, as when we asked for our Bob’s, the waiter said they didn’t have it and offered up an alternative Brown Ale. Reluctantly, he double checked for us and came back and told us we were correct (of course we were). We ordered up four pints and a glass of wine for WineyS. When the drinks arrived we toasted the evening and everyone enjoyed their Bob’s (or wine). Dinner was nice, although pricey, and the conversation was excellent.
After dinner, we headed over to the West Side so show Bob and Shirley Alki Beach. Oops, this may not have been the best idea. The kids and cruisers were out and traffic was stop and go through the heart of Alki. Once we cleared the traffic, we continued along Beach Drive which offered many great views of the sound, and a nice sunset.
We eventually landed at WineyS’s humble abode, where the Damn Dane was finally home after a long week of traveling. I brought up one the growlers of Bob’s and we sat and enjoyed more of this fine beer. After a little bit, we were all getting tired, and needed to rest up for the Good Beer Hike 5K. LushC, who was the hero of the evening and opted for water instead of more beer, and I then drove Bob and Shirley back to their hotel.
Now, we wait the 364 days until the next release of Bob’s Brown Ale. Good thing I have a few growlers to get me by for a few weeks.
Cheers,
DraughtE
FTC Info: I received one free sample (about 4 ounces) of Bob’s Brown Ale. Other than that everything else was paid for.
One, Two, Three
One day until the second annual Seattle Beer Week. Eleven days of beer events around Seattle.
Two days until Bob’s Brown Ale is released. Georgetown Brewing’s beer brewed in honor of their friend, Bob Hirsch, who fought cancer valiantly for many years.
Three days until the SOLD OUT first annual Good Beer Hike 5k. Dave over at Urban Beer Hikes has a good write up on how this event came to fruition.
Definitely not three strike an your out on this one.
Cheers!
DraughtE
FTC Info: Goodbeertrips is associated with the Good Beer Hike, which is part of Seattle Beer Week, and I love Bob’s Brown Ale!
Hop on! ***SOLD OUT***
****I’ve been informed that Hop on is also SOLD OUT****
We are excited and shocked that the Seattle Beer Week Good Beer Hike 5k filled up so quickly. This was our first year doing this event, and we had no idea what to expect. We apologize if it was something you were looking forward to.
If you are still looking for something to do on Saturday, check out Hop On! A similar event to ours, but you get to ride a bus instead of walk. It even starts at the same location as the Good Beer Hike, Pyramid. Here are the details:
HOP ON!
Saturday, May 15, 2pm
HOP ON! Starting at Pyramid’s Seattle Alehouse, hop on a bus with 30 of your soon-to-be closest friends and enjoy a tour to some of Seattle’s legendary watering holes: Pyramid, Brouwer’s Café, LTD, The Buckaroo, and Naked City!
This tour extraordinaire will be led by Pyramid’s head brewer and Elixir Mixer Fixer, Tom Bleigh.
- Beer-inspired appetizers pre-bus at the Alehouse paired with a sampling of classic Pyramid offerings
- Beers at all locations
- Surprises along the way
Tickets are $25 per person and you must book in advance. For additional details and to reserve your seat, please email host@pyramidbrew.com with the subject: Hop on!. This event is limited availability and first come, first serve.
Cheers,
DraughtE
FTC Info: Nothing was received for writing this post.
Bob’s Day Only 1 Week Away – May 14th!
Courtesty of Georgetown Brewing Company
Possibly lost in all the Seattle Beer Week hype is the annual release of one my favorite beers of all time, Georgetown Brewing’s Bob’s Brown Ale. This magnificent hoppy brown ale is only released once a year on May 14th, in honor of Georgetown’s friend, Bob, who fought a long hard fight with cancer. The date is highly anticipated, and many locations have special keg tapping nights that blow out their kegs quicker and quicker each year. All proceeds from Bob’s Brown are donated to the Ronald McDonald House.
I encourage everyone to go out and have a Bob’s Brown Ale. For one, it is darn tasty, and for two it supports charity. What a win, win.
Here is the information from the Georgetown Website, including the locations that will have Bob’s on tap.
Bob’s is a special beer brewed in honor of our friend, Bob Hirsch, who fought cancer valiantly for many years. He lived his final days to the fullest and he is an inspiration to all of us. Bob’s Brown Ale will be released every May 14th (Bob’s birthday). 100% of our proceeds from Bob’s will be donated in honor of Charles “Bob” Hirsch to the Seattle Ronald McDonald House to provide a “home-away-from-home” for Children’s Hospital patients and families.
Bob’s Brown Ale is big and brown with lots of hops. We use a blend of 2-row Pale, Caramel, Chocolate, Munich, and Roasted Barley Malts, then add sh*t loads of Centennial and Crystal hops to make this a meaty brown brew. Alcohol by volume is 6.3%. On May 14th Bob’s will be on tap at the following locations-
74th St. Ale House
9lb Hammer
Abbondanza Pizzeria
Attic Alehouse & Eatery
Barking Dog Alehouse
Beaver Tavern (Bellingham)
Bennedito’s Pizza (Spokane)
Beveridge Place Pub
Bitter Creek Ale house (Boise)
Brown Lantern (Anacortes)
Buckley’s Belltown
Buckley’s on Queen Anne
Calamity Jane’s
Campbell House (Chelan)
Cedars @ Dungeness – Sequim
Celtic Bayou
Circa
College Inn
Columbia City Ale House
Coug (Pullman)
Deluxe Bar & Grill
Doc’s Marina Grill (Bainbridge Is.)
Dog & Pony (Renton)
Duke’s Kent Station
Duke’s Lake Union
Eastside Club (Olympia)
Floyd’s Place
Fred’s Rivertown Ale House (Snohomish)
Front Door (Boise)
Great Nabob
Georgetown Liquor Co.
Harbour Public House (Bainbridge)
Hawks Nest
Hilltop Ale House
Hudson (Georgetown)
Irishman (Everett)
Ivar’s Mukilteo
Ivar’s Salmon House
Ivar’s Acres of Clams
Jabu’s Pub
Jack-Sons Terrace Heights (Yakima)
Jules Maes Saloon
Kate’s Pub
Loretta’s Northwesterner
Madrona Eatery & Ale House
Marco Polo
Meconi’s (Tacoma)
Moondollars (Post Falls)
Montlake Alehouse
Murphy’s Pub
Nickerson St. Saloon
Norm’s Eatery & Ale House
North Bend Bar & Grill
Old Town Ale House
Ozzie’s
Parkway Tavern (Tacoma)
Pioneer Square Saloon
Prima Bristro (Langley)
Pumphouse (Bellevue)
Quinn’s
Red Door
Red House (Renton)
Roanoke Inn (Mercer Island)
Roanoke Park Place Tavern
Sand Point Grill
Shawn O’Donnell’s (Everett)
Shorty’s
Smarty Pants
Sport Restaurant & Bar
Sportspage (Kent)
Sporty’s Beef & Brew (Everett)
Stellar Pizza
Swinging Arm (Black Diamond)
Swiss (Tacoma)
Tides (Gig Harbor)
Tin Hat
Traveler
Wedgwood Alehouse
West 5
Westin Hotel (Bellevue)
Whistlestop (Renton)
Wildfire (Port Angeles)
Cheers, DraughtE
FTC Info: This is not a paid advertisement. GoodBeerTrips is not affiliated with Georgetown Brewing.
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