Skookum Brewing – Arlington, WA
I saw Skookum -by DraughtE, 2010
It was the first day of spring and the sun was out, an ideal day to take a drive out in the country. Our destination was Skookum Brewing in Arlington, WA, a mere 44 miles north of Seattle. I was asked not to tell anybody about this gem, but it is just too good not to share.
After turning off the road, you drive a third of a mile on a gravel driveway, through pastures, and past their neighbor’s house. They ask that you obey the 10 MPH speed limit, and respect the neighbor’s privacy. At the end of the drive, just past a stand of trees, you come to the beautiful cedar clad barn, house and brewery building. On Friday and Saturday afternoons they open their tasting room to purchase pints to enjoy on premise, and growlers to go. There are many picnic tables to sit and enjoy your beer out in the open air. For the colder months they have a tent area setup with propane heaters. They do not serve food, other than free pretzels, but they do allow you to bring your own. Dogs are always welcome.
Skookum Brewery -by DraughtE, 2010
This was our second time here. We remembered it being something special, but were not quite sure it would be as good as the first time. I’m happy to report that it was even better than we remembered. There is just something about sitting in the fresh air and enjoying good beer. It’s kind of like camping, but you get to go home and sleep in your own bed. Having the picnic tables encourages you to sit with and meet other folks. We sat down at a table of frequent patrons, and struck up conversations about music and beer. A couple of them were even former West Seattleites. We encouraged them to come on down to Seattle and we’d show them a few of the newer South Seattle Breweries.
If the location wasn’t good enough, the beer certainly was. Lush C’s favorite was the Brown and Hairy; a perfect medium bodied American Brown Ale that had a nice malty, chocolaty flavor and a dry finish. She also savored the Woody’s Oak, but unfortunately was too engaged in the conversation to remember much about it.
From my few sips I liked the Brown and Hairy and Woody’s Oak as well. The Olde Tom IPA was very good too. It was sweet and finished with a nice piney hop flavor. I thought it was a little too sweet to have more than one. Amber’s Hot Friend was very nice and well balanced, leaving you wanting more. The Hooskal Stout, from what I remember, was excellent. I’ll have to go back to get a second taste.
Now that spring is upon us and summer is near, I’m sure Skookum is only going to get more popular. Hopefully their neighbors will follow the old adage “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em”, so that we all can enjoy Skookum for years to come.
Cheers,
DraughtE
P.S. If you go, make sure you know who’s going to drive home, beforehand. The atmosphere makes it very easy for everyone to over indulge. Thanks Lush C for knowing when to say when, and staying within the limit.
the barn and house- by DraughtE, 2010
what's on tap - by DraughtE, 2010
the driveway -by DraughtE, 2010
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FTC Info: The pretzels were free, but the beer was not. GoodBeerTrips is not affiliated with Skookum Brewing in any way.
Odin Brewing Company – Seattle, WA (#205)
Odin Dlivery - by DraughtE, 2010
For those that missed it, Odin Brewing opened their Taproom for the first time Friday night in South Park. It was a beautiful day for them to roll up the garage doors and open their brewery to the public. Lush C and I were on hand for this momentous occasion, as were Dave from Urban Beer Hikes, WineyS and the Damn Dane (from our Olympics trip fame.)
The Taproom is located right inside the brewery, allowing you a great view of the equipment. They have given the area a nice living room feel with a TV, carpet squares, love seat, comfy chairs, coffee table, artwork and book shelves of growlers. Throw in the cooler full of beer and it sounds like the ultimate bachelor pad to me. They plan to be open every Friday form 3pm -7pm, with the potential of expanding in the future. There were no dogs on hand on last night, but they hope to be dog friendly soon.
Bachelor pad -by DraughtE, 2010
Everyone there was very friendly and seemed very glad we were all there. They laid out a nice spread of sausage, cheese, veggies and nuts for all to enjoy. Rae was the first to welcome us, introduce herself, and offer us our first sampling . We also met Dan, one of the owners, who encouraged us to walk around and look at the brewery and make ourselves at home. We even got the chance to meet Brian the Head Brewer , as he poured us our second offering. Being the rock star of the evening, he was surrounded by screaming fans, so we weren’t able to get real close and talk to him.
Head Brewer Brian, with Klaus (is this 2,240 for him?) -by DraughtE, 2010
On this occasion, all the samples were FREE. They were pouring two beers; their newest creation Freya’s Gold along with Odin’s Gift. We’ve had Odin’s Gift before, and really liked it, so we started of with Freya’s. It is a nice light Kolsch style Ale. At about 4.5% it is going to be a great refreshing summer session beer. Everyone enjoyed it, even WineyS who isn’t a beer drinker. Dave came to the event planning to take a home a growler of Odin’s Gift, but after one taste of Freya’s he changed his mind.
Odin’s Gift Ruby Ale was as good as I remembered. It has a nice smooth malt, grain,and nut flavor with a subtle hop finish. Not too malty or sweet, and just enough hops and juniper to give a very well balanced and clean finish. It was so good that we had to take a growler of it home with us.
We had a great time at Odin’s, and I look forward to visiting this Taproom again, and again. It is a wonderful addition to the Seattle brewery scene. I encourage you stop by some Friday and take a look for yourself. You’ll be met with great hospitality, and some very fine and quaffable beers.
Cheers,
DraughtE
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Molokai Final Report
Sadly our vacation is over. We survived the tsunami, and are back home in Seattle. I guess it is time to write the final post on our trip to Molokai. After elaborating about Day1 and Day2, I decided to spare you the boring details of the remainder of our trip and just hit the highlights.
Molokai is a very beautiful island that has a very low key, and laid back attitude. There are no stoplights, no traffic jams, no buildings more than three stories high, no fancy restaurants, no breweries, one hotel, one gas station, two bars, and the people were friendly. If this interests you, then you should visit.
The few tourist activities, other than the beach, were very expensive. Because of this, we only choose to do one, a whale watching boat trip. For those that don’t know, every year between November and April an estimated 15,000 Humpback Whales visit the waters of the Hawaiian Islands to mate and give birth. The majority of these whales are in the channel between Maui, Molokai, and Lanai. To quote our tour guide last year in Maui, “it is whale soup out there”. It’s nearly impossible to be on one of these islands (during this time period) and not see whales from the shore. To really enjoy it though, you need to get on a boat and go out to them. On this adventure, we found a pod of four to five whales including a mother and her calf. We puttered around for about 2 hours with them, to the point where we were actually a part of their group, and they were following us. At one point, a whale came right up on the stern of the boat, about 15 feet behind us, surfaced for a breath and sprayed us with its exhale. Yucky, but cool. When they were bored with us, one of them gave us a whale tail wave goodbye and they took off. This was by far the highlight of the trip.
Condo view - by DraughtE, 2010
The rest of the trip was spent driving around the island and hanging out at the beach. It was was fairly relaxing. Our condo, Wavecrest A-214, was very nice, and I would recommend it for anyone looking to rent a condo on the island. It had all the comforts of home, and an amazing ocean front view with Maui and Lanai in the distance.
What about beer? As I mentioned earlier there were only two bars on the island. One is located in the Molokai Hotel, which was open air, beach front, and had a wonderful view of the water. Their food was OK, but there service was lacking. (Other than the bartender, Jeremy, who waited on use during out first visit) They had two beers on tap, with Kona Brewing Longboard Lager being the only craft beer. If you haven’t had a Longboard, it is well balanced lager, with a slight honey flavor that tastes great in the hot sun.
The second bar was the Paddlers Inn, a nice restaurant/bar that had a large outdoor covered patio area. Of the two, this one had much better food and service. Lush C had a great Ahi Poke, and I had very scrumptious Kalua Pork Sliders. Unfortunately, at the time, their beer selection was small. On tap they only had Heineken, Primo Lager and PBR, and in the bottle they only had macro beers. We went with the Primo Lager, a Hawaiian beer, which is a simple premium lager that is so common in warm climates. It was light, crisp, slightly malty, slightly hoppy, and didn’t have a cheap beer taste, it is very drinkable.
the line up by DraughtE, 2010
We found the only place on the island to find good beer was Molokai Wine’n Spirits in Kaunakakai. It was the only store on the island that had any sort of craft brew selection. Other stores maybe had one or two good beers to select from, usually either Kona or Sierra Nevada. Wine’n Spirits on the other hand carried all the Hawaiian breweries (Kona, Mehana, Hawai’i Nui, and Maui Brewing) and a decent selection from the mainland including Sierra Nevada, Anchor, Rogue, and Deschutes. They even had a few bottle of Deschutes Abyss which can be hard to come by. On day 2, we purchased an embarrassingly large selection for the week from the Hawaiian Breweries. Maui Brewing Companies Coconut Porter was our favorite. Lush C really liked their Big Swell IPA too. Here is more on the beer we drank:
Hawai’i Nui – Sunset Amber (Hilo, HI)
On the Bottle: All Natural Small -Batch Brewed. Distinctive. Exotic. Satisfying.
DraughtE’s Take: It is very drinkable. A little more malt and little less hops than a pale ale, just what it is supposed to be. Not really distinctive or exotic but it is satisfying.
Lush C’s Take: I concur, tastes great and is the only reason to bother going Island Brews at the Honolulu airport where it is on draught, which is far superior to the bottle.
Mehana –Volcano Red (Hilo, HI)
DraughtE’s Take: I remember having this beer last year at the brewery and in bottles, and liking it. Up until the finish I liked it this time too. I’m sure this was just an old bottle.
LushC’s Take: Thought it was fine and that I was over reacting.
Big Swell - by Lush C, 2010
Maui Brewing Company – Big Swell IPA (Lahaina, HI)
Big, Hoppy, Bold, Smooth and Hoppy. Did we mention hoppy?
DraughtE’s Take: I liked it but thought it was a little too piney at the end.
Lush C’s Take: Liked it a lot. She thought it was a hoppy, full bodied, heavy IPA, that had the sweetness of a double IPA, but the hops at the end keep it from being overwhelming. Ranks in her all time top 5 IPAs.
Maui Brewing Company –Bikini Blonde Lager (Lahaina, HI)
What The Sailors Really Come To Shore For…
On the Can: Bikini Blonde is a fresh Handcrafted Helles Lager Brewed with the finest German Hops and Barley. Not Skimpy on flavor…. Bold, Smooth and Refreshing!
DraughtE’s Take: A nice session beer at 4.5%. More flavor than ordinary lagers.
Lush C’s Take: A great way to finish off a refreshing swim in the ocean.
Coco for Coconut Porter - by Lush C, 2010
Maui Brewing Company – Coconut Porter (Lahaina, HI)
… like hot chicks on the beach
On the Can : Coconut porter is a fresh handcrafted robust porter brewed with 6 varieties of malted barley, hops, and hand-toasted coconut.
DraughtE’s Take: This beer is one of my all time favorites. I couldn’t wait to get back to Hawaii to try it again. It tastes like a dark chocolate mounds bar. Mmm Mmm good. If you don’t believe me check out the Seattle Beer News review.
LushC’s Take: “makes me think of classic 70’s Hawaiian Tropic sun tan lotion. Heady and sweet with a sexy coconut flavor.” (She likes it) (I don’t like it, I dig it man-Lush C)
This trip solidified that Lush C is a huge fan of Maui Brewing (So am I). We both really like their brewpub on Maui which we visited on many occasions last year. We considered taking the ferry over to Maui for the day to visit, but couldn’t get the times (not to mention price) to work out. If you are on Maui it is a must visit. We are hoping to talk Full Throttle Bottles into ordering the Coconut Porter and IPA for us. Keep your fingers crossed.
If you got to Molokai, you will need to rent a car, if not a Jeep. I’d recommend renting a condo, or something with a kitchen so you can prepare your own meals. Unless you really want to do nothing, three nights should suffice, possibly as an add on trip to Maui or another island. If you are looking for a beer culture, this is not the place. (we knew that going in). Would we go back to Molokai? Probably not, there are just too many places we have not been, but don’t let us stop you.
Cheers,
DraughtE
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Chuckanut II, Bellingham, WA
Chuckanut Coaster, Courtesy of Chuckanut Brewery and Kitchen
What began as just an early dinner stop at Chuckanut Brewery on Friday turned into one of our best brewery experiences. We were finishing up are meal and savoring our beers when I innocently asked Mari Kemper if they were expanding the brewery. They are, and she told us the story of how their new fermentation tanks became reality, and are currently being made in Tacoma. Sensing we like good food and beer she then turned the discussion to their Brewer’s dinners and their North Cascade Institute Speaker Series over night dinner at Lake Diablo on April 24. We even talked a little about how people don’t understand that there is more to lagers than just Budweiser, Miller, and Coors. There are light lagers (Pilsners,Weizens), dark lagers (Dunkels, Schwarzbiers), sweet lagers (Bocks) and everything in between. In our opinion and judging from their medals from the Great American Beer Festival, Chuckanut nails every style. We’ll have to wait and see how they do in the World Beer Cup in April.
Mari invited us to over to the brewery to meet Will (Kemper) and Kevin (Davey) who were in the process of brewing up their newest creation a Sticke (secret) Alt. A special Double Alt that is brewed only two times a year at the Uerige Brewpub in Dusseldorf, Germany. When it is released isn’t secret, the third Tuesday in January and October, but the ingredients are. This may well be the first attempt at this style from a brewery in Washington. Cheers to Kevin and Will for experimenting with this rare beer. I can’t wait to try it.
Beer Crossing, by Lush C 2010
We paid our tab (thank you Lush C), and made the Beer Crossing from the restaurant to the brewery. When we arrived, Will and Kevin were in their brewer attire (red overalls and rubber boots), up stairs watching their newest beer boil. Will invited us up to take a peak, so I eagerly climbed the stairs, and looked into the brew kettle, which was filled with the sweet wort whirlpooling around. Will was manning the steam control, watching the rumble, letting in more or less steam, to keep the boil going to his liking. Kevin on the other side of the platform was pondering the mess he was going to have to clean up. He was having difficulties getting the mash out of the lauter tun, and feared that he would have to get inside to clean it up. We were interrupted briefly by a couple cattle farmers who showed up looking to haul off the barrels of spent mash from the days brew. To their disappointment they would need to return later to get the feed for their cattle.
Looking at the clock, Will then said that in ten minutes more hops needed to be added, and that I could add them. (Getting my geek on now) I stayed at the top with Will as he continued to keep the temperature to his liking as he explained to me the design of his brew kettle, which is powered by steam and has two jet streams to give an even whirlpool action. We talked about the hops and barley he imports from Germany, and why he uses them even though they are more expensive.
Meanwhile, Lush C was downstairs talking to Kevin about the time he spent in Munich. He told her stories of him and his brewing instructor loading up the trunk of the instructors 7 Series BMW with spent mash, and delivering it to local cattle farmers. I guess the cows would get very excited when they showed up and would follow and try to lick them to get the tasty treat that Kevin proclaimed to be “Cow Crack”.
Watching the clock, a clock on the wall that Will said is the official and only time piece used in the brewery, he handed me the container of hop pellets and gave me a countdown. When he said go, I gently poured the hops into the brew, watching them swirl around and meld to the wort turning the top a nice St. Paddy’s day green. It smelled so good!
Since it is a big beer, it will take at least six weeks to mature before being released to the public. Will said to wait even a little longer for it to really be at its top enjoyment, claiming there was no reason to rush it. I’m not sure if this beer will make it to the Seattle area, but I may check with Dog and Pony, Beveridge Place, or Brouwers to see if they can get a keg or two. Naturally, I will be heading up to Bellingham and Chuckanut Brewery in a month and a half to try it out.
DraughtE put to work with Will Kemper standing watch - by Lush C, 2010
After adding the hops, Will and Kevin switched places, so that Will could show us the computer program he developed to help him run the brewery. He can control almost everything in the brewery from the computer. He brought up a screen that showed of all the fermentation tanks, with all the information he might need. He has the ability to control valve openings and temperature at the click of a mouse. It gives him the peace of mind that he can check and make changes from home so that his beer is perfect every time. I mentioned that I had heard that he could brew from home, he said yes, but as we saw earlier there is too much manual control of the heat on the kettle, so he’d never do it.
With that, we decided it was time to leave. We have to thank Amy (our server), Mari, Will and Kevin for being so hospitable, and opening up their brewery to us beer geeks. We expected to just peek in, say hi and that would be it. After all, they were busy working. Instead, they took the time to talk to us and even allowed us to be a part of the process. They made this a good beer trip for sure!
Cheers,
DraughtE
Check out our previous post on Chuckanut for more information about the beer, location, and food.
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FTC Information: GoodBeerTrips is not affiliated with the Chuckanut Brewery. All Beer and Food was purchased by GoodBeerTrips (Lush C). Although we didn’t pay for it, since they put me to work, I can’t even say the brewery tour was free.
Molokai Day 2 – Good Beer Hunting
We fared a little better on day 2 in Molokai. We awoke to clouds, wind and rain that would stick around all day, but no sirens. (Where were the clouds yesterday when we were waiting out the Tsunami warning?) We decided to do what was originally planned for day one and head into Kaunakakai, the only town on the island, to check out their shops and see about planning some adventures. The only problem, it was Sunday and many of the stores were closed. To our fortune Molokai Wine’n Spirits was open. It is a small main street store selling wine, spirits, fine cheeses, gourmet meats, crackers, olives and what we found to be the best beer selection on the island. They had a lot of craft beer on hand; however I bypassed them all, looking for local Hawaiian Beers that we cannot get at home. We stocked up for the week with selections from Maui Brewing Company, Mehana Brewing Company, and Hawai’i Nui Brewing Company.
Beer fridge away from home
After loading the beer in the trunk we made our way north to the other side of the island (it’s only about 10 miles). This was more of a scouting trip than anything else. I wanted to get the lay of the land and an idea how far apart things were. Along the way, most attractions were closed (Museum, Molokai Mule Rides, etc…). We ended up at Paalau State Park, a nice tree shaded park sitting 1700 ft above the ocean, and Kalaupapa Historic Park. If we had only known about his place yesterday. There was a great lookout, and a short trail leading to the spiritual Phallic Rock. Can you guess what it may have looked like?
Our next stop was Coffees of Hawaii, a coffee plantation with gift shop and a small cafe. Surprisingly they were open on Sunday. We perused their gift shop and purchased some fresh coffee for home. We then sat on their covered porch, watching the rain as we enjoyed a cup of coffee and a cookie.
Meandering back towards the condo, we made a stop at a roadside beach after spotting several active whales about a mile out. We took a short walk, following the whales until they were too far out of site. On the walk back the car, the beach was disappearing quickly. Much of the beach we had just walked on was now under water, most likely a fluctuation as part of the Tsunami.
Once back to our home away from home, Wavecrest A-214, I loaded up the fridge and cracked open a cold one. First up was a Mauna Kea Pale Ale from Mehana Brewing in Hilo.
Brewery Description
Mauna Kea Pale Ale is American pale ale. The malts and hops are from the Northwest. This premium ale is dry-hopped for a minimum of 25days. Actual whole hops are used to give the beer a touch of floral aroma and citrus flavor. Medium copper in color with a superbly well-balanced hop flavor, it goes well with chicken, pasta and red meat dishes. It is named for the most majestic mountain on the (Big) island.It was nice dark amber in color with a thin off-white head. The aroma smelled of sweet malt and floral hops. It was medium bodied and fairly crisp. The flavor was all hops. Starting with floral and finishing with a pine taste. All in all it had a lot more hops than most pale ales, leaning towards an IPA. It was clean and crisp, not remarkable, but very drinkable. (Update: this beer was much better after being chilled a little longer. The following day I enjoyed it much more. It was very reminiscent of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale)
The day was finished by lazing around the condo, watching Brotherhood, and sipping beer, resting up for day three.
Cheers,
DraughtE
Check out Day1 or the Final Report
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FTC INFO: It’s Hawaii, nothing was FREE.
Molokai Day 1 – Tsunami Warning
Great, day one in Molokai and we were awoken at 6am by a Tsunami evacuation siren. We have about 5 hours to get to higher ground. We’ve re-packed, and are ready to go. Just finished breakfast and enjoyed a Kona Pipeline Porter. Check back for status.
Update
All is fine the Tsunami didn’t hit Molokai. We are down to our last two Pipeline Porters though, and the store was out of more. Hopefully we can fine some more good beer tomorrow
Tsunami, water going out, but no big wave - by DraughtE, Molokai 2010
DraughtE
Check out Day 2 or Final Report
Trip to the Fridge: Ninkasi Oatis Oatmeal Stout
I was making a trip to the beer fridge the other night and asked Lush C if she wanted anything. She said, “bring back something smoky”. Looking at all the options, it was clear that Ninkasi Oatis Oatmeal Stout was the closest I had to a smoky beer. Yet another bottle I picked up in December while in Seaside. My thoughts on it were that it is OK, but not as robust as I expected, or as smooth as it looked. I’d give another shot for sure, especially if on tap. Ooh, I wonder if nitro would do the trick? Lush C liked it, thinking it was tasty, but it just wasn’t good for her headache. Obviously we will need to try this one again, too bad it is a Seasonal.
Bottle Description
A rich complex oatmeal stout with just enough hops to balance the copious quantities of dark roasted malts, and the addition of for a creamy smooth drinkability.
The ancient Sumerians worshiped the beer they made, and praised the goddess Ninkasi for the miracle of fermentation. Beer is a staple of civilization. Worship the goddess.
Good Beer Trips Description
Color- dark black, thick creamy tan headAroma- sweet, alcohol, coffee
Body- medium bodied, lighter than expected
Taste – sweet, chocolatey
Finish- bittersweet chocolate, lingering dark roasted malt.
Consensus: Try it when it is available
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FTC Information: GoodBeerTrips purchased the beer reviewed in this post. How do I get free beer anyway?
Dharma Bums @ McMenamins Crystal Ballroom
The Dharma Bums - by Cash Money - 2/20/2010
…when the time comes. I guess I will know exactly when. And how electric it will be, like its a breeze. I will go Haywire.
Lyrics from the opening song “Haywire” by the Dharma Bums Saturday night. I guess they finally knew when, playing their first show together in eighteen years at the Crystal Ballroom. It was electric and we went haywire.
I first saw the Dharma Bums in 1989 opening for The Replacements at the Roseland Theater in Portland, OR. I was new to college radio, and had not experienced the local music scene yet. I was blown away. The Bums were electric, exciting, and fresh, far outplaying the legendary Replacements. To put it simply, they rocked. I left wondering why it took me so long to realize that there was such great music from young bands just across the river (from Vancouver, WA). Three or so weeks later, I dragged my high school buddies out to see them headline at the Pine Street Theater, and for me it was all over, they became, and will always be my favorite band.
If you’ve never heard of the Dharma Bums I wouldn’t be too surprised. (and you’re missing out) Although, they made quiet a name for themselves back in the late 80’s and early 90’s in the Northwest, and especially Portland music scene, they never made it into the mainstream. What Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Screaming Trees, and Mudhoney were to Seattle, the Dharma Bums were to Portland. Their high energy live shows were something special and wonderful. They didn’t need any high budget antics, or pyrotechnics. They came out and gave 120% every show and left you wanting more.
Sadly, on the verge of breaking it big, they decided to call it quits in October 1992. Their last show in Portland remains the best I’ve ever seen. Emotions in the building were running on extra high, and the Bums were in epic form. There were many teary eyes on stage and in the audience during “Farmyard” when lead singer Jeremy Wilson introduced the band for last time. They did play one more time after that, in Seattle, but that show just wasn’t the same.
When I found out a couple of weeks ago that my beloved Dharma Bums were playing a reunion show, I was so excited. Miraculously, it was on a night that there was really no reason I could not make it. A weekend before, or after and I would not have been able to attend. I would have been bummed to say the least. To make it even better, it was going to be night where I reconnected with my High School buddies, whom I introduced to the Dharma Bums so many years ago. To top it off, the show was at the Crystal Ballroom, which is home to a McMenamins Brewery, melding my love for the Dharma Bums with my love for beer. If this wasn’t going to be a Good Beer Trip, nothing could be.
Bo Dangles, Cash Money, DraughtE, Croz and Stretch before the Dharma Bums Set - 2/20/2010
Everything about the evening was amazing. (Except for the lousy dinner in Vancouver before hand). The Crystal Ballroom was a great venue for the occasion. It has been beautifully restored, McMenamins style, down to its historical mechanical floating dance floor. (Which is super bouncy and great for pogo’n) The Hammerhead Ale was as fine as it always is. The opening act, Derby, was pretty darn good, and the Young Fresh Fellows were great. Unfortunately, I was too excited to see the Dharma Bums that I couldn’t pay much attention to either.
Just after 10pm, after years of hoping that I would once again see them play live again, the Dharma Bums took the stage, opening with “Haywire”. They sounded like they always did, and the energy, the energy was still there. For nearly two hours they played all the songs I love, a couple off their new (old) album Dumb, and a few I didn’t recognize. I wish they had played “Mutiny” but I can’t complain. Once again, just like 18 years ago, the emotions were high. However, this time if there were tears, they were for joy. Nobody in the building wanted the night to end. I was in Bliss.
Jeremy, shaking his fist - by Cash Money - 2/20/2010
Near the end of the show, to my surprise and delight, guitarist Eric Lovre proclaimed that we wouldn’t have to wait as long to see them again. When someone yelled “are you going to come to Seattle?” Jeremy Wilson said “yes”. (At least that’s what I thought was said) Sounds like a verbal contract to me. They are welcome to play in my adopted hometown any time, and I will be there.
Thanks to Stretch, for finding out about the show, and letting us all know. Thanks to Cash Money for getting the tickets and letting me crash. Thanks to Croz, for carpooling down to Portland. Thanks to Bo Dangles for being Bo Dangles. Thanks to Music Millennium for talking the Dharma Bums into playing. Thanks to McMenamins for the Crystal Ballroom, and the Hammerhead Ale. Thanks to Lush C for staying home with the dogs. Last, but not least, thanks to the Dharma Bums for 20+ years of fond memories, awesome music, and for playing live one more time.
Cheers,
DraughtE
They rocked so hard it was hard to get a stable shot - by Cash Money - 2-20-201
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FTC Information: Alltough I feel they are a part of me, GoodBeerTrips is not affiliated with the Dharma Bums. Nor is GoodBeertrips affiliated with McMenamins. Nothing was received for free, I waited 18 years for this moment.
Vancouver, BC – 2010 Winter Olympics Edition
Seven months ago I randomly checked to see if we could get Winter Olympic Tickets. To my excitement and surprise there were still tickets available! I perused our options and narrowed in on a Women’s Hockey game, Canada vs. Slovakia. I dialed up our friends and neighbors, the Damn Dane and WineyS, to see if they were interested. They were, so I purchased four tickets, figuring we’d work out the logistics at a later time. The next day I found out that my Canadian friend Bob was bummed that he was unable to get tickets for the Olympics in his home town, so I went online and purchased tickets for him and his wife Shirley.
Olympics Bound. Lush C, WineyS, Damn Dane, and DraughtE (left to right) - Feb. 2010
Fast forward to last weekend. Unable to find a reasonable place to stay for the one night, Bob and Shirley graciously opened their home to us, even though I’m the only one that Bob knew, and Shirley had never met any of us. Wow, they are awesome! Staying the night allowed us to take Amtrak up to Vancouver (from Seattle). The train has to be the best way to get between these two great cities. It may take a little longer than driving (depending on the border wait), but there is no stress, you can drink, and you get to see some of the best scenery in Washington. The highlight is the section between Mt Vernon and Bellingham where the tracks meander below Chuckanut drive along the shores of the Puget Sound. You are given a wonderful water and island view that is only only seen via the train or by boat. There is also the chance to see all the great wildlife of the Northwest. On this trip we saw Eagles soar (was that Steven Colbert Jr?) and a were greeted in Canada by a golfer giving us a ¾ moon.
Once on board (at 7:45 AM), the Damn Dane (DD),WineyS, Lush C and I celebrated our weekend of fun with Bloody Mary’s. What a great way to start the Olympic (Good Beer) Trip! We had a riveting discussion on what to name DD and WineyS’s new boat, and what the DD’s nickname should be on Good Beer Trips. Obviously the Damn Dane was the final decision on the latter. For the boat name the leader is “Red Snapper” followed by the “Red Menace” and “Ruby Slipper”. After finishing our cocktails we returned to our seats to enjoy the showing of Cool Running , which I successfully guessed would be the movie. (they played it again on the return trip). After the movie ended, we returned to the dining car, and toasted our entry into Canada with our first beer of the trip. Lush C went with the classic Black Butte Porter, WineyS went with white wine, and DD and I both enjoyed a Molson Amber, which wasn’t too bad for a macro brew.
We arrived in Vancouver and by the time we all made it through customs it was noon. We had three hours before we needed to meet up with Bob and Shirley for the game. With me in charge of the map, we set out on our way to Yaletown Brewery for lunch. Although the weather wasn’t great, there was definitely excitement in the air. People were everywhere. Hometown pride was huge with Canada gear all around. It was a pleasant mile and a half walk along False Creek past Science World (and the Sochi 2014 Russia House), Canadian Pavilions, and BC Place towards the Yaletown district. Across the way you could see the Olympic village with the various countries flags hanging from the balconies. I got to admit, it was pretty darn cool.
WineyS esctied to be in Vancouver. By Lush C, Feb. 2010
Olympic Flags - by Lush C , Feb. 2010
Yaletown , feb 2010
I really wasn’t too hopeful about getting into Yaletown Brewery, however the beer gods were with us, and a table for four opened up with in minutes of our arrival. We were seated in the big and open restaurant with it’s exposed brick, wood beams, and large windows. A very happening place in the revitalized Yaletown district. There is also a bar area, that is more reminiscent of a British pub with low lights, couches, and dart boards. Lush C and I have been there a few times before, and we have always enjoyed it. The menu is upscale pub food with an Asian and Italian flare, consisting of Pizza’s, Salads, Bowls (rice dishes), Plates, and Buns (Burgers and sandwiches). I can’t speak for the others but I sure did enjoy my roasted and sliced (skin-on) chicken burger, with a Shitaki Mushroom relish and a side of sweet potato fries, scrumptious!
Yaletown, Feb. 2010
To drink, WineyS opted for a Margarita. It was very sweet and syrupy, definitely not their strong point. Perhaps we we were too far from Mexico. DD went with a Nagila Pale Ale. Per DD it was “very beery and good”. It was golden in color, well carbonated with not much of a head. He allowed me to take a taste and I found the aroma sweet and malty. It was medium bodied and well balanced with a malty flavor and a slightly bitter hop finish. A nice session beer. To start, Lush C chose the Downtown Brown. Served on nitro it was dark amber in color with a thick white head. and boasted a nice dark roasted malt and nutty aroma. The flavor was sweet, dark malty, and nutty, with a grainy finish. Not much hop character in this beer. I enjoyed the taste I had, but Lush C thought it was a little thin. I went with the Brick and Beam IPA. A golden orange beer with a citrus hop aroma. A full bodied beer, with a malty flavor and a pine and citrus hop finish. Much hoppier than I remember the Canadian beers being. For dessert, Lush C and I both went with the Warehouse Stout. We were mesmerized by it’s beauty when it arrived. Lush C stated, “it has a nice pillowy head”, and our wonderful waitress Katherine said, “it looks like you can sleep on it”. Also served on nitro it was dark creamy black with an aroma of dark malt and coffee. Lush C said it was sweet,smoky and smooth, like a good night in the tent by a campfire.(edited by the censors) DD , not a fan of the darker beers had the quote of the day after tasting it, “ tastes like dirty water, it looks better than it tastes”. I couldn’t disagree more, I thought it was delicious.
How time flew by. After finishing our meal and drinks, we realized we had less than hour before we had to meet up with Bob Shirley for the game. We left Yaletown, and headed towards Canada Hockey Place. On the way, I caught a glimpse of Dix Brewery, but unfortunately there wasn’t enough time to stop, after all, this trip really wasn’t about beer. We found Bob and Shirley, and stood in the security line to get into the Hockey venue. It was a bit frustrating, less than half of the available security lines were open, didn’t someone know that there was a game, or something called the Olympics in town. Sorry, just a little rant. The line wasn’t really that bad, and we were soon inside. (Canadian politeness really rubbed off on Eric, that wasn’t what he said at the time—Lush C) Our seats were in the third deck, but we had a great view of the ice. I was a little disappointed because the only beer on tap in the place was Molson and Coors Light. I went with a Molson, once again not bad for a macro, but just not my thing. Lush C also didn’t like its cool feel as it ran down her back and into her pants after the excited drunks behind us spilled all over her.
Olympic Hockey - by Lush C , Feb. 2010
On to the game. Holy hockey pucks, the Canadians were excited. The house was about 90% full with about 90% of those wearing Team Canada red and white. It was exciting seeing all that Canadian pride. Lush C spent the previous week memorizing the Canadian National Anthem and was bummed they didn’t open with it. The game itself was a blow out. Poor Slovakia, in their first ever Olympics, were just over matched by the gold favorites Canada.(USA and Canada are expected to meet for the gold, GO USA) The final score was 18-0, the only drama was whether or not Slovakia would score, yet the crowd cheered the entire game as though it was nil-nil. Bob did whisper to me that Hockey is one of those rare occasions where Canadians let go of their friendly demeanor. He may have been right, but they were very gracious at the end, and gave the Slovakia team, and especially there goalie (who was actually quite good. She just had little help. Canada had 69 shots on goal, which means she blocked 51!) a very long, and loud ovation. While exiting the stadium, I was further impressed as the crowd harmoniously sang the Canadian National Anthem, some in English, and some in French. It made me a bit jealous that our anthem really doesn’t lend itself to being sung in that setting. I imagine back at home we’d just be chanting U-S-A–U-S-A!
Opening face off -by Lush C , Feb. 2010
Once we were finally out, we headed to the SkyTrain station to catch our lift back to Bob and Shirley’s home in Burnaby. Gosh darn, why can’t Seattle have a system as awesome as this. Trains were coming about every 60 seconds. Sure we had to transfer to another train, but it was easy. Mass-Transit rules, especially when on a Good Beer Trip.
We had planned to go out to dinner after a quick stop at Bob and Shirley’s, but we were all pretty tired, and were more interested in watching Speed Skating, and the recorded Opening Ceremonies. So, we decided to just order pizza in. What a great call. We stayed up for a few hours watching the games, enjoying the company, and savoring the few beers Bob had on hand. I had a nice Sleemans Honey Brown. It was a great night!
After a very restful sleep, we all awoke to start day two of our adventure. Shirley was volunteering for the Olympics at Cypress and was already gone by the time we got up. Bob took us out to breakfast at Whiter Spot, which hit the spot. He then took us to his favorite place to take guests, Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area. I can see why he likes it! There is an excellent view of Port Moody to the north, and Downtown Vancouver and North Vancouver to the west. I doubt this spot is on the radar screen for tourists, but it should be. It is a real gem! Thanks Bob. (unfortunately, none of us brought a camera)
After a quick stop at home, Bob dropped us off at the SkyTrain, so we could head back downtown to where to the action was. We were on a mission to find Olympic swag. Shirley mentioned that The Bay department store was the place to go. Conveniently, the SkyTrain took us right there. We waited in line, and eventually made our way in to the official Olympic store. Sadly, their stock was very depleted, and it was only day three. If you were a kid or an xxl there were plenty of options, but if you were a normal adult, it was slim pickings. We all ended up finding something to our liking, paid up and left the building. The weather was beautiful on Sunday, and apparently all the residents of Vancouver decided to come out and see what was going on. The streets blocked off for pedestrians were packed, as were the sidewalks on nearly all other streets.
Steamworks, and the line to get into the German House Beer Garden - by Lush C , Feb. 2010
By this time, we were all getting a little hungry, and thirsty, so I steered us towards Steamworks Brewing Company. Once we got there finding the enterance was a challenge. We were saddly turned away because they were too busy. Huh? They weren’t even allowing customers to wait for a table. I believe they knew there was a special event going on as they had an extra tent of seating in their parking lot, which was EMPTY. Nicely, they did suggest going to their sister restaurant, Transcontinental, across the parking lot which they assured us had open seating, the same beer, and the same menu.
OK, I was game, and I didn’t know where else to go at this point, other than the German House Beer Garden in between the two. I would have liked to check it out , but it already had a very long line to enter. So, we snaked our way through the crowd and into the Transcontinental, and immediately were seated in the large upscale restaurant which is located in the old train station. It was very nice and comfortable inside. The menu, at least for lunch, was high end pub fare. Lush C had a very nice looking Salmon salad, and I had a very good Prime Rib Dip.
We were a little mislead on the beer though, as they only had two Steamworks Beers on tap. Oh well, what are you going to do? Not being a beer drinker, WineyS ordered a local BC Chardonnay which she said was, “very good” and “reasonably priced”. Lush C went with the Nirvana Nut Brown. She claimed , “it’s a nice crisp nut brown, that isn’t as heavy as most”. Both DD and I went with the Pale Ale. It was a light amber with a sweet malt and hop aroma. The flavor was fairly sweet, almost like a honey ale, with a bit of a bitter finish. It was ok, but if I hadn’t known any better I would have thought it was a lager. DD, wasn’t a big fan either, stating, “it’s passable”, I have to agree.
DraughtE posing as a local with his Steamworks - by Lush C , Feb. 2010
WineyS hiding behind her wine - by Lush C , Feb. 2010
Once again we were back on the streets, ready to walk the 2.7 miles to Pacific Central Station to jump the train back to Seattle. We opted to go down one of the few streets that wasn’t super busy, avoiding the crowds. We didn’t take a direct route, choosing instead to take one that would take us back to the trail along False Creek and past the Coca Cola tent at David Lam Park. Unfortunately, as with all the exhibits, the line to get in was very long, so we kept going. Along the way we stopped for some coffee which gave us the much needed caffeine to make the final push to the station. We arrived very tired and ready to get on board to head home. Very satisfied with our Olympic (Good Beer) Trip. It was a great time. I recommend that everyone experience an Olympics at least once in your life. Sure I wish I had a few more days to enjoy the festivities, but feel we made the best with the time we had.
This really wasn’t a trip around beer, the Olympics was the star of this show. We will return, hopefully soon, to this wonderful city in search of good beer. In the meantime you can check out SeattleBeerNews, visit the the Campaign for Real Ale Vancouver, or use Pubquest to help find good beer in Vancouver.
Thanks to the Damn Dane and WineyS for joining us and allowing me to drag them around, Lush C for putting up with my obsession, Vancouver, BC for hosting the Olympics so close to home, and an extra special thanks to Bob and Shirley who kindly allowed us to stay with them
Cheers,
DraughtE
p.s. I also got a new nickname on the trip.
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Canadian flag on a hockey stick -by Lush C , Feb. 2010
Line up at Yaletown. Notice the re-order line. - by Lush C , Feb. 2010
Aussie flag hanging proud - by Lush C , Feb. 2010
FTC Information: Do FTC regulations cover posts for businesses outside of the US? What if I write it on train, or on a plane, or drink it on a boat? I guess it doesn’t really matter since GoodBeerTrips is not affiliated with any business listed in this post, and received nothing for free.
Trip to the Fridge: Fish Brewing 10 squared Anniversary Reel Ale
Brought to you by the number 10. Fish Brewing’s 102 Anniversary Reel Ale is packed full of 10 types of hops, 10% ABV and 100 IBU. Originally brewed as their 10th Anniversary Beer, this beer was so popular that they had to bring it back. They were jumping out of the bar at an alarming pace while I was there, so I had to net me one.
Drinking it was a pleasure. I can see why there was such a demand to bring it back year after year. There is just so much to tantalize your taste buds in this beer; from the sweet malt to the multitude of hops. It is billed as a Barley Wine and at first I didn’t see it. My first thought was that it was an Imperial Red, but as it warmed up, the oak and alcohol were more pronounced, and I could see that it truly was a Barely Wine. The only problem now will be finding another. I may just have to wait until fishing season next year.
Brewery Description
It began as a one-off ale commemorating our tenth anniversary
Public demand turned it into an annual event in Craft Brewing.
Ten varieties of hops.
One hundred IBU’s. Smooth.
Look sharp-
Here comes 10 Squared!
Good Beer Trips Description
Color: Red Clarity: clear Head: Thin cream colored Aroma: Sweet, with a floral and piney hops Body: Medium Bodied Flavor: Sweet, malty, and hoppy Finish: big bouquet of floral , citrus, and piney hops, mellowing out with a hint of oak and alcohol. (the warmer it got, the more pronounced the oak was.Consensus: If you like big, sweet, hoppy beers get it, if you can.
FTC Information: No, GoodBeerTrips does not have a fishing license, nor is it affiliated with Fish Brewing. This beer was caught and purchased by GoodBeerTrips.
Good Beer Trips 