Beer Blotter

Been busy making beer - like this Rauchbier that made our turkey even better.

Alright, alright. Let me apologize for our noted absence. For the past 15 days we have failed to make a single post. Yep, not one. We recognize this displays extreme apathy and want to apologize. Don’t give up on us!

What have we been doing? Baby raising, holiday gorging, business traveling, vacationing to see families, and planning a move. But, we have also taken the time to build the Blotter. We are currently developing an iPhone/iPad Application with some local developers (and buddies of the Blotter) and brewing up a storm of beers for some near events. Oh yeah – and the Beer Blotter shirts. Look for those being worn by the cool kids.

We have also been finalizing a retooling of this site, which will begin focusing more on intense examination of beer, breweries and watering holes – and less on the current events (Hey, you have Kendall and Geoff for those things). We have found that our readers really love Timperial’s incredible journeys through beer – and we will bring more of that in the future.

But lets forgive and forget. For tonight is BIG WOOD!  Thats rights, Brouwers Cafe kicks off their “who knows” annual festival of wood-aged brew. Personally, this is my favorite event of the year. A few years back I had an organic viagra experience when I met Fred From the Wood (i recognize that just sounds gross).  I cannot wait to embark on a new journey through the barrel this afternoon.

So, the doors open at 11 AM today. I expect there to be a pretty sizable crowd by mid-afternoon. This is especially true after seeing this remarkable listing of beer!! Check out the whole list by following this link.

A few suggestions for those of you in need:

Alpine Beer Co Imperial Porter in Bourbon Barrel — What the hell? How do they have this? I have become accustomed to seeing Alpine and thinking Eastern Washington. But this is from my favorite San Diego brewer, Alpine Beer Co. Get this, you won’t see them in Seattle again (probably).

Double Mountain Wooden Nipple — I love Wood-Aged Trippels. They are remarkably flavorful and have a rich butterscotch flavor that beckons you.

Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout — This was all the rage last year, and is sure to be again. It kicked in about an hour.

Glacier Makers Eisbock — Um, whats not to like about an Alaskan brewer with a massive beer, aged in Makers Mark barrels.

Hair of the Dog Fred Flanders &  Michael — 2008 Alan Sprints specials will not last long. Primary reason that I will be there early

New Belgium Love in Wood — Perhaps the best base beer on earth. I haven’t had it for awhile, but Love serves as the basis for a lot of NB’s great sour beers.

Elysian Perseus Lost Sour — Here is my local pick. I presume this is a batch of their porter that got infected and came out good. Ill give it a shot.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=alpine%20imperial%20porter&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ratebeer.com%2Fbeer%2Falpine-beer-company-token-bourbon-barrel-aged-imperial-porter%2F153593%2F&ei=bvfgTubfK6_KiQKTt4SMDw&usg=AFQjCNEawDD-Hh7xkqSsQoJ4qcrMujVXdQ&sig2=jXMSL5fibKFGZCGxzdt-OA

Bev Place Pub is about to unleash a few incredible IPAs.

International IPA Day is Thursday. How this came to be – I have no idea. Allegedly, its a concept invented by this beer blogger. Creativity deserving of recognition? whatever. Its a reason to drink. Why question it?

So, Thursday August 4, 2011 it is. I am hoping that by making a big deal about something that is not a big deal, many of our wonderful Seattle beer stops will unleash the hop fury and drown our throats in a gushing IPA orgasm. Too much? Ok, how about just “serve us the IPAs.”

Seattle brewpubs, bars and bottle shops: Please let us know if you will indulge in this made up holiday of sorts. It really doesn’t take much to participate – announce that you are pouring an IPA or 40 and you are in.

To date, we have heard that Beveridge Place Pub will offer an impressive array of new IPAs, including the Deschutes and Boulevard Collaboration, No. 2 White IPA. Others include Black Raven Wisdom Seeker, Midnight Sun Mayhem and a cask of Georgetown Lucille – so don’t miss out on that one.

In other hop news, don’t forget that Brouwers Cafe is about to unleash two amazing hop-filled events. Brouwers will host Lost Abbey and Port Brewing’s Tomme Arthur next Wednesday, August 10, 2011. Tomme will be bringing 25 of his incredible beers and the Brouwers staff will serve some special food items.

If you cannot make that event – DO NOT MISS Hopfest 2011 on September 9, 2011.  Hopfest is arguably our favorite beer day of the year. Brouwers unleashes 50 IPAs on their taps. Its amazing.

Finally, Taphouse Grill begins its completely underrated IPA Week in 10 days. I can say from experience that this event should not be missed. If you can make it to the first few days, you will see some incredibly rare IPAs from all over the country. I was astonished at what they served last year. Their 4oz taster trays make it even better. The event begins on August 12, 2011.

Hope to see you our soon, enjoying an IPA. Please let us know about any other IPA events in your neck of the woods.

PS — Just looked at what Uber Tavern has on tap today. Thought you might want to know, because its ever so enticing:

- Xbeeriment Black Force One
- Cascade Apricot
- Double Mountain Devil’s Kriek (incredible)
- Firestone Walker Double Jack
- Southern Tier Mokah
- Boneyard Black 13

Pic courtest of www.foodgps.com

Tomme Arthur, owner and head brewer of Lost Abbey/Port Brewing in SoCal is someone I respect greatly and admire for his creativity and quality craft. Tonight, at Hopvine, Tomme will be there to enjoy some brews and answer questions.

To entice you further, I have had two very memorable beer experiences with Tomme and/or Port Brewing/ Lost Abbey.

Take one: Seattle Beer Week 2010- The Tomme Arthur Experience. A 5 course dinner at Brouwers Cafe paired with 15 Port Brewing/Lost Abbey beers.

There were the farmhouse ales, the raisin beers, the IPAs, the sours, the stouts….this man does it all. The food was amazing and the beers knocked it out of the park. Tomme joined the group, introduced the beers and took time to answer questions before, during and after the dinner.

My last epic beer journey before I embarked on this 9 month/life long journey of motherhood was in Southern California. Lost Abbey/Port Brewing was my number one stop on this 48 hour trip. A modest taproom embodied that laid back feel of the west coast.

Mongo Double IPA, Santa’s Little Helper and a sneak peak of the next round of Red Poppy all blew my mind, cured my hangover and put a smile on my face.

So head to Hopvine rom 5-7PM today, May 23rd, drink one of these amazing beers and pick Tomme’s brain. You wont regret it!

2010 Back to Black- always get some frites to sustain!

***Seattle Beer Week is a pretty big deal.  It runs from May 19th to the 29th.  This is our guide to its majesty.  These are the events that we feel cannot be missed. At the conclusion of this preview, we will publish the SBW Bible.***

 
As I sit here and scan through all of Seattle Beer Week’s events, although I won’t be able to fully partake, or really partake at all, my mouth waters and I am envious of all you beer drinkers not with child.

My time will come again…soon. But until next year, I will have to live vicariously through my friends and our readers. So please, feed back during SBW about the events and the beers would be much appreciated! You can always leave a comment or email me at jess@beerblotter.com.

There are so many wonderful, interesting, unique events during Seattle Beer Week. Back in Black Stout Fest is one of them. Here you will taste stouts that will blow you away, knock your socks off and make you kneel down to the brewer who’s hand stirred the mash.

Last year Avery’s roided Mephistopheles -a.k.a. Meph Addict – I feel like it had a special name and it escapes me. Other highlights from last night was also from Avery- Black Tot, Port Brewing Older Viscocity and Stone Imperial Russian Stout.

You just never know what you are going to get with a line up of 20-30 stouts. Chocolatey goodness? A strong coffee kick? A smooth, balanced, salty stout?

The possibilities are endless which is why these beer fests during SBW are something I look forward to every single year. Brewers step it up and we, the residents of Washington state, get a taste of many beers we otherwise only hear about in beerytales.

Tonight, Friday April 15th, Seattle’s greatest craft beer Mecca, Brouwer’s Cafe will be celebrating its 6th Anniversary with a party featuring the newest release in the always impressive ‘Imagination Series’.

This year, Portland, OR’s Hopworks Urban Brewery (also know as HUB) has brewed the signature concoction.  As always with Brouwer’s Imagination Series beers, this beer was brewed in a way that is somewhat similar to a collaboration brew, with significant input coming from Brouwer’s owners and management on the recipe creation and often even in the brewing or bottling process.

The Matts (Vandenberghe and Bonney, owner and general manager respectively) are adamant about making these beers more than just commissioned ales.  For more information about the the goal behind the Imagination Series beers I suggest you take a gander at this interview filmed by the New Brew Thursday crew during this years Hard Liver Fest.

These releases are typically not available through any retailers other than Brouwer’s and Bottleworks (same owners as Brouwer’s), so get it while you can.

For this 6th anniversary, HUB and Brouwer’s created an Imperial Oatmeal Stout.  The keg will be tapped at 6pm and there will be a toast at 7pm.  You can expect to see several other HUB beers on draft this evening as well.  Brewery representatives will be in attendance to help with the festivities and answer your questions.

If we are really lucky we may find previous year’s Imagination brews available, as well as recent Bottleworks Anniversary beers which are created in an almost identical fashion (in collaboration with the brewers that is).  This year’s Bottleworks XII Anniversary release was an “imperial sour wit ale brewed with spices and aged in wine barrels with raspberries” at Placentia, CA’s The Bruery.  It is absolutely fantastic and a must purchase if available.

I had a little bit of a hard time finding information online about previous Brouwer’s Imagination Series beers but I know for sure that the following  exist, or at least did at one point:

2008 – Port Brewing/Lost Abbey Saison with Brett

2009 – Port Brewing/Lost Abbey Ale brewed with honey, raisins and rosemary and partially aged in bourbon and wine barrels.