There’s always a lot going on in the beer world and we can’t cover all that we’d like to as extensively as we’d like to…so…here’s a brief spotlight on some things that we think are worth noting.
Olympia, WA’s Fish Brewing Co. (Fish Tale Organic Ales, Leavenworth Biers, Spire Mountain Ciders, Reel Ales) obviously is quite prolific in their production and branding. They have been pumping out some super solid brews as of late, especially under the Reel Ales brand. 10 Squared and Swordfish Double Cascadian Dark Ale are both fantastic and the latest to join the troop, Starfish Imperial Red Ale, is possibly the best Imperial Red I’ve ever had.
Those who have spent some time in our state’s capital know that the Fish Tale Brew Pub is the oldest brew pub in the city and a great place to sample Fish’s many wares. This past Friday, August 5th, was the “soft opening” of Fish’s newest brew pub in Everett, WA. This is great news for the northenders because ever since Alligator Soul shut down the options in Everett have been highly limited.
Fish Brewing Company from Olympia, Washington is celebrating the opening of our second Fish Tale Brew Pub in Everett, WA. The new Brew Pub, a nod to our flagship Olympia location, is located at Hewitt and Broadway directly across from the Comcast Arena. Here, our welcomed guests find their visit rewarded with a robust menu and the freshest hand-crafted ales available.
Entering our new 175 seat restaurant, guests will be greeted with the same wood finish and open space that has given our Olympia location its character ambiance since 1993. The Pub offers a full menu featuring local, organic meat, bread, and produce. And while the Pub’s 14 taps of beer and cider can present guests with a daunting selection, our knowledgeable staff will be there to help find the one that’s right for you.
In their formative years, both the Olympia Pub and the Fish Tale brewery stood under one roof. With the brewery’s 1996 move into larger facilities across Jefferson Street, the Pub embarked on its own transformation. What began as a cold-food tap room known as The Fishbowl has since blossomed into two full-fledged restaurants featuring Fish Tale Organic Ales, Leavenworth Biers, and Spire Mountain Ciders and our limited-edition Reel Ales.
Widmer Advertising Blows My Mind
I’m desperately behind in my reading of physical print beer publications at the moment. I literally have a stack of Draft, Beer West, Beer Advocate, etc. magazines on my coffee table that I have yet to get into. I’m busy. Point is, I may be late to the boat here but I was just reading the latest Northwest Brewing News (great read on beer education, right up my alley right now) and was really taken aback by the Widmer Brothers advertisement on page 5. I wish I had the ability to scan it (maybe a reader can for me and send it to timperial@beerblotter.com). The ad is a page out of the Widmer recipe book for the original 1998 release of KGB Russian Imperial Stout. Every single detail of the recipe is provided from grain bill, hop bill with alphas, mash temps and times, starting and ending gravities, yeast used and pitch rate… it’s complete. There is a hand written note at the bottom from the brewer that says “Luckily I’m an only child who likes to share.” Amazing!
Required Reading
If you have ever thought about opening a brewery, the blog over at Fort Collins, CO’s Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project is a must read. Seriously, trust me, start at the beginning (bottom) and read it all.
Silver City Announces Several Exciting Events in Seattle
Silver City Brewery Belgian Beer Dinner @ Quinn’s in Seattle
Silver City will pair 4 – 6 Specialty limited release Belgian Style beers with the wonderful culinary styling’s from Quinn’s chefs! Stay tuned for more details, pricing, full menu, etc in the coming week. Please visit http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Silver-City-Restaurant-Brewery/97461887323 for more information.
Wednesday August 31st
Quinn’s http://quinnspubseattle.com/
10001 E. Pike St
Seattle, WA
Silver City Brewery 15th Anniversary Celebration @ Naked City Taphouse & Brewery
We are turning 15 & need your help to celebrate! Naked City has been so kind to let us bring the party to Seattle. 15 Beers for 15 years, some familiar, some cellar aged, some experimental, some barrel aged. If you’re a Silver City fan you won’t want to miss this!
Tuesday September 6th 6 – 9 pm
8564 Greenwood Ave. N.
Seattle, WA
New Belgium Expands in the East
In a time that other craft beer giants such as Avery and Allagash are pulling out of markets because they can’t keep up with demand, Fort Collins, CO’s New Belgium Brewing is still expanding into new markets. Only time will tell…
Via www.beernews.org:
(Fort Collins, CO) – In just two weeks, New Belgium Brewing will enter Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., expanding the nation’s third-largest brewery’s distribution into 28 states and the District of Columbia. The expansion will bring New Belgium’s portfolio further north along the eastern seaboard with the initial launch of 22-oz. bottles of Fat Tire, Ranger IPA and fall seasonal, Hoptober Ale. Trippel and Lips of Faith beers will also be available in select markets with draft and 12-oz. packages to follow. These new territories will officially open on August 22.
“We couldn’t be more excited about these new territories,” said Bryan Simpson Media Relations Director for New Belgium Brewing. “Many New Belgium co-workers are from the East Coast, including our CEO and founder Kim Jordan who grew up in Maryland, so for many of us this expansion takes us back to our roots.”
Seventeen distributors will help broaden New Belgium’s reach, which now includes plans to distribute in Montgomery County, MD. At first distribution plans did not include Montgomery County because of logistical challenges. However New Belgium recently reached a deal that allows for distribution of draft and 22-oz. bottles in Montgomery County as well.
Elysian’s Pumpkin Fest Changes Locations
This is in my top 5 Seattle beer festivals and it should be in yours as well. This year it will move from the Capitol Hill Brew Pub to the new production facility in Georgetown. Read all about it over at Seattle Beer News.
Tacoma Craft Beer Fest is Around the Corner with a New Venue
http://tacomacraftbeerfest.com/
Join Us Saturday September 3rd, Noon-9pm for Tacoma Craft Beer Festival!
This year we are all outdoors in one of the Foss Waterways newest parks on Dock Street. Only a few blocks from the Sound Transit parking garage and the Tacoma Dome.
40 Craft Breweries pouring over 80 Craft beers
Live Music, Food, and Games
Admission includes:
5.5 oz commemorative taster glass + 10 tasting tokens
Additional 5.5 oz pours: $1.50
Tickets:
Click Here to Pre Order Tickets and Save $5!
$25 pre-sale online
$30 at the door
Military discount with active duty ID at the door
Fred Meyer Reward Card Members bring your card for a discount at the door (2 per card)
Craft Beer Volume up 14%
From the Brewers Association-
(Boulder, CO) - The Brewers Association, the trade association representing the majority of U.S. brewing companies, has released strong mid-year numbers for America’s small and independent craft brewers¹. Dollar sales were up 15 percent in the first half of 2011, excluding brewers who left the craft segment in 2010². Volume of craft brewed beer sold grew 14 percent for the first six months in 2011, compared to 9 percent growth in the first half of 2010.
Rogue Farms Makes Hop Cheese
Hop Cheese: During 2011, we’re releasing several varieties of Hops Cheddar, made with Rogue GYO (Grow Your Own) hops from our Micro Hopyard.
Crafted in collaboration with Rogue Creamery of Central Point, Oregon, hop leaves are removed from the bines, steamed, chopped fine and mixed into the curds.
Look for a release of Liberty Cheddar during July.
Rogue Farms Hops Cheddar are available exclusively at the Chatoe Rogue and at the Rogue Ales Public House and Distillery in the Pearl District of Portland.
Port Brewing/Lost Abbey Night at Brouwer’s Cafe is Tomorrow
