It may be remembered as the most influential of Jimmy Carter’s actions as President. Seriously. The 55 MPH national speed limit is history, rendering that lame Sammy Hagar song meaningless. The metric system did nothing but confuse Americans with all those annoyingly round numbers. But when President Jimmy Carter legalized homebrewing in 1979, it changed the world.

I’m not joking. There were people all over the country brewing beer as outlaws, but as soon as it became legal to buy and sell homebrew supplies without disguising them as wine-making supplies, many more people started to homebrew. Clubs formed. Homebrew supply shops opened. The snowball began to roll down the hill. History has taught us that homebrewing begets craft brewing: most professional craft brewers start out as home brewers. It’s not surprising that the craft beer revolution started in the early 1980s, shortly after homebrewing became legal.

Back in March we told you that Mississippi was finally poised to legalize homebrewing, leaving Alabama as the last state to prohibit the popular hobby. Today we learn that Alabama is on the precipice of legalizing homebrewing. I’ve included the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) press release below.

When Jimmy Carter signed that bill into law, he probably didn’t imagine it would take this long for all 50 states to get on board.

• History in the making: This will be the first time since pre-Prohibition days that all 50 states will legally allow homebrewing.
• Rapid-fire succession: Mississippi was the 49th state to legalize homebrewing, and the state did so in March, only two months prior to Alabama.
• Alabama might not be last: Alabama has an opportunity to legalize homebrewing before Mississippi, since the Mississippi bill has a 90-day wait period to become effective, while the Alabama bill would go into effect immediately once Governor Robert Bentley signs it.

Here’s the press release from the AHA.

Alabama Senate Passes Bill to Legalize Homebrewing

Boulder, CO • May 8, 2013 – The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) is pleased to announce the Alabama legislature has passed a bill that, once signed by Governor Robert J. Bentley, will effectively legalize homebrewing throughout the state. Alabama will be the last state in the nation to legalize homebrewing.

“Homebrewing has been an integral part of the history of America, so it’s thrilling to know that soon all 50 states will support this growing hobby and long-standing tradition,” said Gary Glass, director, American Homebrewers Association. “We appreciate the backing of all of the homebrewers, the dedicated grassroots efforts of Right to Brew and the legislators who have worked so diligently to make homebrewing a reality in Alabama. We are especially grateful to Representative Mac McCutcheon who introduced this bill and has fought long and hard for its passage, along with Senator Bill Holtzclaw.”

Alabama is the last state holding out against legalizing homebrewing. In March 2013, Mississippi became the 49^th state to pass homebrew legislation. The AHA has been working with Right to Brew for five years in order to get the Alabama bill passed.

Homebrewing became federally legal in 1979, though the 21st Amendment predominantly leaves regulation of alcohol to the states. Therefore, even though homebrewing is federally legal, it is up to individual states to legalize homebrewing in state codes. Once the Alabama bill is signed by Gov. Bentley, it will be the first time since pre-Prohibition days that homebrewers in all the states can legally brew at home.

The hobby of homebrewing has seen exponential growth in recent years. The AHA estimates that more than one million Americans brew beer or make wine at home at least once a year. Alabama is home to an estimated 5,000 homebrewers who will soon enjoy brewing without the restrictions of a state-wide ban.

About the American Homebrewers Association:

The American Homebrewers Association has worked on behalf of the homebrewing community since 1978 and celebrates a membership of more than 37,000 homebrewers. The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) organizes events including the National Homebrewers Conference and National Homebrew Competition. The AHA also publishes Zymurgy magazine. The AHA is part of the Brewers Association, whose Brewers Publications division is the largest publisher of contemporary and relevant brewing literature for today’s craft brewers and homebrewers.

Beer lovers and anyone interested in making their own homemade beer are invited to learn more at HomebrewersAssociation.org. Follow the AHA on Twitter, and join us on Facebook.

We’ve been hearing rumors for months. There’s a sign on the door that says, “Restaurant and Brewery Coming Soon.” Now we have confirmation that the community of Mountlake Terrace is going to get a new brewpub. Diamond Knot Brewing tells us that it will open a brewery and restaurant in the shopping center at the intersection of 56th Avenue W and 232nd Street SW in Mountlake Terrace (view map).

No word yet on an estimated opening date. Things are still in the early stages of planning and development. We also do not know what size brewery Diamond Knot intends to build at the new location. Rest assured, we’ll keep you posted as we learn more. In addition to its production brewery, Diamond Knot currently operates three locations: the recently remodeled and expanded Brewery and Alehouse in Mukilteo, the Pizza House in Mukilteo, and the Camano Lodge on Camano Island.

Here’s the press release:

Diamond Knot Craft Brewing plans large-scale brewery and pub in Mountlake Terrace

Mountlake Terrace, WA – Diamond Knot Craft Brewing has officially announced its plans to expand its operations to Mountlake Terrace in 2013 with a 8,900-square-foot brewpub.

Located in West Plaza, next to the legendary Double DD Meats, the new Diamond Knot Brewpub @ MLT will include restaurant seating for 250, as well as full brewery operations capable of producing 1,500 barrels annually. The restaurant space will also include a 60-seat event space, wired to support myriad events.

“Timing for us has always been an issue,” said Diamond Knot President Bob Maphet. “We were approached with this opportunity just before heading into the major expansion at our flagship Alehouse in Mukilteo. Mountlake Terrace is an area in which we have been interested, so in good faith we asked West Plaza LLC to be patient with us while we focused our efforts on our Mukilteo Alehouse expansion.”

West Plaza, LLC, owners of the property located at 5602 232rd St. SW, said the timing was perfect for them. “We have wanted to operate a brewery in this location ever since we purchased it,” said Kirk Ishizaki. “Diamond Knot is the perfect quality brand, and we are excited by the years of brewing and retail experience they bring with them. Giving them time to focus on the Alehouse gave us time to create a vision of a brewpub that would be in line with our mutual goals, as well as what reflects the community.

The new location comes during a time of revitalization in the area Mountlake Terrace refers to as its Town Center. With the new transit station and the proposed civic center, it is hoped Diamond Knot Brewpub @ MLT will become a beloved “third place,” as have the Alehouse in Mukilteo and the Camano Lodge on Camano Island.

The company is anticipating hiring about 50 employees to operate the restaurant and brewery. Referring to King5’s Best of Western Washington awards given to both Diamond Knot and Double DD Meats in 2012, Ishizaki said, “It seems almost surreal that we will have two Best of Western Washington winners in one building together.”

Diamond Knot Craft Brewing is known for supporting local businesses and organizations. With a foundation as a small, craft brewer, the company’s mission is to provide exceptional craft beer, food and lively experiences. Started in 1994, the company currently operates the Brewery & Alehouse, Pizza House and 10,000-square-foot production brewery and Taproom in Mukilteo, as well as the Camano Lodge on Camano Island.

Someone is planning to open a brewery at Snoqualmie Pass. You probably think that is a rather strange location for a brewery, but the folks at DRU BRU know something you don’t.

Compared to many other mountain destinations, Snoqualmie Pass remains largely underdeveloped. In fact, compared to similar locations in British Columbia, Utah and Colorado, Snoqualmie Pass is entirely undeveloped. Sure, some might argue that the snow in those other locations is better, but Snoqualmie Pass is just an hour from one of the most vibrant cities in America and is easily accessible year-round via Interstate 90. Still, Snoqualmie Pass offers no village, no real community, and few amenities away from the ski lodges.

That is about to change. A group of developers is building a year-round community at Snoqualmie Pass that will include, among many other conveniences, a new brewery. There will be condos, a grocery store, a coffee shop, a restaurant, a brewery and more. The plan is to create a year-round vacation destination called The Pass Life. Heck, people may even live up there and commute to work in the Seattle area. The Pass Life will include 50 to 100 condos and lofts set to start at $327,000.

If you are wondering why you are reading about all of this for the first time, the official announcement is still forthcoming. I must admit, the Washington Beer Blog stumbled across all of this information quite by accident. And once we did, we started digging and asking questions.

“DRU BRU is very excited to announce our plans for a brewery at the Pass Life development,” said Dru Ernst, one of the brewery’s founders. “We are in the planning stages and are working through the details with the developers so I don’t have a lot of specifics. “

“What I can say is that our beers will be rooted in German and Belgian styles and be comprised of the amazing Northwest ingredients we have at our disposal. We are working on the design of a custom brew house and taproom which we hope will be ready for the 2013/2014 winter season. We are also in discussions with the restaurant (which will be housed in the same building) to develop a partnership for food service in the Taproom.”

I am guessing this will be a very busy summer for Dru and his partners.

From the The Pass Life website:

“We love the vibrant communities that have always existed at The Pass. Our hope is to be the catalyst, bringing people together. There are already hundreds of homes and residents, millions of people driving over and stopping for a break, plus the hundreds of thousands of skiers, snowboarders, hikers, swimmers and bikers who frequent the area from all over the state and beyond.

“But what’s been missing is a social space to come to together to enjoy a great meal, meet up for a special event, shop for quality groceries or just quickly escape the city and relax for a night. Vibrant communities already exist at The Pass and are alive and well. The Pass Life is about convening before a trek into the mountains, relaxing after a day on the hill and connecting over coffee to make plans for a neighborhood function.”

We will follow the progress of DRU BRU and Pass Life in the coming months. Given the short construction season at the pass, we expect things to move quickly.

Here is a video from The Pass Life website.

Elysian Brewing is about to release the next in its Manic IPA Series of beers: Space Dust IPA. It’s been available at the Elysian pubs for awhile now and I can testify that it is delicious. No surprise there, right? Here’s the word from Elysian about its wider release.

Elysian Universe Expanding : Space Dust a Big Bang!

Thirteen-odd billion years ago the Universe was born in an enormous explosion that sent absolutely everything hurtling outward–all the stars and planets, Earth, the Moon, the bits that would eventually become you and me and everything we know–and don’t know. Come May 1, Space Dust, the latest in the Elysian Manic IPA series, will come drifting across the cosmos to select restaurants, bars and retail establishments. More than the ocean needs the cosmic light of starglow energy, you will love this beer.

Space Dust is an (asteroid) belt of Chinook, Citra and Amarillo hops streaking across a fairly open-space grist of Northwest pale and touches of C-15 and Dextri-Pils malts. 70 IBU will deliver a good (VanAllen) belt of bitterness; 7.2% alcohol by volume keeps thrust at a medium burn; OG 16.8°P/1.068 SG if you’re a Mission Control type. Space Dust will be available on draft and in 22-ounce bottles, with a cute little extra-terrestrial hop feller on the label.

The Manic IPA series gives Elysian’s brewers and their fans a chance to achieve escape velocity where our favorite hops are concerned. With a virtual space race going on these days just getting your hands on precious varieties, things are changing all the time. One thing’s as sure as a man on the moon by the end of the 1960s–Space Dust is rocketing your way.

-Dick Cantwell

AVAILABLE :: MAY – AUGUST

Draft & 22oz Bottles

It’s the big daddy beer fest — the largest concentration of breweries, beers and beer lovers in Washington. The annual three-day celebration of Washington-brewed beer has become a Father’s Day weekend tradition (June 14 thru 16). This year the Washington Brewers Festival returns to Redmond and the picturesque expanses of Marymoor Park. In all, 72 of Washington’s top breweries will pour over 250 different beers for nearly 20,000 festivalgoers. Tickets are available online.

Below we list the breweries pouring at this year’s event along with other details. The actual list of beers will be available in the coming weeks. There are some newcomers this year, such as Seapine Brewing of Seattle, Bale Breaker Brewing of Yakima, and Strong Arm Brewing of Renton. Some breweries will travel great distances to participate, for example Laht Neppur Brewing of Waitsburg, Paradise Creek Brewing of Pullman, Riverport Brewing of Clarkston, and Iron Goat Brewing of Spokane.

This year the Washington Beer Commission made a some important changes. There will be more food trucks this year. In addition to the typical festival food vendors, you can get real food from real food trucks, like Skillet (more will be announced as the even nears). This year beer lovers will have the park to themselves. Last year there was another event at the park at the same time as the beer festival. With two big events happening at the same time, traffic in and out of the park was a bit bothersome. This year the beer fest will be the only event at the park.

Don’t want to deal with traffic or parking? Consider walking or riding to the festival along the Sammamish River Trail. You can easily find street parking or other public parking nearby and then hike or bike the last mile or two into the festival.

This event is kid-friendly on Saturday and Sunday. Friday is for grownups only. Not all of the breweries show up for Friday, but more than 40 breweries will be there and some of them will pour special Friday-only beers.

BREWERIES

• 192 Brewing
• 7 Seas Brewing
• Airways Brewing
• Alpine Brewing
• American Brewing
• Anacortes Brewery
• Bainbridge Island Brewing
• Bale Breaker Brewing
• Bellevue Brewing
• Big Al Brewing
• Big Time Brewing
• Black Raven Brewing
• Boundary Bay Brewery
• Brickyard Brewing
• Chuckanut Brewery
• Der Blokken
• Diamond Knot Craft Brewing
• Dick’s Brewing
• Dirty Bucket Brewing
• Duvall Springs Brewing
• E9 Brewery
• Elliott Bay Brewing
• Elysian Brewing
• Emerald City Beer
• Fish Brewing
• Foggy Noggin Brewing
• Fremont Brewing
• Gallagher’s Where U Brew
• Georgetown Brewing
• Hale’s Ales
• Harmon Brewing
• Hilliard’s Beer
• Hood Canal Brewery
• Iron Goat Brewing
• Iron Horse Brewery
• Island Hoppin’ Brewery
• Issaquah Brewhouse
• Justice Brewing
• Kulshan Brewing
• Laht Neppur Brewing
• Mac & Jack’s Brewing
• McMenamin’s
• Naked City Brewery
• New Belgium Brewing
• No-Li Brewhouse
• North Sound Brewing
• Odin Brewing
• Old Schoolhouse Brewery
• Paradise Creek Brewery
• Pike Brewing
• Port Townsend Brewing
• Rainy Daze Brewing
• Ram Restaurant & Brewery
• Redhook Brewery
• Reuben’s Brews
• Riverport Brewing
• Rock Bottom Brewery
• Roslyn Brewing
• Schooner EXACT Brewing
• Scuttlebutt Brewing
• Seapine Brewing
• Silver City Brewery
• Snoqualmie Falls Brewing
• Sound Brewery
• Strong Arm Brewing
• Triplehorn Brewing
• Twelve Bar Brews
• Twelve String Brewing
• Two Beers Brewing
• Urban Family Brewing
• Wingman Brewers
• Yakima Craft Brewing

OTHER FESTIVAL INFO

Admission:
Tickets are now available online

Friday:

$15 advance tickets/at the door. (Friday advance tickets available online only)

Friday admission includes a tasting cup and 4 tasting tokens

21+ only

Saturday & Sunday:

$20 advance tickets ($25 online after May 31) or $25 at the door

Admission includes a tasting cup and 6 tasting tokens

Advance tickets are available online and at local outlets.

All Ages: Those under 21 admitted free (must be accompanied by a parent)

Designated Drivers: Admission is $5 and available at the gate only. It includes complimentary water, root beer and the entertainment.

Days & Hours:

Friday, June 14, 4 – 9pm. 21+ only
Saturday, June 15, 11am. 9pm. All ages
Sunday, June 16, 11am – 6pm. All ages

BEERS: The Festival is a celebration of world class beer brewed here in Washington, offering a great variety of craft beer including many NW style hoppy beers, refreshing summer seasonal brews and hard-to-find rarities. Friday, select Washington breweries will be open (40+ breweries) with many offering Friday-exclusive beers. Saturday and Sunday will feature the full 72 brewery lineup with more than 250 beers on tap.

Back this year is the Buzz Cart, a unique beer bar that will tap a special premium kegs at different times each day of the festival.

KIDS: In addition to the spectacular beer selection for dads the Festival offers many activities for the young ones including bouncy toys and a kids’ craft tent where they can make Fathers Day gifts. In addition Washington Beer’s own root beer garden will serve up premium craft root beer brewed by local breweries.

CIDER/WINE: This year’s Cider & Wine Tasting Tent will feature Washington cider makers, a mead maker and a nice selection of wine on tap from Vessel Wine company.

LIVE MUSIC: From funk, alt-country rock to blues, just like the beer selection the Festival’s music lineup also features an eclectic blend of the Northwest musical talents.

FOOD: Fantastic offerings including locally renowned Skillet and other favorite food trucks making for delicious pairings with Washington Beer!

Monday, April 29th, at 11:00 a.m., Henry’s First Avenue Tavern opens in Seattle’s SoDo neighborhood. Conveniently located within shouting distance of Safeco Field, Henry’ First Ave promises to offer a great option for drinking and dining before or after Mariners, Seahawks, Sounders and (perhaps) Sonics games. The Washington Beer Blog welcomes Henry’s, and it’s 100 draft beers, to the neighborhood.

As we originally reported nearly a year ago, Henry’s on First is a new restaurant and bar from Restaurants Unlimited, a company that operates a number of notable restaurants in the Seattle area and beyond. Among their properties, Northwest beer lovers might be familiar with Henry’s 12th Street Tavern in Portland. Like the Portland version, Henry’s First Ave will offer an immense selection of draft beer. Along with the beer, you’ll find cocktails, wine, cider and a fantastic menu of upscale pub food. This is a somewhat elevated food and beer experience. It is not the neighborhood sports bar. Still, it is a welcoming and friendly place and fully prepared to welcome local sports fans and beer lovers alike.

This past Saturday we attended a pre-opening event and sample some food and took some pictures (below). We enjoyed one of the thin crust, house made pizzas, opting for the Italian sausage and roasted mushrooms. It was reasonably sized–sharable between two people or suitable for a hungry individual. We also indulged in the The All American Burger. Not for the faint of heart, it is absolutely sinful and decadent. It features a large patty, thick and well-cooked, topped with a sharp cheddar mac-n-cheese, a cheddar cheese sauce, and applewood smoked bacon, all served on a buttery brioche bun. Heavenly and heart-arresting. We took a gander at the rest of the menu. Salads and starters, sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, specialty entrees, and more.

The star of the show for us was the draft selection. It promises to get better as time goes on and they learn which beers and styles do and do not work at Henry’s First Ave. I would be remiss if I failed to mention the Bloody Mary, served with a heaping pile of garnish that could have made a meal on its own.

And yes, as a matter of fact, like the Henry’s in Portland, Henry’s First Ave Tavern features an ice rink around the bar, which is intended to help keep your beer cold.

Did you know that Bellingham has a soccer team that plays in the Pacific Coast Soccer League? The Bellingham United FC season is about to kick off. Home matches feature a beer garden serving a special selection of “home vs. away” beers. Hosted and organized by the folks at the Copper Hog, the beer garden features eight craft beers.

The home team is comprised of beers from Chuckanut Brewery, Kulshan Brewing, Island Hoppin Brewing and Flyers Brewery. The away team is represented by a selection of four beers from a visiting brewery. Here’s how the home team roster shapes up.

• Chuckanut Brewery’s Yellow Card is a slightly hoppy, five percent ABV, Kolsch-style beer.
• Kulshan Brewing’s Full 90 IPA is a session IPA brewed using a 90-minute boil and featuring 90-minute hop additions. Crisp and dry, 4.5 percent ABV.
• Island Hoppin Hat Trick Brown is a brown ale dry-hopped with Centennial hops.
• Flyers Brewery’s Stryeker Pale Ale is similar to the brewery’s summer seasonal rye ale.

Go to the Bellingham United FC website for details about upcoming matches. http://www.bellinghamunited.com/

About Bellingham United FC
Bellingham United FC is a member of the Pacific Coast Soccer League (PCSL) Premier Division. The British Columbia-based PCSL is a semi-professional league which has been in existence for over 75 years. The league is recognized as division three by Canadian Soccer and division four by U.S. Soccer, and features clubs from British Columbia interior, Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island, the lower mainland and Washington State.

Like most of our local breweries, Reuben’s Brews makes a conscious effort to support charitable causes. “In particular, schools and children’s charities,” says Adam Robbings, cofounder and Head Brewer at Reuben’s Brews.

Local craft breweries are constantly barraged with requests for charitable contributions. Most people in the craft brewing industry want to help; a desire to be part of the community is one of the motivations for opening a craft brewery. (Craft brewing isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme, afterall.) Still, the number of requests can be overwhelming. Reuben’s Brews has come up with a way to share the love.

“We are excited to launch a program that enables us to give back to the community that supports us,” said Robbings. “This program gives us a great fun way to help raise money for local charities and non-profits and we can’t wait to get started!”

Thank you Thursdays will allow Reuben’s Brews to support a different charity each week. Details of the program are still coming together, and we’ll have more details in the near future, but for now understand that each Thursday Reuben’s Brews will donate $1.00 for each pint sold in its taproom. Potentially, each Thursday could be designated to benefit a different organization or cause.

“We are excited to have weekly events raising money for local community organizations, and . If you are a local registered non-profit or charity interested in an event – please don’t hesitate to drop us an email!”

Interested charities should email Adam Robbings. Expect a formal announcement from the brewery soon.

Hale’s Ale Brewery has the distinction of being the oldest privately held brewing company in the Pacific Northwest.  With few exceptions, the people who own the brewery today are the same folks who decided to open a brewery back in 1983. At the time, it must have seemed a crazy idea. Depending on how you reckon such things, Hale’s Ale Brewery was either the third or fourth craft brewery in Washington.  At the time, it was one of a small handful of craft breweries in the nation.

Mike Hale started Hale’s Ale Brewery in Colville, Washington in 1983, introducing his first beer on Independence Day of that year.  In 1986, Hale’s opened a second brewery west of the Cascades in Kirkland. Somewhere along the way they opened a brewery in Spokane as well. In 1995, Hale’s moved the Kirkland brewery to Fremont. Today, all of the brewing is done at the Fremont brewery on Leary Way.

Mike Hale is one of the patriots of the American craft beer revolution; he is one of craft beer’s founding fathers. There was no blueprint for what he did. As a young man, Mike spent some time in Great Britain. Upon returning to America, he found that his beer palate had changed significantly. Longing for the kind of beers he had enjoyed in England, Mike began brewing his own. The rest, as they say, is history.

Today Hale’s Ale Brewery is a fixture in Fremont. Many patrons might wrongly assume that it is the first and only location. They’re wrong. Hale’s knew a few other homes over the years and today also operates an Alehouse in Silverdale.

Perhaps you’ve seen the Hale’s Ale double-decker bus? It’s an old British relic that Mike lovingly struggles to keep road worthy. He often leaves it parked in front of the brewery in Fremont. As an old-time craft beer guy, one who started drinking Hale’s Ale in the mid-80s, I often describe my relationship with craft beer like this: a bus came by and I got on.  Thank you, Mike Hale, for stopping to pick me up.

Hale’s Ale Brewery
4301 Leary Way NW
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 782-0737
http://www.halesbrewery.com/

Daily: 11:30 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Hale’s Alehouse
10315 Silverdale Way NW
Silverdale, WA 98383
(360) 692-4253
http://halesalehouse.com/

Monday – Thursday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Friday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM
(Breakfast 9 AM – 2 PM)

Sunday:  9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
(Breakfast 9 AM – 2 PM)

Finally, A parking Lot! And no port-o-potties!

With attendance building each year, once again we have outgrown our venue space. This year we’re moving the 5Th Annual Tacoma Craft Beer Festival to Cheney Stadium. We’ll be hosting 70+ Craft Breweries, and anticipate 6000-7000 attendees, making this the largest single day beer festival in Washington State.

The Tacoma Craft Beer Festival will be held Saturday September 7th, Noon to 9PM at Cheney Stadium here in Tacoma. This event is being held to bring together those that are passionate about craft beer, and to further build community while promoting this amazing beverage in the South Sound. Please hop on board for our 5th year!

Saturday September 7th, Noon to 9PM

OVER 70 Craft Breweries

At Cheney Stadium

www.tacomacraftbeerfest.com

info@tacomacraftbeerfest.com