In 1997, long before the birth of the Washington Beer Blog, I started an organization called Beer Church. The shortest description I can provide: Beer Church brings beer drinking and charitable giving together, providing beer lovers with fun and affordable ways to support worthy causes. I started Beer Church because I believe that beer’s higher purpose is to bring people together for the betterment of our community. Most people in the craft beer industry agree with me. That is one of the reasons I find my involvement in the beer industry (however ancillary it may be) so rewarding. That said…

Many of you already know the story of Bob’s Brown Ale by Georgetown Brewing and all you need to know is where to find it this year. We provide the list of participating bars below. Others of you do not know about Bob’s Brown Ale yet. You should.

Bob’s Brown Ale is philanthropic brew released once a year by Georgetown Brewing. This ongoing project, now in its 8^th year, continues to gain momentum. Georgetown celebrates the release of the beer each spring on May 14^th with a big party at the Nickerson Street Saloon. Last night at the kickoff party, the crowd consumed 8.5 kegs of Bob’s. Impressive. The beer is out there right now waiting for you.

All proceeds from the sale of the beer benefit Ronald McDonald House. The beer also spurs many special events—silent auctions, for instance—that earn even more money for the cause. According to Georgetown Brewing, Bob’s Brown Ale has raised well over $258,000. They’re modest. According to Ronald McDonald House, Bob’s has raised more than $330,000.

Manny Chao, co-owner of Georgetown Brewing, was a counselor at a camp for sick kids. That’s where he became friends with Bob Hirsch. Shortly after his 21^st birthday, Bob lost his battle with cancer. His fight was valiant, inspiring much more than the beer bearing his name. I know that Georgetown does not want me to heap praise upon them, but they deserve some recognition for raising over $330k for Ronald McDonald House.

Some people say that Bob’s Brown Ale is Georgetown Brewing’s best beer. Personally, I hate using the word best to describe beer. It is always a matter of taste and personal preference. In this case, I’m willing to make an exception. Bob’s Brown Ale is Georgetown’s best beer. The beer is darn tasty, but that has nothing to do with it.

Georgetown is not alone. Most, if not all, of our local breweries engage in charitable giving—donating raffle items for school fundraisers, providing beer for non-profit events, and so on. Other breweries have programs similar to Georgetown’s, with a specific beer designated to benefit a particular cause. It proves the point that local beer is more than a consumable product; it is part of our community.

Cheers to Georgetown Brewing and cheers to Bob’s Brown Ale. Now go get yourself some of that tasty stuff! Here’s where you should look for the beer. You’ll have to check with each to see if and when it’s going on tap.

2nd Street Grill (Yakima)

74th St. Ale House

9lb Hammer

A-town Bistro (Anacortes)

Aldarra Golf Course

Ale House Tacoma

Apollo’s Pizza (Olympia)

Arena Sports Issaquah

Arena Sports Magnuson

Arena Sports Redmond

Attic Ale House

Azul (Mill Creek)

Bar Del Corso

Barking Dog

Beaver Inn (Bellingham)

Benniditios Pizza (Spokane)

Bert’s Pub (Yakima)

Beveridge Place Pub

Bill’s Place (Yakima)

Bravehorse

Brickhouse (Vancouver)

Brown Lantern (Anacortes)

Bubba’s Tavern Kent

Buckley’s Belltown

Buckley’s Queen Anne

Café Mox

Calamity Jane’s

California Pizza Kitchen Bellevue

California Pizza Kitchen Northgate

California Pizza Kitchen Southcenter

Campbell House (Chelan)

Capones Coeur D’Alene

Capones Hayden

Capones Post Falls

Cedar Grill (Maple Valley)

Cedars at Dungeness (Pt. Angeles)

Celtic Bayou Lynnwood

Celtic Bayou Redmond

Christo’s

Circa

College Inn Pub

Columbia City Ale House

Cooper’s

Coug, The (Pullman)

Deluxe Bar & Grill

Doc’s Marina Grill Bainbridge

Doc’s Marina Grill Pt. Townsend

Dog & Pony (Renton)

Duke’s Kent Station

Duke’s Lake Union

Eastside Club (Olympia)

Elk, The (Spokane)

Fiddler

Floyd’s Place

Flying Squirrel Maple Leaf

Flying Squirrel Seward Park

Fred’s Rivertown Alehouse (Snohomish)

Front Door (Boise)

Great Nabob

Gtown Liquor Co.

Harbour Pub (Bainbridge)

Hard Rock Café

Hawk’s Nest

Highliner

Hills Neighborhood Restaurant (Richmond Beach)

Hilltop Ale House

Hooverville

Hudson (Gtown)

Indigo

Ivar’s Acres

Ivar’s Mulkiteo

Ivar’s Salmon

Jabu’s

Jimmy’s on 1st

Jules Maes Saloon

Kate’s Pub

Kirkland Lodge

Lake Trail Taproom (Kenmore)

Latona Pub

Lobby Bar

Loretta’s Northwesterner

Ma’ono

Madison Pk Conservatory

Madrona Ale House

Manito Tap House (Spokane)

Marco Polo

Meconi’s (Tacoma)

Montlake Ale House

Mulkiteo Lodge

Murphy’s

Napoli Pizza

Nickerson St. Saloon

Norm’s (Fremont)

North Bend Bar & Grill

O’Blarney’s (Lacey)

Oddfellas (Auburn)

Ozzie’s

Parilla Grill (Boise)

Parkway (Tacoma)

Pine Lake Ale House (Sammamish)

Pints & Quarts (Lacey)

Pioneer Square Saloon

Porterhouse (Mt. Vernon)

Post St. Ale House (Spokane)

Pour House (Pt. Townsend)

Prima Bistro (Langley)

Pumphouse (Bellevue)

Quinn’s

Rainier Bar & Grill (Enumclaw)

Red Door

Red Hot (Tacoma)

Red House (Renton)

Renaissance Hotel

Roanoke Inn Mercer Island

Roanoke Park Place Tavern

Rory’s (Edmonds)

Sand Point Grill

Serendipity

Shanahan’s (Vancouver)

Sharp’s Roaster (SeaTac)

Shawn O’Donnell’s (Everett)

Shorty’s

Siren’s (Pt. Townsend)

Skep & Skein (Olympia)

Sloop

Smarty Pants

Sport Restaurant & Bar

Sports Center (Yakima)

Sporty’s Beef & Brew (Everett)

Stadium Lodge

State Street (Bellingham)

Stellar Pizza

Sunset Ale House (Issaquah)

Swiss (Tacoma)

Tap House Grill Bellevue

Tap House Grill Downtown

Taphouse Ink (Black Diamond)

Terrible Beauty Renton

Terrible Beauty W. Sea

Tides (Gig Harbor)

Tin Hat

Train Wreck (Burlington)

Traveler

Two Beers Brewing Co.

Up & Up (Bellingham)

Village Pub

Von Trapps

Wedgwood Ale House

West 5

West Seattle Bowl

Westin Hotel (Bellevue)

Wilde Rover (Kirkland)

Wildfire (Pt. Angeles)

Seattle beer geeks love Uber, the tavern on Aurora Avenue just north of Green Lake. But there is another Uber in Seattle worthy of your adoration, especially right now as we are in the throes of Seattle Beer Week.  The Uber of which I speak is a service that guarantees you will get home safe. I am talking about the Uber transportation app for your smart phone. Thanks to Uber, if you click here to sign up, you’ll get a $10 credit on your account. You can also download and sign up from Uber’s apps (use the links below to do it directly from your phone).

Understand that this post is not a paid advertisement; it is more like a public service announcement. You, my fellow beer drinker, need to know about Uber. My wife and I are huge fans of Uber and people frequently ask us what we’re talking about when we say things like, “We’ll just Uber home from the beer festival.”

Allow me to explain in simple terms.

Uber is a transportation application for your smart phone. You use Uber to order a driver and car to get you home safely. In the end, you’ll find the cost about the same as a taxicab. There are important differences that make Uber much better than a cab. (I don’t mean to hate on taxicabs; it is just that Uber is better.)

1) Since you have an account set up with Uber, you don’t pay cash. You don’t even tip. You order your car using your phone, the car shows up in a timely fashion, takes you home (or wherever), and you get out. That’s it. You’re done. No pay. No tip. Just stumble to your door. Uber emails you a receipt shortly after you’re dropped off. The receipt is really nice if you have a reason to need a receipt.

2) The cars are nicer. Much nicer. The typical Uber car is a Lincoln Towncar. It’s a bit like being a rockstar. Often, the driver will even have bottled water waiting for you as your slightly inebriated body sinks into the plush and comfy leather seat. One driver even had a bowl of mixed nuts waiting for us. Very nice!

The car options include:

Black Car: The classic “black car option” is the default. Choose this and either a high-end sedan or SUV will be curbside in minutes. Note: choosing “Black” and being picked up by an SUV will not charge you the SUV rates. Seats up to 4 people.

SUV: When you’re rolling with more than four people, request only SUVs, for a higher rate. Seats up to 6 people.

UBERx: The convenience of Uber at a lower price with hybrid and mid-range cars in a variety of colors.

The cars are always clean, quiet, and comfortable. Rock star!

3) You know when your car will show up. You can even get an estimate of how much your ride will cost. When you open the app and pin your pickup location, Uber will tell you that the nearest available car is 5 minutes away, for example. After you order your car, you can track its progress and see exactly where the car is at. Behold the miracle of GPS and smart phones.

I’ve never waited more than 12 or 15 minutes for a car. Usually it’s less, especially when I’m in the city. Example: Last night at 8:45 we ordered an Uber car from Pike Brewing Company. A moment later I received the text message telling me that our car was one minute away,  and the it arrived. Good thing we were already at the curb when we ordered our car. Rock star!

Map shows the area of “most reliable service.” Once in the car, the drive will take you wherever you want to go.

Point number 3 above is the most important for me. When you call and request a taxicab the dispatcher gives you an estimate as to how long it will take for your ride to show up. They dispatch a cab and it starts heading your direction. Maybe it gets sidetracked or flagged down by another fare. Maybe not. Taxicabs have burned me too many times. I have waited hopelessly and on more than one occasion found myself walking home from the bar in the middle of the night because my cab never showed up.

When you open the application on your phone, you drag the pin to your pickup location. You can see the location of the nearest cars.

Seattle sucks for taxicabs. For whatever reason, we just can’t get it right. Unless you are in the heart of the city, and it is not a busy time of night for taxicabs, your chances of flagging down a cab in Seattle are just about nil.

Uber fixes all of that. Once you order your car, your driver is on the way. You get a text message telling you so. You can contact your driver directly and vice versa. Your driver will not ignore the dispatch or pull over to pick up a group of 3 people who look like they will be a better fare. This is Uber. It hooks you up with Towncar services–independent businesspeople licensed by the state to provide this service. Towncar operators work under a different set of rules than cabs. They are cars-for-hire. The drivers is akin to a chauffeur and not a cabbie. In this game, good service equals success.

Another thing I should point out, after your Uber ride is done,  the driver and passenger can actually rate each other. I am not sure how it works on the driver’s side, but I’d guess that if you’re a problematic passenger and have a low rating, some driver’s might not choose to accept the assignment when you request a car. They treat you well, you treat them well in return.

Given the fact that the cost of an Uber ride home is about the same as, or less than, a taxicab, I have no idea if I will ever rely on that mode of transportation again.

Simply put, my experience has been this:

• Cost is about the same or less than a cab, especially since you don’t tip when you use Uber.
• I don’t need to have cash, or wait while the cabbie fumbles for change hoping I’ll just say “keep it.”
• The cars are much, much nicer.
• When I leave the bar at night, I enjoy feeling like a rock star and having a fancy black car waiting for me, with a well-dressed driver holding the door open.
• Uber cars smell better.

In closing, Uber rules. Huge fan. Ringing endorsement. Sign up now. Then go get the app. Use it. Be safe.

If you’re too cheap to pay for cabs or Uber, never mind. I understand. That’s your business. I’m just trying to help you get home safe.

From Your Phone

To get the $10 credit on your new account, use this invite code: qvzrk

If you’re on a iPhone right now, click here.

If you’re on an Android right now, click here.

Jim Parker and Skip Madsen are two familiar faces on the local beer scene. That’s not only because the two happen to have memorable faces, but because they’ve both been involved in the beer business for a long time. In fact, Jim gave Skip his first beer industry job way back in 1992. Ever since, they’ve been known as “Skipper and his Little Buddy,” a nod to Gilligan’s Island. Over the years, they’ve both been working in the beer biz from Montana to Colorado to Oregon and Washington.

These days Skip brews for American Brewing Company. Jim hocks beer for Fort George Brewing. To commemorate their long-standing friendship, the two will host a series of dual-brewers events at pubs around western Washington. Events will feature beers from both American Brewing and Fort George Brewing. Beat that. Here are the details as we have them right now.

BARLEY LEGAL TOUR COMING TO A PUB NEAR YOU

‘Skipper’ and his ‘Little Buddy’ celebrate 21 years in the beer business

“Just sit right back and you’ll hear some tales, some tales from two guys who brew. And when they are not making beer, they like to tip a few!”

Skip Madsen and Jim Parker are familiar faces in the Pacific Northwest beer scene. Madsen is the brewer of many of Washington’s favorite beers at breweries such as Pike, Big Time, Boundary Bay, Water Street and now American. Parker has bounced around Oregon and Washington as a brewer, publican, brewers guild director and now salesman for Oregon’s Fort George Brewery.

But what many don’t know is that these two, who affectionately refer to each other as “Skipper” and “Little Buddy,” got their start in the beer business together 21 years ago in Fort Collins, Colo.

“Jim gave me my first job in the beer business as a bartender at the Mountain Tap Tavern in 1992,” Madsen says.

As Parker recalls, “I had corresponded with Skip about the Montana beer scene when I was publishing my brewspaper, ‘Rocky Mountain Brews’ and he was head of the Zoo City Zymurgists club in Missoula. We first met at a homebrew competition in Fort Collins where I was judging and he won best-of-show. I was in the midst of opening a pub and offered him a job bartending.”

The two became fast friends and soon after, the “Skipper” and “Little Buddy” monikers – a play on the characters from the “Gilligan’s Island” TV show – took hold.

“Skipper is one of the main reasons I moved to Washington,” Parker says. “After he moved here, I ended up back in Oregon, and whenever possible, we would visit each other or make sure to connect at events like the Great American Beer Festival.”

To celebrate the 21 years of friendship and fermentation the two are holding a series of co-brewers nights at pubs around the state, calling it their “Barley Legal Tour.” The idea started at a brewers night the two shared at Special Brews in Lynnwood last month.

“As usually happens when Skipper and I get together, stories started flying and pretty soon we were both laughing so hard no one could hear anything else,” Parker says. “So we decided we needed to do more of these.”

The next stop on the “Barley Legal Tour” is Thursday, May 16 at The Pub on Piper’s Creek as part of Seattle Beer Week. They will also make a two-day stop at Woodinville’s The Collective on Tap on May 27 and 27. They are working on June dates at Pourhouse in Port Townsend and Darrel’s Tavern in Shoreline before celebrating the 21st anniversary of the opening of the Mountain Tap on July 3 at the Copper Hog in Bellingham. After that, who knows?

“We’ll probably continue this all year… as long as there are pubs who will have us,” Parker says. “We’re talking about doing a ‘Tour Shirt’ and maybe even a collaboration beer. In reality, it is just another excuse for Skipper and I to get together, have a few beers and tell stories about each other… some of them are even true.”

Both Fort George and American Brewing beers are distributed in the Seattle area by Click Distributing. Any pub owner wanting to book a stop on the “Barley Legal Tour” can contact their Click representative or contact Parker directly at jim@fortgeorgebrewery.com.

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.