As the year comes to a close, I reflect back on 2011 with a bit of satisfaction, a bit of pride, and a lot of optimism for a bright 2012. We made some good headway this year. I am not only talking about the Washington Beer Blog, but the local craft beer scene as a…
Tickets are now available online for the 8th Annual Strange Brewfest in Port Townsend. The event takes place on January 27 – 29 and promises to feature some uncommon beers from more than 30 breweries. Most of the approximately 60 beers available at Strange Brewfest are exclusive to the event. Do not expect to find…
Last spring Big Al Brewing became the first Washington craft brewery to install a solar-thermal heating system. Big Al Brewing flipped the switch in June and started brewing with water heated (at least in part) by the sun. Net Zero Impact, a local solar energy solutions firm, designed and installed the system. The same company…
The other day King 5 Evening Magazine announced the winners of the 2011 Best of Western Washington poll. Below we list the winners and runners-up in the beer-related categories, of which there are too few. Recognize that this is a poll; how well a business ranks depends a lot on how well they were able…
This weekend is turning out to be a good one, at least if you like local craft beers. Go get em. Fresh Hop Throwdown at The Noble Fir Saturday, October 15th, 4 p.m. Fresh hop beers from 15 Washington and Oregon breweries, organized by our fellow local beer blogger, Geoff Kaiser. Cheers to that. You…
(Reported live from the event on Saturday.) Crowds are building as the sun shines down on the Elysian Great Pumpkin Beer Fest at their new production facility in Georgetown. What’s new? More space – lots more space – so you can tell the lines apart from each other. Food trucks – we had Po’boy sandwiches…
Elliott Bay Brewery has just tapped its 2011 Hop Harvest Ale. It is currently on tap at the Burien pub and goes on tap tomorrow (if not sooner) at the West Seattle pub. Elliott Bay Brewing was the first brewery in King County to earn Certified Organic status from the US Department of Agriculture. For…
Everyone loves Boundary Bay Brewery’s beers. If you have ever visited the Railroad Avenue location in Bellingham you very likely love the pub too. The Boundary Bay Bistro is beloved by locals who simply refer to it as “the brewery” or “the pub.” It is also a top destination for many wayward beer gypsies —…
Below I list Seattle Beer Week events devoted to Washington beer. Seattle Beer Week is a celebration of our local beer culture. It is not, as I have heard some embattled individuals in the local beer industry assert, an excuse for out-of-state breweries and their distributors to get a toehold in, or further assert their…
