I have been talking about this one for the last few weeks – the beer that Elysian Brewing has created for (and with) The Triple Door. I was fortunate enough to be invited to the brewing session and also to the first tasting session. Today The Triple Door and Elysian announce the actual release party on Thursday, October 13th (details below).
Last week I met with the crew from The Triple Door at Elysian Fields for a first taste of the beer. Food geeks as well as beer geeks, they were excited to start pairing it with their menu. They even talked about new dishes that might be created. The launch event, they said, would definitely include small bites and menu items intended to highlight how this beer was constructed to pair with The Triple Door menu, which features the award-winning cuisine of the Wild Ginger kitchen.
The recipe for Backstage Pale Ale includes a generous portion of Sorachi Ace hops along with some Citra hops. It also includes fresh juniper: not juniper berries, but fresh juniper greens. The finished product is exceedingly well balanced, with just a hint of the juniper on the nose and maybe another tiny hint on the finish. Before tasting the beer I expected the juniper to help give the beer a dry finish, so my perception of the same might be imagined. Straw gold in the glass, Backstage Pale Ale has a sturdy and dry-finishing backbone balanced with about 40-45 IBUs (my guess). The hops are lively but not overbearing. The citrus notes will help this beer pair widely and beautifully with The Triple Door’s Pan-Asian menu.
I want one right now. That’s why I do not normally describe beers that way. When I describe a beer that I know to be good, my own words make me thirsty.
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The Event
The Triple Door Backstage Ale will launch at an event hosted in its honor on Thursday, October 13 at 6:00 p.m. at The Triple Door. Open to the public, the event will include a cask-tapping ceremony, live music and appetizers, along with the chance to try out the new brew and meet the key players involved in its creation.
The fellas were also excited to pair the right band with the event. After all, we’re talking about the Triple Door, one of Seattle’s premier event venues. No word yet on who will play the launch event.
The Press Release
THE TRIPLE DOOR TEAMS UP WITH ELYSIAN BREWING COMPANY TO CREATE PRIVATE LABEL CRAFT BEER
The Triple Door Backstage Ale to be sold exclusively at The Triple Door and Elysian Fields available early October 2011
SEATTLE (September 13, 2011) – The Triple Door, Seattle’s world-class event venue that pairs live entertainment with award-winning food and wine, announces a partnership with Elysian Brewing Company to create a new craft beer, entitled The Triple Door Backstage Ale. The new pale ale will be available exclusively at The Triple Door and Elysian Fields, stadium district brewpub, by October 13, 2011.
In creating the recipe for this new brew, a team of key members from both The Triple Door and Elysian Brewing Company collaborated to create a recipe that pairs with The Triple Door menu, which features the award-winning and fiercely authentic Pan-Asian dishes of Wild Ginger.
“When we initially developed the concept of a private label craft beer with the team from The Elysian Brewing Company, we were very excited about the prospect of creating our very own craft beer recipe that could perfectly suit the flavors found in our cuisine,” said Jason Lock, general manager of The Triple Door. “We take great pride in crafting our cocktail, wine and beer offerings to provide our guests a variety of options that pair well with our menu – this provides the ultimate opportunity to deliver on this goal.”
Described as a refreshing golden pale ale, this beer will stay true to Northwest craft brewing by incorporating a lively hop profile. Unique flavoring and aromatic elements will be created by an uncommon Japanese hop, Sorachi Ace, that provides citrus and tropical notes, and for an additional twist, the use of juniper provides another intriguing flavor and aromatic layer. It will retail for $5.50 a pint plus tax.
“In developing a name for our new beer, The Triple Door Backstage Ale, we wanted to come up with something that would have a fun and evocative connection to the Triple Door, said Brian McKay, operations manager at The Triple Door. “The Triple Door Backstage Ale represents the passion, energy, intrigue of our main stage, the magical quality of live performance, and the special connection between the performer and audience.”
The Triple Door
Located in downtown Seattle, across from Benaroya Hall, the Triple Door combines world-class entertainment with the award-winning food and wine of Wild Ginger. The Mainstage Theater features touring national acts and the Musicquarium lounge, named for its stunning 1,900 gallon freshwater aquarium, pairs the sounds of up-and-coming artists from around the country with one of the city’s most popular happy hours. For more information and a schedule of upcoming events call 206-838-4333 or visit www.thetripledoor.net
