Looking for a job serving beer at one of the area’s most talked about beer joints? Black Raven Brewing announced yesterday that they are looking for an experienced beertender for their Redmond taproom. Details below.

Black Raven Brewing Company is seeking an additional beertender/server for our taproom. Fun environment, good customers, great co-workers and fair and honest management. Prefer 2 year’s experience as server/bartender in a brewpub or alehouse and a thirst for beer knowledge. Must have open availability to include weekends.

Provide references from previous employers to include manager name and phone number. Please have your current Class 12 and health card. Please EMAIL resumes to:

hr@blackravenbrewing.com.

No phone calls or drop offs, email only!

It was quite a lightening rod when a big winery from California came shooting for little ol’ Black Raven Brewing. Few stories have sparked as much debate and triggered so much disdain as the matter of Black Raven vs. Ravenswood winery. You can read about that episode in Black Raven’s history here.

But that’s water under the bridge.

Tomorrow (Thursday, July 14) at Itallianissimo in Woodinville, Black Raven will once again face off against a winery; this time in a much less contentious affair. The beer vs. wine dinner will pit Redmond’s rockstar brewery against one of Woodinvilles outstanding wineries: Efeste. The outcome of this challenge will have nothing to do with deep pockets and fast-talking-three-name lawyers. It’s all about food and drink.

The dinner features five courses paired with five wines and five beers. You decide which pairs better with each course: the wine or the beer. Seating is limited. Get on it right away if you want to attend this delicious event. The cost is $75/person, plus tax and gratuity. Click here to register for the event.

The lineup:

citrus hefeweizen // 2010 feral sauvignon blanc
[decadent crab crepes topped with extra virgin olive oil, deep fried orange peel, and sea salt]

trickster ipa // 2010 evergreen riesling
[hand-tossed pizza with a peanut sauce base, topped with spicy lobster, fresh prima vera veggies, lime and cilantro]

tamerlane brown porter // 2008 ceidleigh syrah
[sweet potato chips topped with pulled pork and chilled cherry salsa]

second sight strong scotch ale // 2007 final final red blend
[a classic Italianissimo housemade meatball, housemade wild boar sausage topped with sweet onion whiskey sauce, and mashers.]

grandfather raven redmond imperial stout // 2008 big papa cabernet sauvignon
[gelato formaggio]

Tonight (Mon. March 21) at the Latona Pub, Black Raven Brewing will be delivering its contribution to the Latona Pub’s Winter into Spring Series of beers. The Latona will also be pouring other beers from Black Raven. Think of it as a Black Raven brewers night with a special beer just for the Latona. The boys from Redmond will be on hand to tell you all about the beer, give away some swag, and all the rest. The revelry gets underway at 7:00.

For the last few months, the Latona has welcomed a new beer from a specific brewery each month. The beer, brewed expressly for the Latona, is then on tap for a month. On April 18th the Winter into Spring series will conclude when Pike Brewing comes to the Latona to deliver their contribution.

On Sunday, March 13th, 100 people gathered at Naked City Brewery and Taphouse for the Daylight Savings Chaos Cook Off, a sold out event that will hopefully become an annual ritual. What a perfect way to spend a dark and rainy Sunday afternoon: drinking beer and eating chili. The Chaos Cook Off featured beer and chili from nine local breweries.

Attendees sampled the offerings in three separate rounds and voted for a favorite beer, a favorite chili, and the most chaotic combo. The winners received trophies and bragging rights.

The combatants in the Chaos Cook Off included: 7 Seas Brewing, Big Al Brewing, Big Time Brewery, Black Raven Brewing, Fremont Brewing, Naked City Brewing, Pike Brewing, Redhook Ale Brewery, and Two Beers Brewing. The participating breweries each brought a batch of chili and a beer to serve with it.

The Beers

My personal favorites: Fremont’s Dark Star Imperial Oatmeal Stout, Big Time’s Holy Mole Chocolate-Chili Ale, and Black Raven’s La Petite Mort.

Of all the beers poured yesterday, the 7 Seas Santa’s Smokin’ Ale was the only one with which I was unacquainted. This winter seasonal beer is a slightly tweaked variation of 7 Seas’ Smoked Porter. It did not disappoint.

The hosts, Naked City, pulled out one of my personal favorites for the event: the Big Lebrewski Imperial Cream Stout. Pike poured its Tandem, which provided some nice coriander notes to accompany the chili. Redhook’s Big Ballard paired exceedingly well with a chorizo chili which included Big Ballard in the recipe. Two Beers Brewing poured a Bourbon-oaked version of its Espresso Stout and Big Al poured its Amber ale.

Pairing Beer with Chili

When contemplating which beers to pair with which foods, I always consider a couple of different approaches. First, you can try to match flavor profiles. A beer with hints of coriander might compliment a dish seasoned with coriander, for example. Another approach is to match flavor intensity. An aggressively hopped IPA or a complex Imperial Stout might pair nicely with very spicy, rich foods. That is, intense beers pair nicely with intense foods. Of course there are no official rules: it is an inexact science that is all about what appeals to your palate.

The chili served at the Chaos Cook Off ranged from bright, tangy white bean chicken chili to a rich, spicy chorizo chili. When making a chili there are a lot of different directions you can go. Likewise, there are a lot of different directions you can go when pairing beer with chili. A very spicy chili might pair well with a Pilsner (to put out the fire) or it might pair well with a Belgian Tripel (to match the intensity).

While the Big Time Holy Mole Chocolate-Chile Ale paired very well with a mole-based chili, it might not have paired so well with any other style of chili. Conversely, Big Al’s Amber Ale would pair deliciously with pretty much any chili. Perhaps Big Al Amber has an unfair advantage: Alejandro Brown (Big Al) and Tutta Bella Executive Chef Brian Gojdics designed this beer with food pairing in mind.

Leave it to Black Raven Brewing to pull off something that was brilliant, hilarious and a wee bit disgusting. That’s the best I can do to describe the way they dumped a small load of secret sauce onto each serving of chili. I’m not exactly sure what constituted the sauce—likely, sour cream infused with something–but it was pumped directly onto your chili from the business-end of a raven. (Pictured below is our friend, and blog contributor, North Seattle Sarah squeezing some sauce out of the bird.)

The Winners

Best Chili: 7 Seas Brewing’s White Bean Chicken Chili. We’re working on getting the recipe. It was delicious.

Best Beer: Black Raven La Petite Mort. I don’t know what to say. Nobody should be surprised. It’s an amazing beer.

Best Chaotic Combo: Big Time Brewery’s Holy Mole Chocolate-Chili Ale paired with Big Time Mole Chili. This pairing won by a long shot. I heard one person say that they thought the flavors were too similar, but other than that everyone was raving about the way the beer and the chili complimented each other. It really was quite amazing: the beer made the flavors of the chili explode on your tongue. Maybe it was the other way around

There’s Always Next Year

We look forward to Naked City making this a regular part of springing forward each year. The Daylight Savings Chaos Cook Off was a blast. We heard rumors that the next time around it will not involve chili but will challenge the brewers to cook up something else. Hmmm. Pie, perhaps?

The elusive Coco Jones is about to make a rare appearance. I’m not talking about my disowned second cousin, Ms. Coco Jones. Last I heard, cousin Coco was still doing two shows a night in Vegas, proudly walking on the wild side. Nope, not that Coco Jones. Today we are talking about Black Raven Brewing Company’s Coco Jones Coconut Porter.

Today Black Raven Brewing announced the pending release of this much beloved brew.

Straight from the Raven’s mouth:

Coco Jones Coconut Porter

Release Date: Tuesday March 15th

The ever elusive Coco Jones will be making a brief appearance again at the Raven’s Nest taproom at Black Raven Brewing Company. Brewed as a brown porter with the addition of freshly toasted coconuts after fermentation. Flavors of caramel, chocolate and toasted coconut mingle together in perfect harmony.

2010 Gold Medal winner at the World Beer Cup

Category: “Herb and Spice Beer”

Growler fills will be available!

Hurry because this beer will sell out fast based on previously released versions.

Last night I was talking to Jeff Lawrence, owner of the Whistle Stop Ale House in Renton. I first met Jeff back in 2002 when I interviewed him as part of a story I was writing for another publication−an article about cask-conditioned beer. More specifically, the story was about the unexpected increase in popularity of cask-conditioned beer. You see, back then the whole cask beer thing seemed unexpected and a bit remarkable. He was a good person to talk to because the Whistle Stop Ale House was one of the only bars in the Seattle area regularly serving cask-conditioned beer back in those days.

My, How Things have Changed

These days “Cask Night” seems to be a regular event at most of the better beer bars around town. The annual Washington Cask Beer Festival is one of the most popular beer events in the area. And then there’s Cask-O-Rama. Today it seems hard to believe that we ever survived without cask-conditioned beer.

Tomorrow evening at the Beveridge Place Pub (Thursday 6:00 p.m.) the 5th Annual Cask-O-Rama will officially begin. There will be a line, you will need be patient, but it is worth it. The event features 24 casks of Washington-brewed IPAs lined up on the bar. It’s a damned impressive sight to see, if nothing else. Cask-O-Rama continues on into the weekend (Friday and Saturday 6:00-12:00).

If you have never attended Cask-O-Rama, you’re really missing something. You build your own sampler trays, picking which six beers you want to try. You can order pints if you like, but with so many delicious and uncommon beers tempting you, we recommend starting off with at least one sampler tray before moving on to larger vessels (if needed).

The first night of Cask-O-Rama also features the crowning of the Hoptoberfest champion. Throughout the month of October, pub patrons voted for their favorite IPA in an ongoing elimination-style tournament. The competition was recently narrowed to the final three (Boundary Bay IPA, Black Raven Trickster IPA, and Two Beers Evolutionary IPA). The winning beer will be the house IPA at the Beveridge Place for the upcoming year. For the winning brewery, this is a big deal, not just because it is an honor to be deemed the champion but also because it represents a significant standing order for beer.

In case you have not seen it yet, here is our video from last year when Black Raven Trickster IPA ousted four-time champion Boundary Bay IPA.

As the Beveridge Place Pub‘s Hoptoberfest Tournament rolls merrily along, patrons are happily sampling a great assortment of Washington-brewed IPAs and voting for their favorite. Now that the final eight have been announced, the competition is heating up. Read our previous post to understand the whole story.

The desire to win is understandable, given that the champion is named the house IPA at the Beveridge Place Pub for an entire year–a distinction that translates into a significant amount of guaranteed beer sales for one of our small, local breweries. Winning this little IPA tournament is no laughing matter. Or is it?

As we previously reported, Bellingham’s Boundary Bay Brewery planned a “Guerrilla Brewers Night” at the Beveridge Place Pub on Monday night. They sent out a call to their mailing list, inviting people to the pub for merchandise giveaways and other surprises (free food, in other words). The hope was to sway the vote and help stuff the ballot box in Boundary Bay’s favor.

In National Lampoon’s Animal House, there was a scene when Otter told his his recently expelled fraternity brothers, “I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part. We’re just the guys to do it.” I imagine a similar conversation taking place in Redmond at Black Raven Brewing — the brewers of the current Beveridge Place Pub house IPA.

When the reigning champion heard about what Boundary Bay had planned, they formulated a plan of their own. Black Raven Brewing staged their own Gorilla Brewers Night to countermand Boundary Bay’s efforts. Yes, I did mean to say, “Gorilla.” We were there and shot a short video when they came roaring into the pub.

We just received word from Redmond’s Black Raven Brewing that they’re releasing this year’s version of Le Petite Mort tomorrow (Wednesday, July 14th). Anyone lucky enough to sample the 2009 version of this Strong Abbey Brown Ale knows why this is a big deal. In short, it’s outrageously good. Back in December, Le Petite Mort won first place in the People’s Choice voting at the Washington Winter Beer Fest (results here). Four months later in Chicago, the barrel-aged version of Le Petite Mort won a silver medal at that 2010 World Beer Cup (read about it here).

You’ll have to make a trip to Redmond to drink the 2010 Le Petite Mort: this exceptional beer will only be available at the brewery’s taproom. Don’t expect to see it pouring at your local pub. Well, at least not just yet. Here’s the official word.

NEW BEER RELEASE

“La Petite Mort”
Belgian Style Strong Abbey Brown Ale

Release date: Wednesday 7/14

This is the 2010 version of our annual release from Black Raven each Bastille Day (July 14th).

This Belgian inspired strong abbey brown was brewed with a Belgian Ardennes yeast strain that imparts an aroma of cloves and a complex spiceyness. This is balanced by flavors of mild fruit and hints of earthy tobacco.

We will be filling growlers of this beer but will not be able to offer any kegs to go.

Cheers,

Beaux Bowman
Black Raven Brewing Company
www.blackravenbrewing.com

If you’ve been paying very close attention—I mean, “stalker-like” attention—you might have noticed that the Washington Beer Blog is the only blog in town that has not posted something about the recent trademark hullabaloo involving Black Raven Brewing and Franciscan Vineyards (Ravenswood).

We don’t want our readers to think that we don’t care. We do care. We don’t want our readers to think that we are happy about the increasingly litigious nature of our American society. We aren’t happy about it. We love Black Raven and they know it.

When something like this happens, people are quick to take it personally. Like someone just made a disparaging remark about a best friend’s wife. We love our local breweries and we don’t want anyone messing with them. As “regular people” it is hard not to feel like big companies with deep pockets are walking all over the Black Ravens, Georgetowns and Laughing Buddhas of the world. Maybe that is what has been happening here. It is hard not to see it that way.

Don’t shoot me for saying it, but people and businesses have the right to protect their intellectual property, copyrights and trademarks. I am glad that I have the right to protect mine. Personally, I think that what has happened is ridiculous. Magic Hat claims to own the number 9? Franciscan Vineyards claims to own the word raven? That other “Buddha” brewery doesn’t even sell beer in America. WTF? How can anyone claim ownership of such common words. It’s like someone claiming they own Beer Church. Oh wait…

Although I may think this is all a bunch of hogwash, I am not an attorney. Also, I recognize that I would be singing a different tune if someone opened a big, swill-producing winery in Woodinville and called it “Elysian Fields Vineyards” or  “The Pike Winery.” To defend their winery, supporters of The Pike Winery might make the same arguments that we’re all making now.

Again, to be clear, I am not in favor of the ruling against Black Raven. Ravenswood wine is beneath me. My boycott actually has nothing to do with this trademark nonsense. I happen to prefer wine from smaller producers. That Happy Buddha company from New Zealand? I would make efforts to avoid their product if it was available in the western hemisphere. Sure, I may be pissed at Magic Hat but I’m resisting the urge to take it out on Pyramid because that really makes no sense. Magic Hat and Pyramid are both owned by the same company (Independent Brewers United Inc.) but operate as completely separate companies. In other words, this really has nothing at all to do with Pyramid.

It is a messy and depressing issue. Over the last couple days, while everyone has been venting their anger and tossing opinions around, I contacted a friend of mine who is an attorney with experience dealing in these kinds of trademark issues. I thought that perhaps her calmer, better-informed, impartial opinion might add something valuable to the conversation. She agreed to look at some stuff and tell me what she thinks so that I could share it with all of you.

Now I’m not even going to do that.

This whole thing is depressing and I think it is just time we get over it. While I am sad that someone took up arms against my friends in Redmond, I must remember that nobody died in this battle and Black Raven is still producing some wicked-good beer. They currently have no plans to change their name, but even if they did, the beer would still be great. “That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Still, let’s hope it never comes to that.

Here is the official statement from Black Raven Brewing, as published on their website, regarding the issue.

The Black Raven Brewing Company filed for a federal trademark for “Black Raven” in the trademark category class 32 (Beer) in 2007. In 2008, Ravenswood Winery (Franciscan Vineyards, Constellation Brands) filed an objection to our mark application in the Federal Trademark Trial and Appeal Board court system. After two years of legal proceeding, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board ruled that the application for “Black Raven” would violate the current registration for Ravenswood winery marks “Ravens, Ravenswood, Ragin’ Raven”. Therefore the application for “Black Raven” Brewing Company was denied.

Black Raven Brewing has the utmost respect for intellectual property and has never had the desire to mislead or confuse consumers. We also have no desire to build on the goodwill of another brand for our advancement or recognition. We feel that the mark and brand “Black Raven” as applied to a brewery will not interfere with Ravenswood’s intellectual property or consumers.

Black Raven respects the trademark legal process and is fully aware that we are not a registered trademark. Black Raven also respects Ravenswood’s right to object, even though we strongly disagree with the outcome.

Black Raven does not ask for nor support any boycott or negative action towards Franciscan, Ravenswood or Constellation Brands.

Black Raven will continue to produce world class ales of great distinction and character.

Tomorrow Black Raven Brewing will celebrate its one year anniversary with a big party at the brewery in Redmond.  Has it really only been a year? Details about the party are below.

About a year ago, when my lips had yet to sip a Black Raven beer, a good friend of mine in the Washington beer business told me about the new brewery that was just opening in Redmond. He said that he thought they’d be really successful because, in his words, “They took their time getting it together and they’ve just done everything right.”

No, my friend Bryan Bendix is not a prophet, but he does know a thing or two about the beer industry. He hit this one right on the head. Since they fired up the brew kettles, everything has been a homerun.

They’ve gained a great deal of notoriety in just one year. Black Raven has won medals at festivals and all that good stuff. Most impressive to me is the fact that Black Raven Trickster IPA unseated Boundary Bay IPA as the house IPA at the Beveridge Place Pub. Seriously, that’s not at all insignificant. Boundary Bay held that title, well, forever. Black Raven Trickster won the annual IPA tournament by a landslide, ending Boundary Bay IPA’s four year run as champion.

We’ll be there. If you see us, be the first person to tell us the secret password and we’ll buy you a beer. The password is “Nevermore.”

Black Raven One Year Anniversary Party
Black Raven Brewing Company, Redmond, WA
Noon – 10:00 p.m.
21 and over only

• Live music all day
• Food kiosks
• Rare Black Raven beers
• 2 beer gardens
• Live goats!

On the music stage:

• 1PM – 3PM. Essie Blue. Bluegrass and Americana.
• 3:30PM – 5:30PM. “TBD”. Covers and original material.
• 6PM – 9PM. Dub Lounge International. Seattle-based reggae band.