We just found out about this via Bellevue.com.  Tomorrow night – a Georgetown Brewing barbecue party to benefit Ronald McDonald House.

Cypress Wine Bar @ the Westin Bellevue

600 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue 98004
Jul 7 2011 – Jul 7 2011
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM on

Event Description

Join the Westin Bellevue & the Cypress crew for a special Georgetown Brewing BBQ on the patio to benefit Ronald McDonald House.

We will be offering a full BBQ buffet with proceeds from pint sales going to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Washington & Alaska.

I recently met with the editors of a local magazine to talk about beer. Among other things, we discussed Women in the Local Beer Scene as a possible topic for a story. After talking it through briefly, we decided that it really wasn’t a viable topic. Craft beer is still a man’s world, was our conclusion.

Ladies, I owe you an apology. I was so wrong. I intend to re-pitch the idea.

On Wednesday, May 25th, right in the middle of Seattle Beer Week, Full Throttle Bottles in Georgetown hosted a gathering of the local Ladies of Craft Beer. Yes, men were welcome. Kim and I were not sure how many people would attend. After all, Seattle Beer Week offered plenty of other delicious options. Happily, the crowd was larger than we expected. The event was awesome, to put it simply.

The crowd included many familiar faces, along with many unfamiliar faces. There were a few people missing, including a few notable local Ladies who could not attend for one reason or another. One thing was clear: from brewers, bartenders and beer saleswomen to bottle shop owners and beer writers, there is no shortage of estrogen in the local craft beer industry. What’s more, there is an increasing number of women around Seattle who are getting into craft beer simply because they like to drink it.

Sara Luchi (Silver City Brewing) and Kim (Mrs. Beerblog, @seattlekim)

Ladies of Craft Beer is a national organization of like-minded women. It is, to put it simply, exactly what it sounds like. You can find out more at the Ladies of Craft Beer website. Any women who are passionate, or even just curious, about craft beer are welcome.

The local Ladies are considering an event in the not-too-distant future: a Beer Brunch for Boobies. The potluck-style party would benefit breast cancer research.

Kim with Laura Stoudt and Janelle Pritchard.

There were too many people there last night for me to possibly name them all, and I’m certain I’ll miss some people, so I apologize in advance. A few shout-outs: Patti Youngbluth (Diamond Knot Brewing) @diamondknot; Erika (Full Throttle) @ftbottles; Sonja Groset (Seattle Weekly, etc) @sonjagroset; Lorraine Goldberg @voraciousgirl; Theresa Carpine (event organizer) @teecer; Deverie (Full Throttle Bottles) @hurrabier; Allecia Vermillion (Eater Seattle) @alleciav; Sara Luchi (brewer at Silver City Brewing); Jeannie McWilliams (Northwest Brewing News); Janelle Pritchard (former brewer at Trade Route and Snoqualmie Falls); Laura Stoudt (Pike Brewing)

The Seattle Ladies of Craft Beer

There’s a very cool tasting event happening this Sunday (10/10/2010) at 99 Bottles. Be one of the first to try the newest Vertical Epic Ale from Stone Brewing. The weatherman says the forecast is dismal this weekend–a good time for indoor activities like beer tasting.

From The Weekly Brews (the 99 Bottles newsletter):

Meet Jeff Porter of Stone Brewing at 99 Bottles! Be the first on your block to try the newest Vertical Epic Ale. There will be limited vintages of various Stone brews: Old Guardian and Imperial Russian Stout, to name a few (both in the tasting and available for purchase). At this GRAB BAG tasting, you get a pour of Vertical Epic 10.10.10 and then you choose five Stone beers from the remaining bottles to try. Come at noon for widest selection. Try 6 beers for $2.50, with ID. 99 Bottles Club Members taste for $1.00. The Party starts at NOON, with LAST CALL at 2PM. And be sure to check out the new Stone beer glasses and Arrogant Bastard t-shirts.

Let’s get you off of the fence

Have you been thinking about making the roadtrip (or cheap flight) to Spokane this weekend for the inaugural Spokane Oktoberfest (this Fri, Sat, Sun), where the weatherman says it will be sunny and in the 70s? Do you need one last thing to push you over the edge? How about a really great deal on a hotel room just a couple of blocks from the festival? We’ve got you covered. (See all of our posts about this event.)

How does $85 per night for a room just a couple blocks from the event sound?

The Spokane Travelodge (at the Convention Center) is just a couple blocks from Riverfront Park, where the festival takes place. To reserve a room for $85 per night just call the Travelodge and tell them that you want the Washington Beer Blog special, festival rate. (Contact info is below.) If you’re one of those high-roller types and you want a room with a balcony, it’s going to cost you a whopping $95 per night. Don’t dally, get off the fence and make the call. High-roller or not, your room includes breakfast–a critical element in any beerfest morning-after plan.

Organized by the Washington Beer Commission, Spokane Oktoberfest will feature great beer from across the state, live entertainment, German-style food and other Oktoberfest fun. Included in the lineup are a number of beers from Washington breweries that we don’t too often (if ever) see on the west side of the mountains. Breweries like Palouse Falls, Northern Ales, Riverport, Laht Neppur, and Paradise Creek. You can see the complete lineup of breweries and beers at www.spokaneoktoberfest.com.

Contact

Travelodge Spokane
W. 33 Spokane Falls Blvd.
Division/Spokane Falls Blvd
Spokane, WA 99201
509-623-9727
[MAP]

Tomorrow (Thursday) through Monday at the Pig Out in the Park festival in Spokane, the Washington Beer Commission will be selling discount tickets for the Spokane Oktoberfest.

Pig Out in the Park attendees who visit the Washington Beer Commission booth will have the opportunity to buy discount Spokane Oktoberfest tickets for just $20 each. Each ticket includes admission to the festival, a commemorative tasting cup, and six 5 oz. sample tastes. Discount tickets will be on sale at Pig Out in the Park beginning at noon on Thursday, September 2nd  through Monday, September 6th.

The inaugural Spokane Oktoberfest takes place at Riverfront Park on September 24-26.  The event will feature craft beer from over 20 Washington breweries and is the first official Washington Beer Commission festival to take place in Spokane. To read all of our posts about Spokane Oktoberfest click here.

Mark the date: Friday, September 10th. Hop heads should take the day off work and find a designated driver. Brouwer’s Cafe will celebrate the 5th Annual Hop Fest with dozens of beautifully hoppy beers. Today on the Brower’s Cafe blog, they release the list as it stands right now, noting that a dozen or more beers will be added in the coming days. From near and far, Brouwer’s has assembled an amazing list of hoppy treasures.

The doors open on Friday, September 10th  at 11:00. Do not be surprised if people are lined up by 10:00 a.m.

Here’s the list as of today.

• Alaskan Double Black
• Anacortes Black
• Anderson Valley Imperia
• Anthem Dry Hopped Cider
• Avery Maharaja
• Baron Dry Hopped Pils
• Big Al Dry Hopped
• Big Time Action Jackson
• Black Raven Dry Hopped Trickster
• Black Raven Wisdom Seeker
• Boundary Bay Imperial
• Diamond Knot Shipwreck XXX
• Dogfish Head Burton Baton
• Double Mt. Molten Lave
• Elysian Idiot Sauvin
• Elysian Orgone
• Firestone Walker Union Jack
• Green Flash Pallate Wrecker
• Hub Ace of Spades
• Hub Galactic Imperial Red
• Iron Horse Mystery Firkin
• Lagunitas Hop Stoopid
• Laughing Dog Devil Dog
• Lazy Boy Imperial
• Left Hand Twin Sisters Double
• Mad River Imperial
• Midnight Sun Hop Dog Double Wheat
• Midnight Sun Meltdown Double
• Midnight Sun XXX Black Double
• Mikeller Cascade
• Mikeller Centennial
• Mikeller Chinook
• Moylans Wet Hopsicle
• Naked City Impact
• New Belgium Belgo
• Ninkasi Maiden the Shade
• Oskar Blues Gubna
• Pike Dry Hopped Double
• Port Brewing 4th Anniversary
• Russian River Blind Pig
• Russian River Pliny the elder
• Schooner Exact Imperial
• Scuttlebutt Hoptopia
• Silver City Whoop Pass
• Snoqualmie Dry Hopped Copperhead
• Stone 14th Anniversary
• Two Beers Fresh Hop

For those who have not been, I must warn you that this is a riotous good time. The 6th Annual Smoke Off at the Pub at Pipers Creek kicks off Saturday, August 21st at 1:00 p.m. with the smashing of a 5-foot-tall pig pinata. The event includes a lot of great beer along with a vast array of smoked and grilled delights.

The pig pinata has been constructed and now must be destroyed. (Courtesy of the Pup at Pipers Creek Facebook page.)

A Smoking Good Time
The parking lot is roped off as a temporary beer and barbecue garden, featuring grills and smokers of every shape and size sending the heavenly aroma of smoking meat wafting across the neighborhood. Inside, you’ll find a huge buffet table, refreshed regularly as new stuff comes off of the grills.

The party starts at 1:00 p.m. and we recommend getting there early in the afternoon. The cost is $20 and that includes a T-shirt, your first beer, and a bursting bellyful of delicious food.

Last year, we showed up at about 6:00 p.m. and were sad that we had missed so much of the day’s hoopla. See our post from last year’s event. Below, we have included a video from last year’s Smoke Off.

Pig Out for a Worthy Cause
Not only is the event a big party, it is a benefit for Northwest Harvest and Food Lifeline. The charity aspect of the event works like an antacid. If you’re going to pig out, it makes you feel better to do it for the benefit of people who often find the cupboards bare. Raffle prizes have been generously donated by a number of sponsors and include an assortment of stuff like fire pits, art glass, snowboard decks, and more.

6th Annual Smoke Off
Saturday, Aug. 21st.
1:00 p.m. ’til the meat is gone and the grills get cold.
The Pub at Pipers Creek
10527 Greenwood Ave N.
Seattle, WA, 98133
[MAP]
(206) 417-5734

Warning: the following video contains adult language, adult situations, and adult beverages. It should not be viewed by vegetarians.

Boundary Bay Brewery is about to celebrate its 15th anniversary. The party takes place on Thursday, September 16th at the pub in Bellingham. Over the past 15 years Boundary Bay has won prestigious awards and earned a reputation as one of the region’s outstanding craft breweries; what’s more, they have won the hearts of the community they serve.

Great people making great beer

Beyond making great beer and having a fantastic restaurant and pub, Boundary Bay is a beloved fixture in Bellingham.  More than just a local business, Boundary Bay Brewery is an important part of the community. I have friends who live in Bellingham and I can attest to the fact that their affection for Boundary Bay goes beyond the beer.  Bellingham is a great community: a city with more than 80,000 people that feels like a small town. Boundary Bay Brewery is one of the things that makes Bellingham great.

Cheers to Boundary Bay Brewery, and cheers to many, many more years!

From their website:

Please join Boundary Bay Brewery in celebrating our 15th anniversary on September 16th, 2010!

15 years ago we found a home in the heart of downtown Bellingham. We opened our doors on September 16th, 1995 in a restored, historic warehouse right across the street from the Saturday Farmers Market. From the beginning we knew that we wanted to make the kinds of beers that we liked to drink: big, bold Northwest brews. Early on, our handcrafted ales began gaining recognition and we quickly became a place where the locals love to go.

We started with just six beers on tap, mostly English-style ales like ESB and Scotch Ale. Over the years, we’ve expanded our brewing and now feature 7 beers permanently on tap, 3 rotating seasonal taps and 2 ales always on cask. Throughout the year, we feature over 25 seasonal varieties, ranging from classics like our IPA to the cult favorites like our Cabin Fever and Imperial IPA.

Our logo has become a familiar sight on the Boundary Bay Brewery clothing that people seem to spot everywhere. Historically, it references the bootlegging in Boundary Bay from British Columbia to Washington that was common during Prohibition.

Now, though, it means so much more to us. We’ve updated our logo to reflect the last 15 years of saving the ales…and you can expect new coasters, t-shirts, hoodies, pint glasses and growlers. All emblazoned with our 15th anniversary design!

Come to the Beer Garden at 4pm for a Happy Hour BBQ, dancing and live music by the Marion Weston band. Enjoy $1 off your pints, anniversary cake and the special 15th Anniversary Ale which will be tapped at 4pm!

Our anniversary celebration, hosted by Robert Sarazin Blake, is free, family friendly, and open to the public.

We also want to show special appreciation to our accounts, regulars and people that have made major contributions to our business along the way, so there will be a VIP section of the party that will be by invite only.

For 15 years, we have been handcrafting each batch of our beer and we are proud to be doing our part to preserve and expand the art of craft beer.

Boundary Bay Brewery has been saving the ales since 1995 and we just want to thank you for being a part of our craft beer community.

Anniversary Party Details
September 16th, 2010
4pm – midnight
Boundary Bay Brewery
Beer Garden
1107 Railroad Avenue, Bellingham, WA
BBQ, dancing, live music, Anniversary Ale and cake!

Okay, maybe you have been to this one, but last year was my first time and I was totally blown away. Until last year, I had never even heard about this festival and it is awesome.

This Saturday the Porterhouse Pub in Mount Vernon will celebrate its 8th Annual Porterhouse Charity Brewfest to benefit the historic Lincoln Theater. The event features great craft beer and world-class music, mostly blues. They shut down the entire street in front of the Porterhouse and put on one helluva show.

Last year, this was a great event. In fact, I was surprised that I had never heard about it. Kind of freaked me out, actually. I mean, great beer and great music? What’s not to love? Below, you’ll find all the details for this years festival.

Here’s our video from last year’s festival.

Here are all the details from the Porterhouse website.

2:00 pm Saturday August 14th between 1st and Main On Gates Street will be shut down and set up for great brews, raffle prizes, live bands, and dancing to raise funds for the Lincoln Theatre. Breweries from the north west region and the west coast will be bringing their best craft beers for your enjoyment along with some great local music.

This years musical lineup includes:

The Bill Mattocks Band, high energy first rate contemporary blues and blues-based rock.

Tim Halpin and the Better Half, “Funk-infused Rock-N-Roll” style

and last but not least

The Red Hot Blues Sisters, internationally recognized Blues/folk sound

Tickets can be purchased at the Pub or Lincoln Theatre for
$20 in advance, or $24 @ the gates.

Each ticket provides 5 (4oz.) Pours and entrance to the festivities. Please remember this event is strictly 21 and over.

All proceeds will go to help keep the Lincoln Theatre a cornerstone of local culture and history. So come down and celebrate summer with us for a noble cause with craft brews, great music, and good times!

Breweries Confirmed Thus Far:

Flyer’s, Hale’s, Skagit, Boundary Bay, Anacortes, 2 Beers *, Birdsview, Full Sail, Snoqualmie Falls, Deschutes, New Belgium, Lazy Boy, Alaska, Ninkasi, Bridgeport, Elysian, Stone, Pike, 192

This Saturday craft beer lovers can support breast cancer research by attending Beers for Boobies – a breast cancer benefit in the parking lot at  Big Al Brewing in White Center. From 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. you are welcome to come share the good times with great beer, live music, a raffle, and hot dogs. Bring the kids (it’s an all-ages show). Bring your lawn chair and sunscreen. The weather should be perfect.

The beer will be provided by Big Al Brewing, obviously. Big Al Brewing will donate $1 for every pint sold and $2 for every pitcher sold.

The music will be provided by Four on the Floor, a classic rock cover band fronted by yours truly, Mr. Beer Blog. I handle the lead vocals and rhythm guitar as well as all the stupid things rock vocalists are expected to say between songs. Four on the Floor plays the kind of rock and roll that your mother said would make you go blind. See what I mean?

All proceeds from the event will benefit Team Tracy and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Come on down, drink some tasty beer, listen to some loud music, maybe even get your boogie on a little bit, and help us support the cause.

About Team Tracy – Tracy is a very dear friend of Mr. and Mrs Beer Blog. A few years ago, she began working in earnest to raise money for breast cancer research. Then, in an despicable twist of fate that seems to anger the rest of us more than her, she suddenly became more than a breast cancer supporter. Despite her own tribulations, she continues to fight for the cause. Along with her team of supporters, Tracy intends to participate in the Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk again this year. You go girl!

Helping her raise money for this cause is an honor.

Beers for Boobies – a benefit for breast cancer
featuring Four on the Floor

Where:
Big Al Brewing
9832 14th Ave. SW
Seattle, WA 98106
MAP

When:
Saturday, July 10th
5:00 – 9:00 p.m.