Monthly Archives: March 2018

Black Raven Prepares To Release Tropical Squaker IPA

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The IPA is a complicated beast.  There are several different sub-styles including: English, American, Belgian, Black, Brown, Red, Rye, White, etc.  Right now, however, fruity, juicy, tropical IPAs seem to be the most popular, as evidenced by the Brewer’s Association officially adding ‘Juicy or Hazy’ to their 2018 Beer Style Guidelines.

Black Raven Brewing Company (CBM Sponsor) hasn’t joined the haze craze yet, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get a little juicy.  Set for release this Friday, March 30th, Black Raven will be releasing their latest creation: Tropical Squaker IPA.   Continue reading →

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Seattle Mariners 2018 Food & Drink Preview

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When you head to Safeco Field this year to watch the Seattle Mariners I sure hope you come hungry and thirsty, because the Mariners, Ethan Stowell Restaurants, Centerplate and several local restaurants and breweries have teamed up to make your dining experience for the 2018 season something to remember.

At yesterday’s preview event, I had the opportunity to sample many of the new food and drink offerings you’ll find waiting for you at the ball park this season. You’ll have to come try them all for yourself, perhaps at the home opener next Thursday, March 29th as you cheer on the Mariners against the Cleveland Indians.

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Brewer’s Association Adds ‘Juicy Or Hazy’ To Their 2018 Beer Style Guidelines

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In the World of craft beer, the IPA is king. There’s no denying it and, right now, the hazy and juicy New England Style IPA is the dominant sub-style. Everywhere you look there are cloudy, hazy, fruity IPAs that embody this very popular style.

The Brewer’s Association has taken notice of the meteoric rise in the popularity of this style and have added a new category to their 2018 Beer Style Guidelines: Juicy or Hazy Ale Styles – including: “Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale,” “Juicy or Hazy IPA” and “Juicy or Hazy Double IPA.”  I’m somewhat perplexed that they didn’t call the category “New England Style”, but I’m sure they have their reasons.

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Din Tai Fung And Jack’s BBQ Join The Lineup At Safeco Field

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Safeco Field already has a great reputation for providing some of the very best food and drink available at a major league stadium.  Every year since 2014 I’ve been telling you about all the amazing gastronomic delights and wonderful, local craft beers you can enjoy while watching the Seattle Mariners play.

Now, with the 2018 season getting under way, it’s time once again to check out what you can expect at the Safe this season, including two big new names: Din Tai Fung and Jack’s BBQ.  Tomorrow, 3/21, I’ll be attending a special media preview of new Safeco Field menu items for the Mariners 2018 season, courtesy the Seattle Mariners, Centerplate and Ethan Stowell Restaurants.

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Black Raven Releases Kitty Kat Blues In Cans

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Do you like a good pale ale?  Do you like blueberries?  Do you like vanilla?  How about hibiscus?  Now, what if you combine all of these things together and then can them?  The result would be Kitty Kat Blues Pale Ale in cans from Black Raven Brewing Company (CBM Sponsor).

Kitty Kat Blues is not a new beer. Black Raven has been making it for years, but this is the first time ever they’ve put it into cans. It’s also the first time I’ve seen a change in the recipe.  Prior to using hibiscus, Kitty Kat Blues got some of it’s unique and distinct flavor from the use of catnip in the recipe.  Yes, catnip.  I’m not certain why Black Raven has swapped out the catnip for the hibiscus.  The photo for the can release event on Facebook even still uses the old label – which clearly shows catnip as an ingredient, but I’m curious to try this new iteration.  Kitty Kat Blues in cans arrives this Friday, 3/16 at 3 pm.

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Bruery Terreux Releases Saison Ardennes

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While it’s true that IPAs tend to dominate the craft beer World, I’ve also seen quite a bit of support for many other craft styles, including many Belgian styles. This is evident in the popularity of breweries like Holy Mountain, Engine House No. 9, De Garde and many, many more.

Another popular brewery that excels at producing Beigian style Ales is Bruery Terreux – a brand from The Bruery in Orange County, California that exclusively focuses on and explores the sour and wild side of beer. Bruery Terreux is pleased to announce their latest release: Saison Ardennes – a food-friendly, oak foeder-aged, Belgian-style farmhouse Ale.

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Reuben’s Brews Announces Winner Of Hop Idol Homebrew Contest

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I first told you about Reuben’s Brews’ Hop Idol homebrew competition back in late 2016, and the first winner was announced in early 2017. Well, the Hop Idol competition returned again this year and Reuben’s is ready to announce this year’s winner.

Like last year, this year’s Hop Idol winner will get to help brew their winning recipe on Reuben’s system and will see their winning beer distributed throughout the Northwest. It will also be entered into the Washington Beer Awards Pro-Am competition as well as the Great American Beer Festival.

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Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day In Ballard With The Parade O’ Pints

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Looking for a fun way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Seattle this year?  It’s just one week from Saturday (3/17) and five Ballard breweries are teaming up to bring you the first annual St. Pat’s Parade O’ Pints.

This neighborhood St. Patrick’s Day celebration is being hosted by Lucky Envelope Brewing, Obec Brewing, Populuxe Brewing, Reuben’s Brews and Stoup Brewing, and will include specialty beers, commemorative glassware, t-shirts, food trucks, live entertainment, and more.

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Pike Brewing Updates Their Classic Pike IPA

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The hop is an amazing plant. There are dozens of different hop varieties (with even more new and experimental varieties showing up every year) and each one can impart different aromas and flavors to many of the craft beers we love. Those smells and tastes can run the gamut from fruity and citrusy to floral, herbal, piney, earthy, and more. S’cuse me for being Captain Obvious for a moment, but we love hops.

With so many hop forward beers available today, beers with a more subtle/subdued hop character can sometimes seem a bit underwhelming by comparison. Pike Brewing Company has taken note of this hoppy trend and has made the bold decision to reformulate their classic Pike IPA with a more hop-forward character to satisfy our hop hungry palates.

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Foggy Noggin Brewing Prepares For Their 8th Anniversary

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Many craft breweries start out small, then slowly expand as they find some success and the demand for their beer grows.  A few breweries, on the other hand, start out small and prefer to stay small by choice.  One such brewery is Foggy Noggin Brewing Company in Bothell.

Since first opening their doors to the public back in 2010, Foggy Noggin has been brewing on a tiny 1/2 barrel system.  1 barrel is approximately 31 gallons, so brewing on a 1/2 barrel system means that Foggy Noggin produces just 15.5 gallons of beer per batch.  That’s about enough to fill just one full size keg, though most of their beer finds it’s way into 1/6 barrel (5 gallon) or 1/4 barrel (7.5 gallon) kegs.

Now Foggy Noggin is preparing to celebrate their 8th Anniversary, with a 3-day-long celebration from March 23rd to 25th and the release of their special 8th Anniversary Ale.

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