Ladies of Craft Beer

Posted By: Theresa Carpine

Don’t forget that Ladies of Craft Beer is celebrating Seattle Beer Week on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 from 6 to 9 PM at Full Throttle Bottles with Pike Brewing! Seattle-area women who love craft beer, and those who are curious to learn more about craft beer, are invited to an evening of conversation, networking, and imbibing. Gentlemen are also welcome to attend.

RSVP on Facebook or by emailing locb.reservation@gmail.com. Visit Ladies of Craft Beer – Seattle Beer Week for more details.

Originally posted 2011-05-24 13:31:04.

Posted By: Theresa Carpine

Seattle is a “must see” city for the beer traveler and there’s no better time to visit than during Seattle Beer Week from May 19-29, 2011. On the heels of American Craft Beer Week, the Emerald City plays host to a multi-day celebration of craft beer, both local and beyond, at a variety of locations along the Puget Sound.

Ladies of Craft Beer is excited to join in the action this year, hosting a tasting event on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 from 6 to 9 PM, sponsored by Full Throttle Bottles and Pike Brewing. The event will take place at The Stables (980 South Nebraska Street Seattle WA 98108), which is attached to Full Throttle Bottles (5909 Airport Way S) in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood.

Northwest contributors for Ladies of Craft Beer Theresa Carpine and Deverie Hart (also of Hurra Bier) joined forces to plan an event that would bring Seattle-area women who love craft beer together for an informal evening of conversation, networking, and imbibing during Seattle Beer Week. Admission is free and gentlemen are also invited to attend.

“We want to create a comfortable environment where women who enjoy craft beer can meet one another, and to provide a place where women who are curious about beer can try something new and ask questions,” Theresa said. “It should be a great time for out of town visitors and members of the beer industry to mingle with the beer-loving ladies of the Northwest as well.”

Deverie is an employee at Full Throttle Bottles, so she thought right away to approach her boss Erika Cowan about sponsoring the event. Erika moved to Seattle in 1991 and, with a background in management and retail, opened the specialty beer and wine shop in 2008. The name Full Throttle Bottles pays tribute to the store’s industrial neighborhood, as well as Erika’s personal appreciation for autocross cars. “Georgetown is full of planes, trains, semis, and motorcycles. Very engine-oriented, no holds barred, go at full speed!” Erika explained, much like her own ‘go get ‘em’ personality.

As the owner of a shop in a male-dominated industry, Erika was immediately interested in supporting an event to recognize women in the beer industry. “I think this will be a great opportunity for people to talk, and meet other ladies who work hard in this industry. Women have more refined palates usually, so it’s no wonder that we have some great brewers out there!” Erika said.

Erika used her beer connections to recruit another great lady in the Seattle beer scene for the event. Laura Stoudt (of the Stoudt’s Brewing Stoudts) arrived on the West Coast about six years ago and worked as a server and bartender at several Seattle-area bars before starting in sales at Elysian Brewing in 2008. She joined Pike Brewing as a Sales Representative in early 2011.

“I was attracted to Pike because it’s family-owned,” Laura said, noting similarities between the Seattle brewery and her family’s business in Pennsylvania. “It’s small but growing, and they’re great people,” she said, referring to owners Charles and Rose Ann Finkel and the whole team at Pike.

When Erika asked if Pike Brewing would take part in the Ladies of Craft Beer event, Laura realized that there had never really been anything about women in beer during Seattle Beer Week. “Women were the first brewers and we want to celebrate that,” Laura said. “It was a great idea.”

The tasting list for the event hasn’t been finalized yet, but Laura thinks that late-May setting might be a good time to showcase Pike’s summer seasonal, Dry Wit, as well as their year-round Belgian-style ales, Tandem Double Ale and Monk’s Uncle Tripel Ale.

During the event, Laura will be on hand to answer questions about Pike Brewing and provide sample tastes of their craft beers. Additional beverages will be available for purchase at Full Throttle Bottles, which has a selection of ciders, meads, and non-alcoholic soda in addition to wine and beer. Ladies of Craft Beer will provide complimentary food for light snacking, and door prizes of craft beer swag will be distributed through a free raffle.

To RSVP or learn more, contact Theresa and Deverie at locb.reservation@gmail.com. Visit Ladies of Craft Beer – Seattle Beer Week for updates.

Related Posts:

• Seattle’s Ladies of Craft Beer Are Here to Stay
• Reminder for Ladies of Craft Beer at Seattle Beer Week
• New PacNW Craft Beer Guide Book from Lisa Morrison
• 2nd Annual Belgianfest – Seattle, WA
• 12 Beers of Xmas Tour – Seattle, WA

Originally posted 2011-04-06 12:45:08.

Posted By: Theresa Carpine

Beer lovers from the Puget Sound to the Palouse are celebrating the great craft beer community of Washington on Saturday, February 26, 2011 from Noon to 4 PM in breweries across the Evergreen State at Washington Beer Open House.

Organized by the Washington Beer Commission, the Open House invites beer drinkers to get a behind-the-scenes look at their local breweries. As of this writing, over 30 Washington breweries are participating in this year’s Open House.

Depending on the brewery, visitors might get to sample a brand-new brew, tour the brewery, or try a beer poured directly from the tanks. In Bothell, Foggy Noggin Brewing, one of the world’s smallest production breweries, is debuting its new seasonal brew, Diablo del Sol, an English Pale Ale, during WA Beer Open House. As noted by Washington Beer Blog, Edmonds-based American Brewing Company is celebrating its grand opening during the Open House as well.

Check out WA Beer Open House Google Map to find breweries in your area that are participating and discover what they might have planned for the afternoon.

Attendees are encouraged to use the hashtag #WAbeerOH on Twitter and to post photos in Washington Beer Pics Flickr Group during WA Beer Open House. No RSVP or admission tickets required!

For more information, contact Washington Beer Commission at (206) 787-1989, or contact participating breweries directly.

Related Posts:

• 2nd Annual Belgianfest – Seattle, WA
• Old World, Unfiltered Ales at Mount Vernon’s North Sound Brewing
• 2011 Washington Brewers Festival in Kenmore, WA
• Seattle’s Ladies of Craft Beer Are Here to Stay
• Strange Brewfest 2011 – Port Townsend, WA

Posted By: Theresa Carpine

Join Washington Beer Commission for the 2^nd Annual Belgianfest, celebrating Belgian-style beers from 25 Washington breweries on Saturday, January 22, 2011 at the Workshop at Magnuson Park in Seattle, Washington.

While Belgian beers are limited to the beers brewed in Belgium itself, Belgian-style ales are crafted around the world, using Belgian yeast and recipes that originated in the area dating back to the Middle Ages. Tripels, dubbels, saisons, wits, and lambics are just a few Belgian-style ales that the American craft beer community continues to enjoy in the 21^st century.

All breweries participating in this year’s Belgianfest will present Belgian-style ales made with Belgian yeast, adding their own craftsmanship and creativity in the process.

Belgianfest will host two sessions: 12-4 PM and 5:30-9:30 PM. Admission is $30 advance or $35 at the door, which includes a tasting glass and ten 4 oz. samples. Separate tickets are required for each session. Tickets are available online and at Big Time Brewery and Full Throttle Bottles.

Belgianfest is a fund raiser for the Washington Beer Commission, the first commission of its kind in the
nation. For more information and a list of participating breweries, visit Washington Beer Commission or call (206) 787-1989.

Related Posts:

• Washington Beer Open House – Saturday, February 26, 2011
• Seattle’s Ladies of Craft Beer Are Here to Stay
• Washington Beer Blog – A Gathering of the Ladies of Craft Beer, Seattle
• Holiday Cheer at Issaquah Brewhouse
• Washington Beer Commission’s 2010 Winter Beer Fest – Seattle, WA

Posted By: Theresa Carpine

Along with brewing up delicious craft beer, Issaquah Brewhouse (acquired by Rogue Ales in 2000) is doing its part to spread holiday cheer and goodwill this year!

Head brewer Steve Luke found a creative use for the brewery’s spent grain this year. In brewing, grain is cracked and boiled to release sugars that are later converted into alcohol. Typically, leftover mash is thrown away, but the spent grain is the perfect fuel for hungry reindeer! Throughout the year, Steve delivered and handfed the grain to the reindeer, benefiting the animals and our environment by reducing waste.

Issaquah Brewhouse is also helping kids in need this holiday season by hosting a Reindeer Engine Toy Drive with Eastside Fire & Rescue on Thursday, December 23, 2010 at 6 PM. Bring a toy donation and Santa will be there to collect the toys and take pictures with brewhouse patrons of all ages.

While you’re enjoying the celebration, try a beer from Issaquah Brewhouse’s signature Frog series, like Menage A Frog Ale, or see if you can buy a pint of Santa’s Private Reserve for the big man himself.

The Issaquah Brewhouse has been open since 1994 and offers brewery tours, free meeting space, and seating that is family and dog friendly. For more information, contact Issaquah Brewhouse at (425) 557-1911.

Related Posts:

• Washington Beer Open House – Saturday, February 26, 2011
• 2nd Annual Belgianfest – Seattle, WA
• Silver City Old Scrooge Christmas Ale Early Release & Beer Tasting
• Prosser to Bellingham: Horse Heaven Hills Brewer’s Night
• Deschutes Brewery Inland Northwest Base Camp

Posted By: Theresa Carpine

The holiday season is upon us. It’s the time of year to gather to celebrate with friends, family, and, if you’re like me, plenty of libations. And in the morning, on those rare occasions when you’ve celebrated a bit too much, a breakfast cookie is an excellent option to get some food in your system without overwhelming your fragile stomach.

While living in the Pacific Northwest, I discovered Erin Baker’s Original Breakfast Cookie, which is based in Bellingham, Washington. The minis are the perfect size for me when I need just a bit of sustenance and, along with being fairly nutritious, they also taste really good. They’re nice and chewy, and super handy when you’re on the go.

When my favorite brewpub, Boundary Bay Brewery (also of Bellingham), won a Bronze Medal for their Imperial Oatmeal Stout at the 2010 Great American Beer Festival, I wanted to find a recipe that would showcase this brew that’s touted as “a meal in a glass” on its own.

So let’s see what happens when two Bellingham favorites–breakfast cookies and craft beer–meet!

I’ve adapted this recipe slightly from instructions on Key Ingredients to make it a bit healthier (less sugar, egg substitutes), and, of course, to use my local brewpub’s stout. This recipe doesn’t call for very much beer and Boundary Bay sells 22 oz. bottles, so plan on making multiple batches at once and drinking the rest (I made three beer floats while baking two batches and still had some beer leftover). The cookies will keep pretty well, and you can also freeze them (defrost in microwave or toaster oven).

Based on the reactions of my tasting group (the people at my old office), this batch turned out great. One taster noted that the cookies weren’t too sweet with just the right amount of salt. Another reluctant participant (who doesn’t like carrots) was pleasantly surprised to find the carrots added texture rather than an overwhelming amount of flavor. My favorite aspect of these cookies is the rich, licorice flavor of the molasses that really brings out the tartness of the cranberries.

While I was baking, my roommate thought I said that the recipe contained coconut, which got me thinking…for a holiday treat, you could substitute chocolate chips and coconut flakes for the cranberries and shredded carrots, and add some cocoa powder instead of some of the spices. Toss in a bit of chocolate stout and let us know how it turns out.

Happy baking!

Hair of the Dog* Oatmeal Stout Breakfast Cookies

Ingredients

1 ½ cups white whole wheat flour
½ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. coarse Kosher salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. nutmeg
¼ tsp. ground cloves
2 cups oats
1 cup carrots, shredded
¾ cup dried cranberries
1 cup butter, unsalted
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
½ banana mashed with ½ cup applesauce (or another egg substitute)
1 tbs. molasses
3 tbs. Boundary Bay Imperial Oatmeal Stout (or your local brewery’s oatmeal stout)
1 tsp. almond extract

How to do it

Preheat oven to 375°F.

In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
Stir in oats, carrots, and cranberries.

In another bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Blend in banana and applesauce, molasses, oatmeal stout, and almond extract. Add dry ingredients a little at a time. Stir until well-combined; do not over-mix.

Arrange rounded tablespoonfuls (smaller if you’re making minis) on parchment-lined cookie sheets. Bake for 9-11 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit for 2 minutes before removing from pan to a cooling rack. Depending on size, makes approximately 2 dozen cookies.

*Hair of the Dog is a reference to the English language idiom meaning “a small measure of drink, intended to cure a hangover” (The Phrase Finder), not Hair of the Dog Brewing, although using their Adam Old Ale with this recipe might yield interesting results!

Related Posts:

• Dry Fly Barrel Aged Boundary Bay Beer Tasting
• Prosser to Bellingham: Horse Heaven Hills Brewer’s Night
• Reminder for Ladies of Craft Beer at Seattle Beer Week
• Ninkasi Maiden the Shade – What’s In a Name?
• Old World, Unfiltered Ales at Mount Vernon’s North Sound Brewing

Posted By: Theresa Carpine

I’m a purist. I don’t start listening to holiday music or put up my Christmas decorations until the day after Thanksgiving. It’s my own, quiet rebellion against the over-the-top consumerism of the holiday season.

But…I’m willing to bend my own rules when it comes to seasonal brews. When a unique brew is only available in limited quantities during a brief period, there’s no time to dilly-dally on the moral high ground. Get it while the getting is good, beer drinkers; that’s my motto.

With that in mind, I suggest that beer drinkers of the Puget Sound visit Wine on the Waterfront in Port Angeles, WA on Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at 6:30 PM for a pre-Thanksgiving beer tasting with Silver City Brewing, as the night will also include an early release of Old Scrooge Christmas Ale, straight from the bottling line.

Silver City provides the following description for their award-winning barley wine:

If Old Scrooge can’t get you in the Holiday spirit nothing can. A rich amber ale, ripe with fruit and spice, Old Scrooge’s character will fully develop as it warms. Intriguing notes of apple, cherry and apricot occur naturally as a result of its unique fermentation and extended aging.

Sounds like a tasty way to start the holiday season to me- combining the tart fruit flavors of fall with the warm malts of a winter ale.

On November 24, 2010, limited bottles of Old Scrooge will be available in the Puget Sound area and at the Silver City Brewpub.

Which winter seasonals are you anticipating this year?

Posted By: Theresa Carpine

Theresa having beer and pizza with Rasputin

There were three very important reasons why I needed to partake in the most recent Brewer’s Night at the Green Frog Cafe Acoustic Tavern.

1. It was the last Brewer’s Night I could attend before moving across the state.

2. “These economic times” being what they are, the owner of the Green Frog recently announced that the tavern is struggling, so I wanted to support my favorite place to try new beer as much as possible before the big move.

3. The featured brewery was Horse Heaven Hills Brewery out of Prosser, Washington, a little town on the Yakima River where my mother grew up and that I have visited many, many times throughout my life.

I couldn’t find a soul to join me that night, so I went to the Brewer’s Night all by my lonesome (!) and had an amazing time drinking new beers, both by Horse Heaven Hills and in style, and chatting with brewer Gary Vegar, who graduated high school just a year after my mom.

As soon as I told Gary that I was the daughter of Joyce Blakney, he smiled widely and recounted his memories of hanging out at my grandfather’s pharmacy and soda fountain in the 70s and seeing the Blakneys in the same pew at church each week. My favorite part of our conversation was when he asked, “Has anyone ever told you that your laugh is exactly like your mom’s?” I laughed in response and he nodded, “Yep, that’s it.” It made me really happy to see how craft beer can bring people of all generations together.

Horse Heaven Hills Kaliptonite Fresh Hop IPA

Oh, right, the beer! Horse Heaven Hills opened in July of 2009 and is available almost exclusively in the Yakima Valley area; Bellingham is the farthest destination that Horse Heaven Hills beer has reached, so far. Gary started out a home brewer while living on Camano Island, and began brewing in a beer shed with his old classmate Dave Keller when he returned to Prosser. When Gary’s wife Carol realized her dream of getting a horse (the inspiration for the brewery logo), Gary got to open up his own brewery with Dave.

The brewery currently has a tasting room with take-out menus on site so patrons can order or bring in food from nearby restaurants, but Gary and his partners (Dave and his wife Brenda, and Carol) have plans to expand the brewery to include food service as well. I also asked Gary about potentially bottling his beer for distribution, which he has considered, although he clarified that they’re looking into cans instead of bottles.

Gary brought five Horse Heaven Hills brews to the Green Frog and since I knew I’d have the chance to try some of the year-round selections during my next trip to visit relatives in Prosser, I opted to try a few of the seasonal brews instead.

I started off with the Kaliptonite Fresh Hop IPA, which was also my first fresh hop ale ever. The Kaliptonite has same recipe as the brewery’s year-round Buck Off IPA, except that it’s fresh hopped with Calypso hops, a new hop variety grown on a test plot at Golden Gate Farms in Prosser. Even as the fresh hops gave the ale a bitter kick in its finish, contrasting with some of the tangy citrus elements that I enjoyed in the beer, I found this IPA to be quite quenchable and refreshing.

Horse Heaven Hills Saison

Knowing my limits, I opted to follow things up with a schooner of the Saison, which was my first saison ever as well. In the glass, it looked like unfiltered apple cider, but my first whiff of the beer yielded a grape scent. Gary explained to me that his Saison included British chocolate malt and Belgium candy sugar, which accounted for the sweet flavors of the beer. He also asked if I could identify the spice flavor of the Saison (I couldn’t), which was coriander.

What a treat it was to be one of the few residents of Northwest Washington to try some great seasonal beers from a Southeast Washington brewery at my local watering hole! I’m sad to leave a community that hosts such wonderful beer events, but I’m hopeful to find places on the east side of Washington that also encourage and promote small breweries.