Archive
Events for Week of February 7, 2011
Spend V Day with some amazing brews at Saraveza- Pic courtesy of portlandmercury.com
What was your beer of choice during the Superbowl? Perhaps something to represent the Mid-West? For us, it was homebrew all the way- Hop Chocolate. But now for your week in beer…
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Silver City’s Whoop Pass Double IPA Event: Seattle, WA
4:00PM-10:00PM @ 74th St. Alehouse
Silver City, a brewery located across the Puget Sound on the Kitsap Peninsula, is coming to the city to show off their Double IPA, Whoop Pass. Stop by the 74th St. Alehouse and grab a pint.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Dogfish Head Night: Limerick, Pennsylvania
6:00PM-12:00AM @ Craft Ale House
Get Ready! Go! DOGFISH HEAD!
60 Minute IPA
75 Minute IPA – firkin
90 Minute IPA
**120 Minute IPA ’09
**Red & White
**Black & Blue
Sah’tea
Theobroma
**Midas Touch
Indian Brown Ale
**World Wide Stout
Raison D’Etre (being poured through Randall the Enamel Animal filled with …)
and maybe more.
I’ve double starred my favorites.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Heavy Seas Beer Dinner: Cambridge, Maryland
7:00PM-9:00PM @ Blue Point
For $60.00 you get a 5 course dinner paired with deliciously amazing Heavy Seas beers. Here is the menu- get ready to droooool.
he Menu (subject to change)
Heavy Seas Classic Lager paired with Oysters Bingo
Heavy Seas Gold Ale paired with Rock Shrimp & Corn Fritters, Smoked Paprika Aioli
Heavy Seas Marzen paired with Baked Ziti With Italian Sausage, Marinara and Parmesan
Loose Cannon paired with Loose Cannon Braised Short Ribs, Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Root Vegetables
Siren Noire paired with Chocolate Bread Pudding, Caramel Anglaise
Friday, February 11, 2011
Chocolate Beer Craziness: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
5:00PM-8:00PM @ Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
Check out Iron Hill Brewery‘s line up of chocolate inspired beers. Beer and chocolate, pretty much my two favorite things.
Overload Stout served on nitro
Shokolad Stout served on cask
Oompa Loompa Stout served on nitro
Cowabunga Porter
Bourbon-aged Cowabunga
Plus – complimentary chocolate treats from our kitchen for mug club members.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Pizza Port 2nd Annual Brewbies: Carlsbad, California
12:00PM-5:00PM @ Pizza Port Carlsbad
Pizza Port Presents its 2nd Annual Brewbies festival! Benefitting the Keep A Breast organization (a local breast cancer awareness organization)! Brewbies is a beer festival for boobies!! 25-30 local and regional beers February 12th, 2011 from noon to 5pm at Pizza Port Carlsbad. Buy your tickets online in advance for $25 or at the door for $30. Ticket includes (4)6oz tasters, collectors glass, I love Boobies Bracelet and (1) raffle ticket. Additional tasters and raffle tickets are $1 each. 100% of the proceeds are donated to breast cancer awareness.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Imperial Stout v. Imperial IPA: Plymouth, Massachusetts
12:00PM-5:00PM @ British Beer Company
This is a tough one- two amazing styles head to head- Imperial Stout vs Imperial IPA: a tag team match-up between Dogfish Head Bitches Brew and NE Brewing Co Imperial Stout Trooper vs Sierra Nevada Hoptimum and Dogfish 90 min IPA run through the Randall stuffed with fresh hops and grapefruit peel.
Monday, February 14, 2011
My Beery Valentine: Portland, Oregon
5:00PM-9:00PM @ Saraveza Bottle Shop & Pasty Tavern
Brewpublic’s 2nd Annual My Beery Valentine offers a variety of unique, specialty, and one-of-a-kind craft beers with sweethearts and sweettooths in mind.
Pouring on this night:
* Block 15 Love Potion #9
* Cascade Chocolate Raspberry
* Double Mountain Bonne Idée Avec Kriek
* Fort George Bourbon BBL Cavatica
* Fort George Murky Pearl Oyster Stout
* Ninkasi Vanilla Oatis
* Oakshire Heart Shaped Box
* Upright Blend Love
Saraveza will also feature special treats courtesy of Sugar Pimp to pair with these delicious brews.
This event is open to the public. No tickets sold, just show up. It is recommended that you arrive early. For full descriptions of the beers listed, visit http://brewpublic.com/events
If you would like us to promote an event or want to comment about an event that you went to, please leave a comment or email me at jess@beerblotter.com! Cheers!
Beers in the Hood: Ballard, Seattle
An ariel view of Ballard's ship yard.
Over the past three years, I have done my share of research on beer spots in Seattle. Every neighborhood has a beer bar, a bar with a decent tap list or a bottle shop to offer those that search the land for all that is fermented yeast. One of the things I love most about Seattle is the variety of neighborhoods (reminiscent of Manhattan) where you step out of one and into the next…almost immediately it becomes obvious that you’re in a whole new world.
Tonight: Ballard.
I’ll start with a nice wiki excerpt:
Historically Ballard is the traditional center of Seattle’s ethnically Scandinavian seafaring community, who were drawn to the area because of the salmon fishing opportunities. In recent years the decline of the fishing industry, and the addition of numerous condo buildings, has decreased the proportion of Scandinavian residents but the neighborhood is still proud of its heritage.
Ballard is situated by so many unique landmarks: the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (a facility that move boats from the water level of the lakes to the water level of Puget Sound, and vice versa and is the location of a salmon ladder); the Ballard Farmer’s Market; the Ballard Bridge and historic Ballard. This neighborhood was Redhook Brewing Co.’s first home, has colorful public art works as well as restaurants with the freshest ingredients. With all of this going on, spending a day in Ballard will keep you entertained. Stopping at these places will satisfy your beer needs.
Old Peculiar
An Irish pub, Old Peculiar has a large wooden bar with a mirrored bar back lined with whiskeys. Cozy nooks and an outdoor patio make this a versitle space while killer tater tots and at least 10 microbrews on tap nurture a bar patron’s desires. A place where the young and the old co-exist, I’ve seen Ninaski, Dogfish head and local brews such as Hales on tap.
During happy hour, food items such as Irish nachos, tater tots, chicken strips and chips are $4 with microbrews clocking in at just $3. When does this amazing deal occur? So glad you asked– during the hours of 4-6 pm and 10 pm-midnight ANY DAY of the week.
Its been awhile since I have visited Old Peculiar. Located on the main drag, Market St. NW, you step in and immediately your past journeys melt away. The space is a good size- not so big that you have trouble navigating and not so small that you are sitting on a stranger’s lap (unless that is your thing, then don’t let us stop you). There are plenty of regulars and some wildly entertaining people watching.
The Jolly Roger Taproom
This taproom is home to Maritime Pacific Brewery and is a new space. Before this newer, much bigger space, the Jolly Roger Taproom was located right across the Ballard Bridge in a small warehouse. The old warehouse was used for brewing with the taproom there for us to enjoy the fruits of Maritime’s labor. That’s what beer drinking is all about, right? It was a quirky space that felt as though you were on a shipwreck which fits with the whole Ballard, fisherman, Maritime, pirate theme.
Maritime's taproom is shiny and new.
Then one day, we were riding past the space and it was empty with a FOR LEASE sign. Oh no! Soon after, we found out that they were just moving to a larger space, but we would have to wait, as the space was being remodeled.
I honestly can’t remember how many months past before the new space opened, but when it did, we were the 4th and 5th people in line to experience Maritime’s new dwellings. The new space still alludes to the fisherman, pirate, sea captain theme except the boat is way nicer with bright, finished wood, plenty of natural light and amazing food and beers. I’ll start with some food recommendations: the fried pickles are delicious, as is the dipping sauce they come with, the onion rings are massive and tasty and the mahi sliders are killer– add some of the homemade hot sauce that is on the table.
BEERS: Maritime is more or less the staple local microbrew. Even bars that don’t focus any energy on beer will have a Maritime beer on tap and is usually my saving grace. Their dark amber ale, Nightwatch is a personal favorite- it is bitter, smooth and hoppy with that roasted flavor. Maritime has a good line up of beers that will appeal to any beer drinker, so check it out.
Old Town Alehouse
If your looking for something a little more sophisticated, a little more upscale, but still want some damn good beer then stop by the Old Town Alehouse. Their food and beer prices are not outrageous by any means, but the motif lends itself to the low key evening. Every time we walk by here, we pop in to see what they have on tap and generally there is at least one intriguing option.
Their beer selection says they are trying to keep a diverse tap list, but aren’t willing to do the research to get the rarer, more innovative beers on tap.
Great looking menu, a wide selection of beers - a place I need to visit.
For example, currently they have three Belgium beers on tap: Hoegarden Wit, Chimay White Label and Lindemans Framboise. All good beers but commonplace compared to several other Belgium breweries. In looking at their current tap list, it appears that the Old Town Alehouse tries to keep one of every style pouring. Port Townsend Brewing Co.’s Straight Stout, Georgetown Brewing Co.’s Georgetown Porter and Boundary Bay IPA is enough to make me stop in and wet the whistle.
I am very intrigued by their menu and its making me hungry. Your average appetizers such as fries, onion rings and hummus are followed by many affordable and delicious sounding options: gumbo, the spicy fried chicken sandwich (smothered in hot wing sauce- SOLD), the Ballard Beef Dip Sandwich (lets see if it rivals Chicago) and fish and chips. All sandwiches are $10.75 and most of the appetizers are under $9. So those of you that have experienced this joint, please leave a comment and let the world know!
So that’s Ballard’s beer scene in a nutshell. If you have a place that you love in this neighborhood (I can’t cover them all), leave a comment or email me at jess@beerblotter.com.
Next up: Belltown.
Events for Week of August 2, 2010
Blind Tiger Ale House in NYC- one of my favorites!
On Friday we stopped at our new favorite spot, Hooverville in the SoDo neighborhood of Seattle. After an accidental fire, Hooverville was rebuilt to look exactly the same as it did before. If it aint broke, dont fix it. Free peanuts for all, permission to throw the shells on the floors and a decent tap list- Dogfish head 60 Min. IPA, Ninkasi Total Domination, Odin Ruby Ale and about 10 others. On Saturday, we participated in the after party for Tour de Fat at Brouwer’s Cafe. In honor of the environmentally conscience brewery, New Belgium who hosts the event, I had a Trip III and the Fall Wild Ale. All -n- all a good beer weekend.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Beer 101: Introduction to Beer: Escondido, California
7:00PM-9:00PM @ Stone Brewing Co.
One of many educational opportunities at Stone Brewing Co. Know about the beer you drink! This “class” provides an excellent introduction to the ins and outs of this ancient and delicious beverage. Sample some tasty brews and make yourself smarter all at the same time!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Beer Tasting: Gainsville, Florida
6:00PM-8:00PM @ Dorn’s
For $15.00 stop by and taste a variety of beers- Stouts, IPAs, Belgiums and more! Snacks will be provided and you get to keep the tasting glass.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Harpoon Night Hosted by Rich Doyle: New York, New York
4:00PM-9:00PM @ The Blind Tiger
Located in Greenwhich Village, The Blind Tiger is a gem as far as beer bars go and my favorite haunt in NYC. Tonight, they are featuring 16 Harpoon taps including two special casks made for this event only and several beers who have yet to reach the public. Brewer Rich Doyle will be there to toast to these amazing brews.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
International Beer Fest: Grand Rapids, Michigin
6:00PM-9:00PM @ HopCat
Tonight indulge in all the foreign beers you want (then take a cab home) because tonight, all imports are 25% off! Have yourself a nice little Thursday evening.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Jolly Pumpkin Night: San Diego, California
5:00PM-12:00AM @ Downtown Johnny Brown’s
This is going to be epic. So epic, I might just fly down to San Diego for this event (not really, who am I kidding?). Jolly Pumpkin Night will consist of kegs of Calabaza del Oro, Bam Noir, Bam Beire, Calabaza Blanca and Luciernaga. Also for sale by the glass or by the bottle: Noel Calabaza, La Roja and Maracaibo Especial. This will be the largest collection of Jolly Pumpkin beers on hand at once in San Diego ever. Complimentary pork butt will be served. Told you, epic.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
The Bite of Oregon: Portland, Oregon
11AM-10PM @ Tom McCall Waterfront Park (also on Friday from 11AM- 10PM and Sunday from 10AM- 8PM)
Oregon, known for great, fresh food and microbrews galore is celebrating just that. The Bite of Oregon features local wine, BEERS and culinary masterpieces. Click here for ticket prices and event info.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
IPA Fest: Hayward, California
11:00AM-7:00PM @ The Bistro
Over 50 IPAs on tap- take your pick! Not much else to say- as there isnt much else on this event. But BBQ and IPAs – what else do you need to know.
If you attend an event, want us to post about your event, or anything beer event related, please leave a comment or email us at beerblotter@gmail.com. Cheers!
52 Places: The Pub at Third Place, Seattle, WA
The entrance.
Week 25 of 52
6504 20th Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98115
Rank: 4.5/5
Type of Establishment: Pub
Visit: A lazy, summertime, Sunday evening called for a cold beer at a new bar. We found the perfect one for ultimate relaxation.
BEERS ON TAP —>
North Coast Old Rasputin
Hale’s Cream Ale
Guiness
Mac & Jack’s Amber
Rogue Dead Guy
Three Skulls Blood Orange Wit
Odin Ruby
Maritime Pacific Hefe
Stella Artois
Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar
Georgetown Manny’s Pale Ale
Diamond Knot IPA
Boundary Bay IPA
Hacker Pschorr Munich
Diamond Knot Possession Porter
Chuckanut Pilsner
Ninkasi Tricerahops
The choices.
BOTTLED/CANNED BEER:
None
FOOD OPTIONS:
It’s all explained, in detail, below. Read on.
BAR OPINION:
Just over five and a half miles north of the Beer Blotter home base, in the beautiful neighborhood of Ravenna, lies a wood-clad fantasy land that we have never before visited. On this day, we changed that.
So here’s the deal – the building is owned by a guy. The guy owns Third Place Books. The bar beneath Third Place Books is called The Pub at Third Place. The Pub at Third Place is owned by a different guy. The restaurant attached to Third Place Books is called Vios Cafe. Vios Cafe is owned by the same guy as The Pub at Third Place. Vios is a Greek restaurant. You can order food from Vios while at Vios. You can order food from Vios while at The Pub at Third Place. There is a small “library” in The Pub at Third Place that has books. Third Place Books has books. Third Place Books has really nice wood shelves. Vios has really nice wood furniture. The Pub at Third Place has really nice wood EVERYTHING! Do you follow?
This place is amazing! This place is beautiful and majestic! This place defines comfort! This place epitomizes the Northwest! This place may have once existed in The Shire!
Can you tell I liked it? With this inaugural visit, I immediately placed it in my top 10 bars in Seattle. I can’t believe I didn’t visit this place ages ago!
The moment I approached the door (the freaking door!) I knew I loved it. Look at the picture above and tell me that’s not inviting. It looks like it should be the entrance to a grand tree house mansion of some kind. Once I opened the door and stepped in…it was all over. My mouth dropped and all of my senses tingled. I felt like a visitor in a Hobbit Hole. So much elegant wood, from floor to ceiling, back to front, top to bottom.
I headed straight for the bar and pulled up a very comfortable, leather-clad stool with a back. I was immediately greeted by the bartender and I ordered myself a Boundary Bay IPA. Honestly, I was surprised that the beer wasn’t delivered in a wooden mug. I soon came to realize that the bartender was the only one working the entire establishment, which wasn’t dead by any means. He was on top of his game, yet incredibly relaxed…tis the way of The P@TP.
Just behind me, a large bookshelf full of classics, reference books, atlases, board games; all sorts of goodies to keep the lonely drinkers occupied. Obviously, this element plays allusion to the bookstore just above. On the top of the bookshelf sits the one and only item in the bar that doesn’t belong: a big screen T.V. showing a baseball game. Luckily the sound was off, and since my back was facing it, I was able to keep its intrusion in the very back of my mind. In place of the play-by-play – the soothing tunes of Blonde Redhead – pretty much perfect for the mood of the place.
Yeah, it's real.
Most of the gorgeous wooden tables that fill the “dining” area between the bar and the front door are designed for anywhere between 2 to 6 people, with the exception of 2 epic banquet tables. One in the very front as you enter (slightly fenced off from the rest of the room) and one in the back, behind the bar toward the bathrooms (also a bit removed from the main area). These tables are long and thin and seem to be a single piece of wood cut from one massive, gnarled tree. The one in the front seems to seat 8 and the one in the back, 12. My goal is to one day visit P@TP with a large group and eat at one of these tables. Quite possibly I’d nibble on some Lembas bread.
Speaking of food, I didn’t partake in the Mediterranean delights offered via Vios, but the menu looked good enough to lure me back in the near future. Babaganoush anyone?
Ultimately, words can’t describe the serenity of this place. To be wrapped up in wood like that, well, it’s something you have to experience for yourself. Head to Ravenna, buy a book upstairs, take it down to the bar, grab a local cold one and sip while you read in a wood cabin forged from the mighty forests of the Pacific Northwest.
52 Weeks: NW Sausage and Deli, Centralia, WA
Week 17 of 52
5945 Prather Rd
Centralia, WA 98531
Rank: 4/5
Type of Establishment: Country Style Deli with Brew Pub and Butcher Shop tendencies.
BEERS ON TAP (at time of visit) —>
All of the following are from Dick’s Brewing
-Golden Ale
-Pale Ale
-IPA
-Irish Ale
-Best Bitter
-Brown Ale
-Danger Ale
-Porter
-Cream Stout
-Winter Ale
-Imperial IPA
BOTTLE OPTIONS: Almost all regularly bottled Dick’s beers.
FOOD OPTIONS: Meat.
Both cold and hot sandwiches of many varieties including hoagies, pastrami, corned beef, prime rib, BBQ pork, burgers, brats, etc. Steaks and chicken for dinner. Need protein? Best vitamin shop in Centralia.
BAR OPINION:
How have I never been here before? Seriously. All, and I mean all of my future trips south will include a stop at NWS&D. If you are going to Vancouver, WA or Portland, OR or anywhere somewhat significantly south of Seattle along I5, you’d have to be either in one serious rush or legitimately brain-damaged not to stop here.
Sound a bit hyperbolic? It isn’t. We are talking about a detour of about 5 miles at most. 10 driving minutes, tops. A very, very small price to pay for great beer and food. And talk about getting your goods right from the source. All sausages are smoked right on the premises. All beers are made practically right down the street. And it’s all mind blowingly yummy!
Believe it or not, it gets better. I give the staff an A+. Since this was a stop on the way to camping at Seaquest State Park, we thought we would have the whole group in tow (13 people). This could have been overwhelming to any establishment, so we called in a warning of our arrival ahead of time. Upon arrival, we found a huge grouping of tables that was marked “reserved” for us. In the end, we were only 6 strong. The rest of the group was impatient and found lunch in Olympia (dummies). Was this a problem? Of course not. The staff simply laughed it off and served us with a smile.
I guess it didn’t hurt that we had explained to the receiver of our call that we had a $100 gift certificate and planned to spend it all on lunch and meats to go. A big thanks to friend of the Blotter, Stasia Cymes, for providing said gift certificate and her generosity in sharing it. Lunch for all was covered, with change to stare for even more meat and cheese to go. In fact, to trace it back just a bit further, a large thank you is due to Brian from Ninkasi who unselfishly passed his winnings of the Brewer’s 9 Ball Tournament at the Tap House Grille along to Stasia. Brian felt bad taking the winnings of his own event and figured that Stasia was a worthy recipient, considering that her team was knocked out of the tournament before she even had a chance to play. Thanks Brian and Ninkasi! Awesome event too by the way.
Spouts flowing Dick's
Not only was the tap selection lengthy and impressive, but any bottle could be purchased and opened at the table at no additional charge. This allowed for all of our extreme beer pleasures to be indulged simultaneously. We ordered the Imperial IPA off the draught, the Tripel, the Grand Cru, and the Imperial Stout all at once. Others at the table enjoyed the Bitter, Cream Stout, Danger, Winter…lets just say that we had some good liquids to accompany our lunch. All brews were solid, some inspired “Oh my God!”.
Lunch was sandwich heavy, something that will never bother me. My Trio Deluxe was stacked so high that it easily garnered “Scooby Doo Sandwich” status, yet another thing that will never bother me. I don’t really remember what the others at the table had. I was too transfixed on my own happiness in the moment. Good beer, good food, good service, and most importantly, good company.
Though all appetites were surely fulfilled at meal’s end, no one was leaving without some meat to go. After all, there would soon be a camp fire to cook on. Pepperoni, andouille, jerky, BBQ pork, garlic franks, and various cheeses were all acquired. Lest we forget, beer was procured as well. We were fully and completely covered for camping. We made tents out of the empty beer bottles and sleeping bags out of the sausage casings (no we didn’t). It was an amazing!
Washington v. Oregon: Let the Games Begin
SBW continues today with Firkin Firkin- yes this is a picture of a firkin.
We are neighboring states, we enjoy beer together and make good beer together, but tonight at Elysian Brewing Co.’s Capital Hill location, Washington beers will be up against Oregon beers at Seattle Beer Week event, Firkin Firkin. All beers will be in cask conditioned firkins.
Drum Roll Please: the Firkin Firkin match ups are…..
Pale: WA-Ram 71 Pale Ale OR-Hopworks Crosstown Pale
IPA: WA-Elysian Prometheus OR-Double Mountain Hop Lava
2x IPA: WA-Naked City IIPA OR-Ninkasi Tricerahops
ESB: WA-Silver City Ridgetop Red OR-Laurelwood Organic Deranger Red
Porter: WA-Black Raven Brown OR-Bend Cherry Baltic Porter
Hybrid: WA-Big Time Trombipulator w/Agave OR-Beer Valley Black Madness
Seaaion: WA-Pike Dry Wit OR-Pelican Kiwana Cream Ale
Strong: WA-Fremont Bourbon Abominable OR-Rogue Imperial Younger’s Special Bitter
Look out for the top competitors from both states (Pelican Brewing Co.- go there someday; Black Raven Brewin Co- WA Rookie of the Year; Double Mountain- quality brews and Fremont Brewing Co.- the Center of the Universe)and no matter where you are from, remain unbias- good beer is good beer!
May the best city win!!!
Tonight Beer Blotter hangs with some of the best brewers in the USA at East meets West- more on our encounter with beer royalty later!!
Amateur Hour: The Only Way to Look Cool Is To Be Cool
Ninkasi Believer: Ripe for the BBQ
If you’re going to a BBQ with a goodly number of beer nerds, and you don’t want everyone to think you’re a stooge, your first order of business is to become less of a stooge. Here’s how.
Choose the right beer for the circumstance. BBQ’s demand a crisp, refreshing beer that won’t make you sluggish in the sunshine. Disregard stouts and porters; daytime drinking of these black, grainy monsters is best left to the experts. Also, avoid beers with high ABV like trippels and imperials. It’s early in the day, after all. Passing out in direct sunlight can lead to nasty consequences.
Consider a summer seasonal, like Deschutes Twilight. It’s a fairly light, well-rounded pale sporting good hoppy front flavor and subtle maltiness. At 5.0%, it’s not going to ruin your horseshoes game, either.
If that’s still a bit stoogey for you, you’re probably ready to graduate from my column. Nonetheless, I’d recommend a red ale. Oft touted as “the epitome of balance”, reds offer a combination of sweet malt flavors and sharp hop tones.
One of my new favorites is the Ninkasi Believer Double Red Ale. The list of things that make this beer outstanding is ridiculously long. Impeccable mouthfeel, perfectly roasted malty front, tangy, not overly bitter hop finish. It’s everything you could ask for. My one gripe about this beer as a BBQ beverage is that it’s 6.9%, meaning you can’t pound them all afternoon and expect to put on a good show at the volleyball court.
So take it from me, fellow amateurs, there’s no excuse for stoogeyness. Not, at least, as far as your beverage choices are concerned.
Events for Week of March 1, 2010
Bert's Better Beers in Hookett, NH- No, we don't know where that is, but its worth going to!
A week in the life of a beer drinker:
Monday, March 1, 2010
7th Annual Barleywine Bacchanal: Seattle, Washington
3:00PM- 2:00AM @ Beveridge Place Pub
The madness continues all week with events almost every day. Many of these barleywines were aged by Beveridge Place. Check out Beer Blotter’s guide to the Bacchanal by clicking HERE!
Monk’s Mad Monday: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
11:30AM-11:30PM @ Monk’s Cafe
A special Russian River event featuring six of their beers on tap. There will be three IPAs and three ‘Tions on tap. Check it– Pliny The Younger, Pliny The Elder, Blind Pig, Damnation, Consecration and (sweet, sweet) Supplication.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Unibroue Tasting: Hooksett, New Hampshire
5:00PM-7:30PM @ Bert’s Better Beers
Join Richard Delmonico as he pours Canadian brewery, Unibroue beers-Quelque Chose (enjoy warm and/or on ice), Maudite, Terrible, Don de Dieu, La Fin du Monde, Blanche de Chambly, Chambly Noire, Trois Pistoles and Ephemere. Cheese and chocolate will be paired.
Sour Beer Night: New York, New York
7:30PM-9:30PM @ Jimmy’s No. 43
For $10.00 a person, you can come sample amazing sour beers from Jolly Pumpkin, Cantillon and others from the Shelton Brothers portfolio.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Meet the Brewers: Escondido, California
6:00PM-8:00PM @ Stone Brewing Co.
Brewers from the East head West- Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head and Victory Brewing Co.’s Bill Covaleski. Join them at the Bistro’s outside bar with Stone’s own Greg Koch to celebrate their collective achievement. Have a pint with Sam, Bill, and Greg and congratulate them on a job well done! Special taps of Dogfish Head and Victory rarities, including World Wide Stout, will be poured outside.
Ninkasi Beer Dinner: San Francisco, California
5:45 PM- 9:45 PM @The Monk’s Kettle
Ninkasi brews such as Total Domination IPA, Tricerahops Double IPA, Believer Double Red Ale and OATIS Oatmeal Stout will be paired with a delicious 5 course meal. Menu items include a Portobello mushroom soup, a coconut curry shrimp dish, pork tenderloin, a special pallet cleanser and a dessert that will make you feel right at home.
New Belgium Tasting: Portland, Oregon
4:00PM-6:00PM @ The Beermongers
New Belgium Brewery will in the store providing samples of several of their more unique beers including two from their Lips of Faith series Biere de Mars and Transatlantique Kriek, Ranger IPA, certified organic Mothership Wit and Trip IV on draft a collaboration between Elysian Brewing Co. (Seattle) and New Belgium. This event is free.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Great Lakes Happy Hour: Akron, Ohio
7:00PM-9:00PM @ Johnny Malloys
Come and sample 6 differtent Great Lakes Brewing Co. beers on tap/bottles available to everyone. For those interested, there will also be a limited beer and cheese tasting featuring a couple brewery exclusives that are only available for the tasting. The tasting fee is $10 and includes 5 samples of beer and 5 cheese samples. A few people from the brewery will be there giving out glassware and other Great Lakes memorabilia.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Beer without Hops: The Illegal Brews: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
7:30PM- 9:30PM @ The Beer School of Philadelphia
This is an appropriate venue for this event. Not only do you get to sample fine beers, you get to learn a bit about beer history. These beers do not contain hops, therefore at one point in beer past, they were not considered beer. Due to this concept, they have become rather rare. Well, these “illegal” beers (gruits) are making a comeback, so stop by, taste and learn all about these amazing brews.
Jolly Pumpkin Beer Tasting: Ann Arbor, Michigan
5:00PM-7:00PM @ Whole Foods Market
Join Vice President of Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales Michael Turriff at the Fine Wine and Craft Beer Bar. Michael is there to enjoy the JP brews, discuss beer and answer all of your questions.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Let’s try some Belgiums!: Naperville, Illinois
3:00PM-5:00PM @ Malloy’s Fine Wines and Spirits
This tasting is FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. So you have no excuse to head out on the town in Naperville and try some amazing Belgium brews. What will you be sampling? Triple Karmeliet, Maredsous 10 Triple, Gouden Carolus, and Pauwel Kwak- among others. Get out, get cultured.
Lucky Lab’s Barleywine & Big Beer Fest: Portland, Oregon
12:00PM- 10:00PM @ Lucky Labrador Brewing Co. (NW Quimby Beer Hall)
More than 35 barleywines and big beers (stouts, warmers, old ales and more) on tap! Some are recent releases but many are aged vintages. Just to name a few, as the list is very very long (check it here): ’07 Great Divide’s Old Ruffian; ’08 Speakeasy’s Old Godfather; ’09 Fish Tail’s Leviathan and ’09 Lucky Lab’s BBL-Aged Son of Old Yeller.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
11th Split the Brooklyn Skull Festival: Brooklyn, New York
11:00 AM-11:00PM @ Mugs Ale House
Interesting name, but what does it entail? Tis the time for barleywines and strong ales, so you guessed it! Come to Mugs and enjoy beers, most of which are over 8%. For the full list click here, but for a sample, you came to the right place: Speakeasy Old Godfather Reserve 10%; Left hand Widdershins 10%; Nogne O #100 Barleywine 10.0%; Goose Island Brown Goose 9% and Weyerbacher Old Heathen Imperial Stout 2008 8.0%.
Nikki’s Second Annual Beer Dinner: Providence, Rhode Island
6:00 PM-10:00 PM @ Julians
We will leave the food a mystery, but check out the featured beers, mainly all Trappist. We like their style! La Trappe Isid’or; Achel Blond; Westmalle Trappist Dubbel; Orval Trappist Ale; Chimay Grande Reserve (blue); Westmalle Trappist Tripel and with the dessert course, you get all three Rochefort beer (6, 8, 10)!!
Oh man…that is it. But of course, there is so much more. So if you have an event you want us to add, have a comment about an event you went to, or just want to tell us how much you love beer, leave a comment or email us at beerblotter@gmail.com. Thanks for reading! Cheers to another week!
EastBurn Tap-Patio-Grill: 2 of 52
Week 2: EastBurn Tap-Patio-Grill, Portland, OR
2 of 52
1800 East Burnside Street
Portland, OR 97214
(503) 236-2876
Rank: #1 of 2
Type of Establishment: A public house with a full menu complemented by bar and table service
BEERS ON TAP—-> 16 rotating taps! You can always check their website for a picture of their updated tap list, but to name a few on at the moment…
Picture courtesy of http://www.eastburn.com. Thanks!
FOOD OPTIONS: EastBurn’s owners and the head chef, Jeff believe that “Great Food Deserves Great Beer” and vice versa. This motto has led to an amazing menu full of choices beyond your average “beer bar.” Although we did not get the chance to indulge in one of the chef’s creations, here are a couple spotlight items: for dinner- Slow Braised Wild Boar Paprikash (wow), for lunch- the Über Sondvich – Char-Broiled Carlton Pork Medallion, Potato Pancake, Scallion Sour Cream, Caramelized Onions and Bourbon-Apple Chutney on Grilled Ciabatta and when its getting late and your hungry yet again- Grover’s Mackin’ Cheese- Mackin’ with Pepper Bacon and Roasted Tomato. The EastBurn has plenty of options for vegetarians, beer and wine lovers alike. 5 delicious options (including smoked trout cakes) are available for $5.00 between 3 and 6Pm and 10PM until 2AM EVERYDAY!
STAFF OPINION: We had the pleasure of finding a bar seat next to executive chef, Jeff Pagel who has been with the restaurant since 2007. He was informative in explaining the goal of the restaurant: preparing delicious food for beer and wine lovers (can’t go wrong with that). Our passion for beer and his passion for this public house/restaurant was a match made in conversation heaven. The bartender was very attentive to our drinking needs and informative about the selection of taps.
AN AFTERNOON AT THE BAR……
We had a plan – make it to the Blazers v. Cavs game at 5:30, just before tip off. The Cleveland Cavs were in town for a sold out showdown with the suddenly injury prone Blazers. But, with the game not beginning until 6:00 PM – we had some significant time to scour the Northeast neighborhoods of Portland.
After grabbing a breakfast at Horse Brass, a long trip to Upright Brewing for a bottle release event, and a brief tour of Green Dragon Bistro for a Calapooia Simcoe IPA – we headed back down to Burnside. Heading east on Burnside, we sought out this intriguing establishment. We had read several wonderful reviews about the atmosphere, comfort and exciting tap list at this bi-level bar and bistro. It was time to make a stop.
Upon entering, you are greeted to the left by swing chairs – a novelty – but very cool addition to the front of the bistro-themed upstairs. This area screams amazing people watching. We headed to the bar to check out the tap list. After being in PDX for a couple of days, we were already in tune with many of the beers on this list. To our delight, the bartender informed us that the basement portion of the establishment had its own independent tap list, filled with 8 different brews. We B-lined.
After tracing back to the entry, we found a set of stairs to the basement which was a masterpiece. A dark yet comfortably lit space filled with ample bar seating, ski ball and a projector television made us feel right at home. On the tube, the Packers and Cardinals were winding down what would finish as one of the best playoff shootouts in recent years.
The bartender is a good man. Though he is from Boston, he actually agreed to serve my Yankee accomplice. After busting her balls (or whatever she has to bust) a bit, she was served with a Alameda Black Bear XX Stout. This is one of our faves, though we hadn’t sunk our taste buds into a batch of this year’s offering. I took way too long to order – this is a good thing, as choosing between several options was a quandary. After sifting through my palette, I settled on a Deschutes Hop Henge – its just too damn good and with a return to Seattle in the cards, I might not see too much more of it.
We settled in, tapped glasses and turned our attention to the surroundings. Fortunately, our timing was impeccable, as we had situated ourselves next to Mr. Jeff Pagel – the executive chef. Jeff was a native of Seattle and so we had much to reminisce over. We also talked about our love for New Orleans and its wonderful food culture. Much to our delight, a flavorful gumbo makes a regular appearance on the menu!
The crowd at Eastburn was incredibly welcoming, overtly happy and comfortably communicable. Besides our Boston bartender, another regular Yankee fan hopped on the Boston-bashing that my companion boozer had begun upon our arrival. It was a smile from start to end.
After watching Aaron Rogers toss away the game on overtime’s second play, we were able to really soak in Eastburn. We liked it – we liked it a lot. This is the type of place that I could see myself regularly visiting. The tap list includes brews from Cascade Brewing, Lucky Lab, Vertigo, Terminal Gravity, Fort George and other smaller circulation Oregon breweries, while also harboring Firestone Walker, Dogfish Head and other micro favorites.
We want to go back. We need to catch a “recess” – Eastburn’s version of happy hour. On Tuesdays, Eastburn has $2 beers – everything on the list!
EVENTS ON THE HORIZON
We are definitely returning for the next Beer Belly event. What is Beer Belly? Its a 5 course meal, cooked on the outdoor grill, enjoyed on the 4 seasons patio – centered all around beer! (5 brews to be exact) Each month Eastburn works with a brewery to bring a Beer Belly event, which includes copious amounts of grog from the local brewer. Next on the docket: an evening with Full Sail, and their brewer John Harris. The event begins at 6:30 on February 12, 2010. You can obtain tickets online here.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Eastburn is throwing a benefit to raise funds for the people impacted by the recent disaster in Haiti. The “Weekend for Haiti” event begins this weekend, with proceeds favoring MercyCorps. The event includes brew specials, live music and a charity auction – all to raise funds for the people of Haiti. Go if you can.
To sum up – we love this place. Its warm, welcoming and overall – simply a good time.
If you have anything to say about Eastburn, leave us some notes below!!!
Summit Public House: 1 of 52
Summit Public House, Seattle, WA
1 of 52
601 Summit Ave East
Rank: #1 of 1
Type of Establishment: Full bar with food…sometimes.
BEERS ON TAP (at time of visit) —>
Tap List!
Ninkasi Radiant Pale Ale
Hale’s Mongoose IPA
Port Townsend Nitro Stout
Hale’s 25th Anniversay Dubbel Ale
Ace Champagne Cider
Elysian Prometheus IPA
Stella Artois
Dick’s Winter Ale
FOOD OPTIONS: Sometimes food means there is a kitchen, with one cook, who sometimes decides to offer meals. The “menu” changes everyday I gather, and is posted on the same chalkboard that one can find the rotating beer selection. During our visit the chalkboard informed us that there would not be food today. There was, however, a print-out taped to the wall advertising a $5 grilled cheese. Just drinks for us.
STAFF OPINION: Though attentive, not very smiley or talkative.
Just a few blocks east of I-5, across the street from Top Pot Doughnuts, lies an establishment that BeerBlotter had never before set foot in. This day, we changed that.
There doesn’t seem to be a sign anywhere on the outside of the building that says Summit Public House, but there is a large Leffe Poster in one window and a few neons to tell passers by that there’s beer inside. No false advertising here. A very round selection of brews can be found, macros to local micros and everything between. Liquor too. All bases are covered in the drinks department.
The place as a whole is small and cozy. A cove to the right as you walk through the door houses the pool table, and to the left, a row of wooden booths separate the stand-alone table section from the bar. The bar itself is warm and comfortable. We grabbed a Hale’s Belgian Dubbel, Dick’s Double Danger Ale and Port Townsend Stout and took a load off in one of the booths.
Our three choices...
There was a decent showing for early on a weeknight, but all were well behaved and mainly quite, most with attentions on the T.V. above the bar broadcasting the BCS National Championship game.
A diverse crowd, both young and old. The tattooed bartenders seemed a bit annoyed to be at work. The seats were a little uncomfortable. Summit exists in a strange place somewhere between a dive and a classy joint.
In summary, Summit Public House is not entirely jaw dropping in the character department, but could easily have a much worse beer selection and does a good job providing nearby Capitol Hillers with a solid local spot to grab a cold one and watch a little sports, play pool, or just relax and socialize with friends.
