January, 30 2010
First I need to apologize to all those I bumped into at the festival. If you where there you would understand. Way too many people the festival was so over crowded that it was actually hard to move, think, breath or even gain a semblance of what was really going on. No real lines, no tap lists of what was available only 2 porta-johns in the vicinity. This was a mess from the word go.
Now for the reason I was there the beers and they where great. There were some very interesting names, tastes and funky additions to the brews. Big Al brewing added peanut butter to a stout which was creamy and nutty in the flavor. Elkhead Brewing which has popped to the beer scene with fervor had some excellent brews with the Royal Black Imperial Stout what flavor. Fish Brewing out of Olympia had a Fish beer yes they added Bonito fish (Mackerel family) to a blonde and the beer was tasty. Called a Bonito Blonde it was very good and not much as for the fish taste but a great blonde never less. Georgetown brewing had a Donkey Duex and wow this cherry dubble was the shizzle in my humble opinion. Flyers with a red pepper porter. Laht Neppur adding to the backwards name thing had a “Booter Reer” yes root beer had the aroma some of the taste then the finish fell to the floor. 192’ very new to the scene had Apple ale that hit the mark it was small with aroma but filled with some good green apple flavors. Anacortes brewing with a creamsicle pale it was tasty but also finished off. Grove Street Brewing has a Smoked porter that was barrel aged in Merlot barrels. Oh wow the flavors where magnificent. Water Street brewing also had excellent strange brew they made up single hop pale ale. As you can tell I did not get to try them all I just don’t have the superman liver.
For this beer geek I will be sure to check and see if the event has moved to a bigger location before I go back. The poor crowd management and small area made for bad taste in my mouth experience – no pun intended. I will say I was glad I have finally been to a Strange Brew festival the beers are certainly strange.
Participating Brewers -
7 Seas Brewing • 192 Brewing Company • Anacortes Brewing Co. • Big Time Brewing Co. • Big Al Brewing Co. • Cascade Brewing Co. • Chuckanut Brewery • Crispin Cider • Elkhead Brewing Co. • Elliott Bay Brewing Co. • Elysian Brewing Co • Finnriver Cider • Fish Brewing Co. • Flyers Brewery • Georgetown Brewing Co. • Grove Street Brewhouse • Hale’s Brewery • Iron Horse Brewery • Laht Neppur Brewing Co. • Odin Brewing Co. • Pike Brewing Co. • Port Townsend Brewing Co. • Ram Brewing – Northgate • Red Hook Brewery • Silver City Brewing Co. • Water Street Brewing
Founder Dick Young of Dicks Brewing has passed. He was 56. Here is the rest of the story from The Chronicle Online a Centralia WA newspaper. Dick Young Dick Brewing Co
I was so fortunate to have met and had the time to chat with Dick over the past few years. Have had many run in at both the brewery and at various beer events. Dick will be missed.
5909 Airport Way S
Seattle, WA 98108
206-763-2079
http://www.fullthrottlebottles.com/
Nice bottle shop not so sure about the location. With my trusty GPS I found the place with ease. It was a nice tidy place with a bottle selection of about 500-600 different labels and I was able to find a few that I had not seen. They had quite a Pacific North West selection that I was very impressed with. They also had a pretty big import section. If you’re in the area and need a special brew stop by they might just have it. I know I will be back when in the area.
526 Second Ave.
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 623-1016
http://www.thecollinspub.com
I have seen news/events advertised from this pub for the last few years and had wanted to see this for myself. Parking can be tough so look for it or pay for it across the street like I did. I found the place to be a new/clean look with high ceilings and new local art on the walls with a tap list that rivals the best. Russian River, to local flair with Big Al Brewing, Trade Route Brewing and Snoqualmie Falls Brewing there where also ore around 25 taps of some killer brews. I was impressed the food was a tad higher priced pub food I am sure for the location not far from some of the big banks and buildings in Seattle plus you have the football and baseball crowds walking buy. This is a great place I am sure I will be back. The bartender really knew the beer and how to sell what they had on there current list. They where very helpful and made me time enjoyable.
308 Catherine Street
Victoria, British Columbia
250-386-2739
http://www.spinnakers.com/
After taking a water taxi across the bay we arrived to Spinnakers Brewpub and wow what a view of the entire bay. The beer better be good and after trying the taster tray I was impressed. This was going to be our final meal and beers on our Victoria BC trip. The English bitter was buttery and tasty. The dark ales where also very good and the porter was one fine brew. This place made there own malt vinegar with the beer malts so they had about 5 different flavors from English ale to porter malt vinegars. We found out you can also stay here and over look the bay all night. I am thinking next time we might try to stay here. We found the service to be very good and the food was also excellent. We will be back.
506 Pandora Avenue
Victoria, British Columbia
Phone: 250-361-3310
http://www.swanshotel.com/brewery.php
Buckerfields brewing was a neat place to visit on the top of the place was a hotel Swans and this was a neat old building. We stopped at the bar and had a few of the beers this was the night before the GCBF. We had a Coconut porter which could have used more of the famed Coconut but was still tasty never less. The Swans Oatmeal Stout was pure heaven and I was hoping to remember to bring some back to the states. The service was great and they talked the beers up quite a bit. The also told us of several other places to visit while in town that also had great beers. I think this was one of the best places to visit the Raspberry ale to finish off the night was actually very good and fruit. This is a must stop in Victoria.
450 Swift Street
Victoria, British Columbia CA
(250) 361-1940
http://www.canoebrewpub.com/
My first brew pub in Canada since I have started rating places. I wish I knew earlier back 10 years ago I could have added a few more. Canoe Brewing was a excellent stop on our first day of the trip. Beautiful weather, scenery and the pub was also very good looking and clean. We ended up getting an outside table with the sun on our backs we had a taster try of some of the most excellent ales. I loved the ESB with all the flavors and malt richness this was giving off. Service was not the best she seemed super busy and really could care less we where there. Typical college kid who can careless just wants her tips. Did I mention the prices where pretty high so that was a shock. The dark ambers and porters also had such great flavors. I knew I was in for a great time in Victoria.
1022 Government Street
Victoria, BC
250.953.9993
http://www.bardandbanker.com/
http://www.victoriapubcompany.ca/
What a great Scottish pub the look of the pub was that of an old Bank. I found out this was a bank fro 130 years then it left and the pub opened up. The old look has been freshened up and it looks awesome the wood work and glass was spectacular. Over 30 taps and they where mostly all Canadian craft beers mixed with some Guinness and other awesome macros. We had some food and that was also very good the service was also just as good. We got a great Bartender and he knew the beer and was able to show me some great brews. This is a great place and if you miss this one just a few feet down the road are 2 others that have the same feel just different styles Irish and British. Great times…I was over for the Great Canadian Beer Festival and this city has a vast amount of beer to visit.
8513 NE Highway 99
Vancouver, WA 98665
(360) 576-0996
Interesting place has a very unique feel and not that ot was good it was just odd. The service was very much like they could care less and there did not know the beer they where serving. I was sure glad I was able to try some of the better brews as I ordered a taster tray and some snacks. The beers where very tasty and I loved the dark stuff it was the best. The hopped up IPA was ok but just did I not do it for me. The food was pretty god as it was regular pub fair. If in the area and need to check it off the list then stop if not then keep on trucking for other places with more atmosphere and better service.
832 N Beech St
Portland, OR 97227
(503) 281-7708
Here I sit in Old Portland neighborhood drinking a great beer in a place that if not for the sign I would have never stopped. Finally after a few years of trying I had the time to stop at Amnesia brewing great brews, service and food. I liked the atmosphere and the brews where so sound and high caliber this was a true Portland Craft brewer. The food I found odd to be cooked in an outdoor setting under a semi permanent tent but all in all it was very good. This is not for the kids this is for the true craft beer seeker. There will be no wimpy pale ales here there all have hops and then more hops. I recommended this place for the hard core beer geek.
