Results tagged “craftbeer”

A good Thanksgiving, in our opinion, also includes some times for reflection when you can enjoy a mixed drink or a glass of wine. And while wine and martinis might seem the best options with turkey (martinis pair best with dark meat, by the way), there's a missed pairing option: the craft beer.

Besides getting your name on a mug that you can take home, thirty bucks entitles you to two dollars off pints and invitations to beer release parties.

Halloween is Saturday (in case you don't have a calendar, television, or friends) so why not treat yourself to some dress-up after time spent corrupting small children's stomachs with sugar?

Seattle is flush with--among other things--neighborhood grocery stores, bars, and, of course, breweries. If one suffers inspiration to refill the fridge, you only have to walk a few blocks to stock up on a local brew. In the Lake City neighborhood however, one usually has to walk a bit further. Hunkered down in a mixed-use condominium building is the latest bottleshop to arrive in area, The Beer Authority.

Sounding more like a grocery store and less like a bottleshop F.T.B. boasts 600+ craft beers, 300+ wines, and more ciders than there are apples in a barrel. The 'shop avoids the pedestrian sticker among the hop'o'philes by providing weekly tastings, ‘repeat customer’ rewards punch cards and their Elephant ride situated against one wall.

Over on 45th in the Wallingford neighborhood and just a few blocks from Big Time Alehouse is the beer equivalent of a bottleshop. Since 1999, Bottleworks has been providing guidance to those that gravitate to its stellar selection of beer from around the world.

Fresh Hop 2009 (7.5%) pours a clear abyss of deep amber that produces a strong initial foamy head which rests on top before receding, leaving behind a cobweb lace inside the glass. As it is runs underneath the nose, a waft of floral sweetness meshes well with grapefruit and subtle pine. Sipping this, you pick up mild earthiness (almost grass-like), along with strong grapefruit citrus before the caramel is detected mid-way. It finishes with additional--but mild--hop bitterness. Overall, this beer isn't heavy on the tongue and would kill with a hearty BLT or even some beer-battered fish and chips.

Up the street from the old Redhook along Leary, and long since relocated from its old stomping grounds (Kirkland and Colville), is Hale's Ales. Featured within its fully operational brewery is a restaurant and a warehouse that has played host to both performers and the winter beer fest. Hale's is open for breakfast and runs on into the night with a wide range of beers, including the Harvest Ale.

Spur, Belltown (Sun-Thurs 5-7 p.m. / 11:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m.) An unassuming looking place that has been nationally recognized for their creative and schizophrenic food menu, inspired by local farmers, butchers, and fisherman. From $3.50 for craft beer to their late night (11:30-1:30) $5 Rainier bottles with an order of shoestring fries, you can't go wrong with this hole-in-the-wall off Blanchard.

Pillager's Pub, Greenwood (Tuesday, 50-percent-off "house" growler fills; Mon-Sun, $1 off pints) Stagger in from 87th & Greenwood to taste Baron & Three Skulls beers paired side by side with a few guest faves. The draft list is managed by former Duck Island'er Jeremiah Harrison and features--on top of beers and cider--authentic mead. Pull up a battered stool, chew up a $1 pretzel, or play a game of pool--just watch your arse, sharks abound.

Cooper's Alehouse, Maple Leaf (Monday-Friday, 3 to 6 p.m.) $1 off pints and $2 dollar off all menu items combined with the bottomless bin of pretzels helps anyone regain their balance. Recognized in CAMRA's guide to good beer--there is no better endorsement than an alehouse mentioned by beer experts.

So the recession has got everyone rethinking how they spend their spare change, even beer lovers. Seattle, much like Portland, is a town overwhelmed with craft beer options at bars and brewpubs, but despite the welcoming waft of citrus, pine, and toffee, there is still a pang of pennypinchers' remorse when you drop six bucks on a pint. Adding happy hour to your craft beer craving solves that problem, so here's the first installment of our craft beer happy hours series. (If your local bar is missed, speak up in the comments, and we will make sure to get it in.)

We are sad to report the decline of yet another iconic local restaurant. The First Ave. McCormick & Schmick's is not what it used to be. On a sunny Saturday afternoon, the service is inexplicably spotty. One table complains about an undercooked burger. Another patron who'd ordered a burger gets one meant for a different table -- the plate is removed from under his nose, which is unaccountably rude, but at least reminds us of our favorite Fawlty Towers episode.

Two local techies, Chris Castillo and Joe Valvo, owners of the new Laughing Buddha brewery, follow the market price of hops with rapt attention. Five bucks a pound six months ago, a spike at $50, now settling down at a relatively affordable $20. Galena and Northern Brewer they buy for the bitterness in the brown ale, a Czech variety for the lager. So far, they've been getting what they need from other breweries. The grain comes from Larry's Brew Supply in Kent. The pandan? From Viet Wah, the Asian supermarket group.