There is a civil war of sorts brewing right here in the Pacific Northwest. Many of you are probably aware of an emerging style of beer which has been assigned varying titles depending on who you ask. The term “Black IPA” seems to sum up the concept fairly well, if not for the idea of a black “India Pale Ale” being somewhat contradictory. The Brewer’s Association has bestowed the somewhat verbose designation of “American Style Black Ale”. In our neck of the woods, most people have taken to calling it a “Cascadian Dark Ale” (myself included). Portland’s Hopworks Urban Brewery has released a version that seems to suggest none too subtle a solution to this war of words. Can a beer cause the creation of a new country, hereby called Cascadia? Perhaps, but as they say, the proof is in the tasting. more ›

This Seattlest just returned from Austin, Texas, for the annual South by Southwest music festival. While enjoying Austin, we were struck by one thing over and over again--how much Texas really wants to be its own nation. Nothing drove that point home more than comparing Texas' Capitol building to our very own Capitol. The state building in Austin is easily three times the size of Washington States and rivals the size of the Capitol building in D.C. more ›