R.I.P. Dick Young

It was with great sadness that I learned this morning of the death of Dick Young the founder of Dick's Brewing in Centralia.

Dick was a pioneer in the Northwest craft brewing movement and, as anyone that met him will testify, he had it figured out: He made beer and sausage. Life doesn't get much better than that.

We'll miss you Dick.

Pump Kin!

Don't miss this seasonal shin-dig at the Red Hot:

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 21ST!
"ELYSIAN PUMPKIN NIGHT! FEATURING NIGHT OWL PUMPKIN ALE, THE GREAT PUMPKIN IMPERIAL PUMPKIN ALE, DARK O' THE MOON PUMPKIN STOUT, & HANSEL AND GRETEL PUMPKIN PILSNER! SCHWAG AND GOODTIMES TO BE HAD BY ALL ON THE BEST PUMPKIN ALES CRAFTED.
THESE ARE NOT BEERS WITH TONS OF PUMPKIN PIE SPICE ADDED AND CALLED GOOD, LIKE A LOT OF OTHER PUMPKIN BEERS, BUT TOTALLY WELL CRAFTED BREWS PAYING HOMAGE TO THE ORANGE GOURD WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE. COME TASTE WHAT ELYSIAN IS COOKING!"

Which reminds me of my favorite joke. "What do Hill Billies do at Halloween?"

Oh No, Not More Breweries

We all have to start somewhere, I guess:

Northwest Peaks Brewery at this address: 142 N 80th St., Seattle 98103

Oh No, Not More Breweries

Not exactly hot off the press but here's another of my favorite urban, garage based, breweries with a dodgy name.

Old Broads Brewing Company has set up shop at this address 4230 Memory Lane W, University Place

I wonder when we'll start seeing beer from some of these outfits.

Previously spotted new breweries yet to produce include Airways Brewing, Wookey Hole, Grit City, and Armageddon Ales. M.T.Head Brewing in Graham is apparently producing but not distributing beer. They thought it would be a good idea to get advice from Mike at the Harmon to get their shit dialed in.

Post Fest-Partum

Holy Mackerel, that was a party! From my vantage point, out by the Honey Buckets, I'd have to say everyone was having a hell of a time. Great beer, a great crowd, and versatile volunteers. What else do you need? In the future all beer fests will be in Tacoma.

And many thanks to Bennett, Chris, Roxanne, and all those hard working, hard drinking, volunteers who made such a great day possible.

Amidst all that mayhem, believe it or not, some medals were handed out and here's who got them:

People's Choice: Schooner Exact
Judge's Choice: Walking Man
Best Booth: Firestone Walker

Better Late Than Never

We finally received the IPA Fest voting results from those slackers at the Parkway:

First Place: Russian River Blind Pig on the Randall
Second Place: Russian River Pliny the Elder

And a three way tie for third place:

Harmon Commencement Bay
Silver City Oak-aged Blend
Stone Dry-hopped

Good to see a couple of locals breaking the California stranglehold, but that Blind Pig was really quite good.