It has been a while since the blog has been updated but not since I have been drinking!  This beautiful beer pours a perty copper color.  Non-existent head, which is a bit of surprise.  Mild saison nose, like a nice clean farmhouse, not the one down the road with the trucks and tractors all in the yard.  Overall taste is mild, as well.  Very nice hints of Belgium and very approachable.  I like them this way.  A good starter Saison that would be easily approachable by noobs and seasoned beer drinkers alike.

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

It has been a long time.  I have let you down.  It wasn’t on purpose… I promise.  I just had a few other things to work on.  For example, launching another website that might actually make me some money… it is www.thedailybeerdeal.com, but don’t tell anyone, ok!?

It looks like you have been staying healthy, which I am very happy for.  A couple of hundred hits a day isn’t bad considering no new content for over a year.  I am proud of you for sticking with it.  Either way, I am going to try to get back into it… really.  No promises on that but will see what I can do.  Keep in touch, ok?

Love,

Dug

JBB6 Rating: Middle of the Road

Flying Dog Website

JBB6 Rating: Will Buy Again

5.3% ABV
www.rock.ee
Saku Brewery

JBB6 Rating: Middle of the Road

So… Whistler Premium Export Lager brings me back to a couple of years ago in Whistler, BC… I loved it then and I love it now.  Smooth and easy to drink, has a great taste… this is how a lager should be.  All the flavor with none of the skunk.

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Tasting: Redhook Rope Swing Summer Pilsner 

Previous Oh Happy Day posts:

• Oh Happy Day #1 – Pipeline Porter
• Oh Happy Day #2 – Fish Tale Organic Ales
• Oh Happy Day #3 – Bell’s Brewery
• Oh Happy Day #4 – Widmer Brothers Brrr
• Oh Happy Day #5 – Redhook Double Black Stout
• Oh Happy Day #6 – Widmer Brothers Drifter Pale Ale
• Oh Happy Day #7 – Redhook Tripel Belgian-style Ale
• Oh Happy Day #8 – Widmer Brothers Cherry Oak Doppelbock
• Oh Happy Day #9 – Redhook Treblehook
• Oh Happy Day #10 – Redhook Mudslinger Spring Ale
• Oh Happy Day #11 – Redhook 8-4-1 Expedition Ale

Official Press Release:

This month, Redhook Brewery (NASDAQ: HOOK) will release its summer seasonal, Rope Swing Summer Pilsner.  The seasonal is brewed in a traditional Czech style and is the first pilsner the brewery has ever released.  Rope Swing Summer Pilsner will be available through July in grocery stores in 12-ounce bottles and on draught nationwide.

“Rope Swing Summer Pilsner is an excellent warm weather lager.  The beer is fermented with a yeast strain rooting back to the Czech Republic, and is aged at a temperature close to freezing for four to six weeks prior to finishing and packaging for a clean, crisp finish.  We also use 100 percent Saaz hops and unique specialty malts to ensure the style is as authentic as possible.” – Greg Deuhs, Redhook brewmaster

Alcohol by volume (ABV) of 5.3 percent, 25 IBUs

While my perma-smile is starting to fade from the Redhook Big Ballard Imperial IPA Release Event the other night, the memory of the first beer of the evening is not.  Redhook Rope Swing Summer Pilsner was served, glass full, as I walked up to the tasting room bar at the brewery and my oh my what a way to start the evening.  The first keg was a little warm, but this pilsner handled it with flying colors.  Two glasses later, when a cold keg was brought out, I was ready to just keep going… not that the chilling wasn’t an improvement, but this beer drinks so easy and with such solid flavor, that it didn’t really matter that much.

I didn’t get a picture of the actual beer as I was too busy drinking it, but here is a picture of the tap.  I will post a picture of the actual beer at some point as it is absolutely beautiful and clear and golden… you have to see it to believe it.  This is a simple beer.  Just a malt, some hops, and some yeast… not tons of each, just the simple ingredients and you have a masterfully crafted summer pilsner that I can gaurauntee will be in my fridge.

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Goal!   Redhook scores with their Big Ballard Imperial IPA. Tasted tonight, at the event, this brew pours darker than a normal IPA but has the characteristic nose.  Getting into the body, you can taste the Caramel malt and wheat as it eases on down your throat… in a great way.  The overall mouthfeel is definitely a little more substantial but well balanced.  The finish is clean and easy… at 8.6% ABV, this beer is dangerous and should be consumed at all costs. 

Enjoy!

JBB6 Rating: For the Win

Summary:

A great night with great people… potentially the best beer night of my beer career!  I love the folks that were there as well as the philosophy and culture… Sums it up when I tried to ask Kim (Brewing Manager) whose idea the beers were and he *would not* tell me one person.  It was a team effort, he says.  We all contribute.  Both he and Tom were just so nice and accommodating… oh… and they know their shit. 

Thanks to Ted, Dan, and Ciea for hosting!  We got some good stuff out of it:

Detail:

Tonight was one of those nights that just puts a smile on your face… in a big way.  After getting off work, I rushed myself to the Redhook Brewery in Woodinville, WA to attend a new beer release party for Big Ballard Imperial IPA.  First to arrive, I met with Dan, who poured me a quick glass of not-yet-released Rope Swing Summer Pilsner, much to my delight.  This tasty, tasty pilsner got me started off on the right foot for sure (can’t wait till released) and I started chatting with Ted, Dan, and Ciea as we waited for others to arrive.  Much to my happiness, all three were down to earth and had a beer in hand as we talked… tonight was going to be good, I could tell.

As folks started to arrive, ‘The Belly’ a JustBeer taster, Paul from Northwest Beer Guide, Mr. Dave a JustBeer taster, Justin from The Brew Dude, Julie from Woodinville Weekly, and someone (sorry… can’t remember your name) from Ballard News Tribune, the conversations got lively and everyone started to mingle with the guests and folks at Redhook (Tom, Kim, Dan, Ted, and Ciea.  Good conversation was lubricated by some great beer and networking, bonding, and discussion ensued.  The Belly and Mr. Dave may have taken their ‘sac love a little to far, but who am I to judge?

At some point in, I recall the announcement for food and we started in on some Caesar salad, some bacon wrapped scallops (which were AWESOME), and some pork sandwiches with chips.  All very tasty and all very unexpected.  Thanks Redhook!

The team finally let us taste the new brew as we all sat down and let me tell you… it was worth the wait.  Check out the official tasting for more info (Redhook Big Ballard Imperial IPA), but needless to say it was a great brew, worthy of an official release event. 

Dinner was an amazing conversation about beer, brewing, and food.  It felt like one of those TV shows where some famous chef helps make dinner and they sits around the table with some super famous people and they talk about the food, life, and other stuff.  Very similar minus the super famous people.

For a JustBeer first, I am trying a short video of our experience… enjoy!