New Helvetia

Oh well Jerry –had to go without you –but you are probably enjoying those Oregon pubs anyway.

New Helvetia brewery 
http://newhelvetiabrew.com/
  is  one of the recent additions to the Sacramento, CA. brew scenes.  I read about its opening several months ago and then saw them at the Sacramento Beerfest, but did not have the opportunity to taste.

I stopped by on an evening they were not open and determined –I had to find the time to check it out during their limited hours of about 4 PM to 9 or  10, –Wednesday through Saturday or after church and before bedtime crowd on Sundays  of 1 PM to 5 PM.

New Helvetia was the name  our famous first settler John Sutter gave Sacramento back in the day before gold was discovered near by in Coloma, CA by James Marshall at Sutter’s Mill. (For  you history challenged beer drinkers  check out 
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=484
 ).  Now Sacramento is better known for Schwarzenegger, but soon to be Johnsonville with the Mayor, Kevin Johnson  somehow retaining the NBA Kings for the city.  Ought to name a beer after him.

New Helvetia Brewery is a great start-up brewery.  I tried the Aimless Lager which was refreshing on this 90 plus degree day –could have been colder and chilled glass would have suited me better — I guess I am spoiled at Delta Slough Brew.   I ordered up a Rough and Ready Red IPA and was told it was “off-line”.  That is brewers code for –We Are OUT of BEER!  No worries –fire me up a Thunderbeast IPA instead.  I was offered a taste of the Red IPA–dribbles before it went “off-line”.  IT was very good. Very floral and citrusy –great balance on the hops.  In comparison to the Thunderbeast –IBU’s had to be over the top because it was plenty stringent  with hop bitterness–drinkable but the Red was quite the better beer.  Final note–beers are all pretty cloudy — I like my yeast to drop out for a bright clear look –don’t always achieve it –but that’s the goal at DSB.

So check it out –Jer Call me — will do beers!

Sacramento Brewfest

Couple of weeks have already passed since the end of Beer Week –capped by the well attended Brewfest.  A friend invited me to be a volunteer for Run for Rhett  and work at the Brewfest.   I committed prior to finding out all my  buds were going to be on the drinking side of the table –while I worked the pouring side.  All worked well –got to sample a few (very few) of the 90 plus brewery’s that sponsored the event!

I was assigned to help out Oksar Blues Brewing out of Longmont, Colorado
http://www.oskarblues.com/
  Check out their website for list of brews and general history.  I came across this tidbit –OB named Brewer of the Year by Beverage World Magazine – 
http://www.timescall.com/business/business-data/ci_22790832/longmont-based-oskar-blues-named-craft-brewer-year
  So they must be doing something right.

They are second largest Colorado craft brewer that sells all of their product in cans–guess who is first!  Sounds like –Rocky Mountain High !!!  Anyway meet Eben and his wife Pam who are the Northern California distributors.

Pam and Eben

Eben told me all about the brewery, the beers,  and naming history  all while sampling their great canned brews –so I could spout it off like I knew what I was yaking about at the Brewfest.  Anyway I  popped more tops in 5 hours of pouring than my whole previous life including my formative years with the Schmidt’s Red Cowboys–(and Black Bears, Ducks, Pheasants, Fly Fisherman –sorry that’s all the scenes I remember.  –Schmidt Brewery use to have outdoor scenes on their cans of beer!)

Brewfest was attended by more than 4,000 people –but I did not see one bit of news coverage the following day.  Run for Rhett, an organization that helps kids and families cope  with cerebral palsy.  I was very pleased to have help them out –Brewfest makes a charitable contribution to their organization for providing the volunteers.  See more of their story at   
http://www.runninforrhett.org/beerfest/capital_beerfest_2013.html

Sleepless in Seattle

I promised to blog about the trip to Seattle and have been sleepless since! Going from fogged memory on this one as we visited some great pubs and got in on Bite of Seattle’s foodfest  over at the Space Needle park way back in July 2012. ( Hey- I am sorry –been busy! Drinking-yeah!)

The first day off the ship after the Alaskan cruise– what was the weather doing in Seattle???? –What it always does —RAIN!!!  Found our way to the car rental place and our hotel during the torrential downpour.  The plan was to meet  friends at the Fish Market to stroll around and have a beer.  I was impressed on how many people did not care that it was raining cats and dogs –and all these moist, steaming bodies were moving through the market –compressing their bodies against other wet bodies even further because they didn’t want to go outside anymore either –it was wet out there!!

After a brief courteous  tour of the crafts, flying fish, and more crafts –we settled that the boys were going to The Pike Pub and Brewery  and the girls –shopping, I guess!   After The Pike Sampler we settled on our selected brews. Naughty Nellie was a favorite –why –cuz it was golden in color, low in bittering and super drinkable for the non-hopheads.  I leaned towards more of the Pale Ale and IPA and DD pounced on the Extra Stout when she arrived –that’s my girl!!!

Took the Pike Brewery tour –it was okay –but they forgot the tastes, samples, and drinking part!!!  REFER to Alaskan Blog and   see Gold Rush Brewery –now that is a tour!!!

The weather did clear for the rest of our week stay in Washington and we found a couple of great pubs all within walking distance of the Convention Center. Fado’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, Owl’ N Thistle Irish Pub, Tap House Pub, and The Blarney Stone Pub were all great choices.  I am told Fado’s was the most authentic Irish pub. Burger there was FANTASTIC along with Smithwicks and Harp on tap. The Blarney Stone may not have had the decor, but the people were authentic!  Super friendly welcoming pub and good happy hour munchies.  Had the local brews from Elysian Brewing and all very good.  Tap House was pretty sterile –a lot of big screens and bar space with many selections, but empty–maybe we just hit it on an off night.  Owl’ N Thistle –little hole in wall around the corner from Fado –nice people-kinda Irish pub like–couple of Irish taps and Bud!  Come on man.

So all in all — sightseeing on the Ducks, plenty of foods and visiting with friends and we squeezed in a few beers, too!!  Cheers!  Beerfest around the corner!!

Alaska Past

I had promised friends and fans that I would review our trip to Alaska –sorry it was so long ago in July.  However, if cruising to Alaska  there are some neat pubs to check out and you can do them on your own–no ”excursion” required.  Juneau, Skagway and Victoria, B.C  were all on the port of calls and had too many pubs and tap houses to visit during our alloted time.  Thank you to my friends to indulge me and cater to my whims of needing a better beer.

On board the ship Alaska Brewing provided the best craft brew with its Amber and Pale Ale. However, if you go –establish yourself with  a specific bartender at  a specific lounge to ensure cold beers.  If they get to know you and know you are coming back to them for a cold beer –they will make sure it is cold and ready.  The pool bar in my opinion had too many ‘tenders and beer was never cold–interior bars –better deal!

Juneau was the first stop and we had to do a trip to the Red Dog Saloon.  Yes this is a must see saloon, beer is the Alaskan Brewing Company selections  and they are cold, fresh and not shaken.  {just think of the long trip for beer from Alaska to the lower 13(West Coast & some North states like Minnesota)–same applies to Kona Brewing–all the way from Hawaii!!!} This place is just like the gold rush days, with funny man at the piano and packed –have patience if you plan to get up to the bar. We got lucky-walked in and sat down.
http://www.reddogsaloon.com/
      We consumed the IPA, White, and a Pale Ale.

Thought we were going to get a trip to the Alaskan Brewing Company for a tour –but needed to arrive at their swag shop earlier to fit in the two-three hour commitment –Red Dog was just fine followed by the bar on the pier where the planes landed.  ( I was close –it was called Hanger on the Wharf) 
http://hangar.hangaronthewharf.com/aboutHistory.php

My drinking buddy and I stumbled upon this place along with a bunch of tourist trap shops across the street from the Red Dog.   We could not belly up to the bar because they were closing off stools for a “tour” coming in.  WTF–we sat at pub table in the back and took in the view–and a few beers.  Tour shows up and it was a biking tour that ended at the Wharf with special flight of all the Alaskan Brewing tastes.  So we got the overview of beers from the host–but ordered 16 oz tastes.

Skagway Alaska was our next stop after cruising overnight-sober time.  Gold Rush Brewery is one not to miss –with Pippi Longstocking serving the brew and providing the tour –which was about drinking –not sampling the beer.  This was a very memorable tour worth every penny.  We did do this one on the excursion –food was a basic buffet–but we didn’t care after the number of beers we drank.  
http://www.mosquitobytes.com/Den/Beer/Breweries/Skagway/GoldRush.html

Another fine establishment we found in town was the Skagway Brewing Company. 
http://www.skagwaybrewing.com/history.html
   The Spruce Tip Blonde was mentioned as a “need to try” and  actually use the tips of  the spruce trees gathered locally in the spring and use in the beer.  Rumored to have herbal qualities supporting the immune system –Hmmm not sure if that a total urban myth –no — maybe that is Klondike myth.

More sailing on to Victoria, British Columbia.  Beer tasting was interrupted by a trip to Buchart Gardens.  Fantastic as it was  — it shorten the time to fully discover Victoria’s pubs.  However, we did find a couple very close in the main government square area.  Bard & Banker, Irish Times Pub and  Swan’s Brew Pub.  There were so many options — We drank  a couple of the Phillips brewery selections and felt we needed to get on with other discoveries.  When we have more time –need to further evaluate the other 30 or so taps.
http://www.bardandbanker.com/drink.php

I am going to close the Alaskan post here –but promise to share the Seattle experience soon.

Coyote Tap House

Well that is what it is –a Tap House — with 48 taps,  a couple of ciders and full bar replacing the former Brew It Up location at 15th and H.  They had a soft opening  a week ago with  a Grand Opening this past weekend(12/1/12).  Four days later –still pretty soft.  Big open space,  lot of bar space with stools, table and bench seating in the middle of the room surrounded by TV’s playing only sports channels.  What is not to like???

Service is still getting tuned up — long time to be waited on at the bar with only 10 customers at 6 P.M.   Place had a scent of stale beer which is surprising given that it is brand new.  —What –maybe left overs from the Brew-It-Up!

Bartenders are novices –when asked about beers –’this one is a dark one– but not bitter and this other one is lighter’.  GREAT description –obviously never drank a beer in their life!!!  Asked about another and she read the description off the tap handle.

The selection is good and the beer is cold –but they need some help in the marketing department.  Flights of tastes would be a good start and develop a menu describing the brews would be  better than information from clueless bartenders ( BTW, noticed them reviewing the recipe book when making a cocktail, too !).  Categorizing the beers by style would be helpful.  Alphabetical is practical, I guess,  if you know what you want and are a  beer snob.  However,  not a good method for  the average Joe  attempting something NOT Budweiser or  at least separate the ales from the lagers –cuz the help sure can’t assist in that category.

Good luck to Coyote– they will need it to survive –try it out and let me know what you think!

Production Update

Delta Slough Brewing is back in production. New tap frig was put into action and throughly tested with a couple of traveled kegs.  Next round of brewing was challenging– much of the supplies and equipment were being unpacked as they were  needed and movement  in the new quarters  was restricted by the rest of stuff.

The weather was great –roll up door was open, garden in bloom with gurgling water cascading from the waterfall into the pool.  Too cool to swim but nice surroundings to have a beer, stir in the hops while leaping over obstacles while creating the latest three batches of beer.

Working on a single batch of Honey Ale with Presidential implications that a similar beer was brewed at the White House.  Double batch of ESB completed the day as I made noted improvements needed in the brew house.

Next up — Alaska and Canada breweries and pubs visited and beer we drunk.

Shout out to Kevin and Anne –thanks for your help in moving and sending the Honey Ale from Northern Brewer.  Hope I showed you a new beer or two while you were out.

Production Moving

You may have gotten my email about the move –well that means production facility had to be moved as well. There has been some trials and tribulations in the move so far.  Strategically finding room for everything has been the most challenging –but it is coming around.  Also the beer tapper refrigerator was not happy with the move and decided to give it up.  No Fear –plans are on the board to get a new and improved model to provide years of service as Delta Slough Brew gets production back up to pre-move levels.

I haven’t had a chance to update all my beer partners on the trip to Alaska, Canada and a stay in Seattle with our travels to some famous and other not-so-famous pubs, bars, and brewerys.  Stay tuned –I will get to them –but need  cold beer first!  Priorities !!!