Beer styles scarce as hens teeth

Discussion in 'Pacific' started by OffTrail, Apr 13, 2020.

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  1. OffTrail

    OffTrail Crusader (421) Aug 12, 2012 Washington

    I would appreciate recomendations on PNW shelf versions of the following styles. I do caregiving so my range is limited - in effect, the Vancouver WA Total Wine.

    Bock
    Doppelbock
    Baltic Porter
    Barleywine
    Brown Ale
    Scotch Ale (other than Kilt Lifter)
    Wit

    There is a malt bias in this list that is a handicap here in hop heaven.

    Thanks!
     
    #1 OffTrail, Apr 13, 2020
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  2. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Heater Allen's Sandy Paws Baltic Porter might still be around. You might be able to find cans of Holy Mountain's White Lodge Wit if you venture into bottle shops over in Portland. Should be a good number of shelf barleywines and mid-tier barrel aged offerings that don't get snatched up immediately.
     
    #2 distantmantra, Apr 13, 2020
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  3. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    If you're truly limited to that one location, then at least it's one with an inventory searchable by style.

    Ben's Bottle Shop appears to be only 3 miles away, though, and would dramatically expand your options, if only because they offer growler fills of beers not available in bottles/cans. They may also be more willing/able to bring in packaged stuff in those styles on your behalf.
     
    #3 sharpski, Apr 13, 2020
    Last edited: Apr 13, 2020
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  4. WA_Brian

    WA_Brian Pundit (780) Nov 17, 2015 Washington
    BA4LYFE Society

    Black Raven Second Sight Scotch and Bellevue Scotch may be available.
     
    #4 WA_Brian, Apr 13, 2020
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  5. ppilot

    ppilot Zealot (522) Jul 17, 2009 Oregon

    Yeah Ben's should be your go to if you are in that area as they have a pretty good sized bottle selection even by Portland standards, some of which is pretty hard to find stuff.
     
    #5 ppilot, Apr 13, 2020
  6. Reidrover

    Reidrover Grand Pooh-Bah (4,886) Jan 14, 2003 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    #6 Reidrover, Apr 14, 2020
  7. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I don't know if Wander is available near you, but their Baltic Porter, Global Mutt, is a personal favorite.
     
    #7 BBThunderbolt, Apr 14, 2020
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  8. OffTrail

    OffTrail Crusader (421) Aug 12, 2012 Washington

    Thank you all for the helpful responses.

    I needed to get beer today, so I hit up both Total Wine and Ben's Bottle Shop.

    A salesperson at Total Wine told me that they don't carry Heater Allen, Holy Mountain or Wander beers in Vancouver. They no longer carry Black Raven Second Sight, though I saw some of their other beers. Bellevue Scotch Ale was there, which I have had, and also Silver City Magnificent Bastard, which is better. I did not see any PNW brown ales, wits, bocks, dopplebocks, Baltic Porter or barleywine, unless you make Alaska(n), Montana (Big Sky), and northern California (North Coast, SN) honorary members. I wound up getting Paulaner Salvator and Komes Baltic Porter.

    At Ben's I similarly did not find any PNW examples of those styles, except for scotch ale. They said that they have Holy Mountain sometimes, but someone has to buy it in the Seattle area. They certainly knew their stuff. The stock is eclectic with an emphasis on Belgian styles. They have everything from expensive imports to my plebian standby Workhorse IPA. I bought some Traquair House Ale.

    So it turns out that my initial perception was pretty much correct, for my neighborhood at least. If and when my schedule loosens up I'll explore Portland a bit more for some of your suggestions.
     
    #8 OffTrail, Apr 15, 2020
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  9. vurt

    vurt Grand Pooh-Bah (4,504) Apr 11, 2004 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Oh man, I haven't had one of those in forever. I can't even remember the last time I saw one.

    Wonder if there's any at John's Marketplace. That's the most likely place I can think of. Hmmm...
     
    #9 vurt, Apr 15, 2020
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  10. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Alaskan Smoked Porter and Baltic Porter, North Coast Old Stock Ale (not on your list but another good malt-forward style); given your limited options I think it would be silly to disqualify these great beers/breweries on geography. When NW breweries do package those styles, try to vote with your dollar and support them, but in the meantime I think it's fair to reward the regional ones doing it year-round.
     
    #10 sharpski, Apr 15, 2020
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  11. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Does Alaskan regularly make the Baltic Porter anymore? I loved it back in the day but then they stopped making it.
     
    #11 distantmantra, Apr 15, 2020
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  12. OffTrail

    OffTrail Crusader (421) Aug 12, 2012 Washington

    I mentioned Alaskan because they make a wit (Alaskan White).
     
    #12 OffTrail, Apr 15, 2020
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  13. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Pfriem Wit is worthy.
     
    #13 BBThunderbolt, Apr 15, 2020
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  14. blackcloud

    blackcloud Savant (1,243) Apr 28, 2012 Alaska
    Trader

    just a point of contention, you cant get much more pacific and northwest than alaska.....

    and, @distantmantra - the baltic porter is not a regular for them but shows up from time to time.
     
    #14 blackcloud, Apr 15, 2020
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  15. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Well, technically, Vancouver is in Southeast Canadia.

    Geography isn't as confusing as the maths, but......
     
    #15 BBThunderbolt, Apr 15, 2020
  16. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Looks like it was in the Pilot Series for 2017 and 2018, but it's not in the current lineup on their website. Last time I had it was Nov 2018, and if memory serves that was a fresh bottle from the Bend Costco.
     
    #16 sharpski, Apr 16, 2020
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  17. Reidrover

    Reidrover Grand Pooh-Bah (4,886) Jan 14, 2003 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Lets just call it all Cascadia..southern Alaska being part of the bio-region..and throw in Western Idaho and Northern California..
     
    #17 Reidrover, Apr 17, 2020
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  18. mactrail

    mactrail Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,999) Mar 24, 2009 Washington
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Chuckanut in Bellingham brews everything on your list, both the German and British styles. Bottles, mostly, are they doing cans with the new brewing facility in Skagit County?
     
    #18 mactrail, Apr 19, 2020
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  19. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    AFAIK, only bottles and draft.
     
    #19 BBThunderbolt, Apr 19, 2020
  20. OffTrail

    OffTrail Crusader (421) Aug 12, 2012 Washington

    Chuckanut sounds stellar. They don't distribute bottles or cans to SW Washington, though.

    Two summers ago I made a quick trip to the Olympic Peninsula. Hoped to encounter some Chuckanut, but no joy.

    It reminded me of the frustration of living in New England, but not within a 40 mile radius of The Alchemist.
     
    #20 OffTrail, Apr 19, 2020
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