BBW '15

Here's your early warning for Bellingham Beer Week 2015. September 11-20. Always plenty of fun events (Barleywood Squares is an annual fave of mine). There's been some talk of having an "official hotel" involved, if it comes to fruition, I'll let y'all know. The website hasn't been updated yet, but it's http://bellinghambeerweek.com/

 

You just keep yer grubby lil paws off of our BBWs! Now, ya wanna head up to Lynden, and make friends with some of those corn-fed farm girls, go right ahead.

 

Even in the short time that BBW has been around, these jokes have become a tradition. I think it signals the true end of winter, when we can start talking about Bellinghams wookies, er, BBW.

 

I love the idea of using Skagit malt. Chuckanut made (makes? I'll check) an Alt with Skagit malt. Whatcom County produces 30% of the annual U.S. production of raspberries, along with a lot of other berries. Maybe a an Imperial Brown ale with rasp/blue/marion/straw berries? Don't know if there's enough time to barrel age any thing, or produce a sour. Given the love that folks up here have for beer, and the strong "buy local" ethos, I'm sure anything with a local angle would sell well. An oyster stout with Taylor oysters? I know it's been done to death, but I do love a nice berry wheat, so perhaps a Wit with berries?

I'll give it some more thought, and get back to you. And thank you for asking.

 

Most of our apples come from the East side, so, being something of a localist, I'd rather use berries. It's a great idea though, and I'd be happy to see it.

 

Asked this question to a couple friends last night. Dan said Barleywine. But then, Dan thinks the answer to any question is Barleywine. Chris thought a Baltic Porter with cherries (or local blueberries), or the oyster stout idea, but he thought an addition of a cocktail sauce- type component (hot sauce and/or horseradish) would be interesting. But he added that he didn't think it would exactly fly off the shelves.

 

Would the timing work for something fresh-hopped?

 

Plus, BBW is a week earlier this year, so that'll reduce the odds.

 

I brought this topic up at a bottle share last night, and the consensus was a Saison. The group thought that opened up the possibility of using other local ingredients of an interesting base beer.

 

BBW website has (finally) been updated, and has some event listings: Home

You'll notice that Octoberfest is no longer on the schedule. Apparently the organization that was to put the event on couldn't afford to rent the facility. Or something. Dunno. Whatever. A month away from BBW 15, and the event schedule is looking a bit thin.

 

BBW '15 gets underway today. Fewer places are hosing events ( the majority take place at E-Station, The Local, The Copper Hog, and McKays), and it seems like it's mostly brewers nights/tap take overs. Aslan is having a "local" day today, wear any Bham brewery T-shirt, and pints are just $2. I think that's cool. The website has been updated, although some details are wrong, so call a given venue before heading out. The Boundary Bay 20th anniversary party next Wednesday should be a blast. Octoberfest at Chuckanut should be a good time as well.

The collaboration beer this year is a light lager, so nothing we can cellar. Which might have been the point. I'll probably have one, just for the tick (and Science!). Stone's Throw finally got a limited license, and is doing tours and sampling, swing by and check them out.