PNW Stouts

I'm one of the oddballs in that I don't like coffee NOR do I like big, dark, strong stouts.

Every once in a while though, I try to branch out. My cousin and I shared Reuben's Breakfast Stout last night while watching the Sounders win the penalty kick shootout to their first MLS Cup championship, and damn, what a great beer. I didn't even pony up for the bourbon barrel edition, but it was so damn good. Even as a non-coffee person, the Kuma Coffee used in it really gave it an awesome roasty flavor. Excellent stuff.

 

The regular version was far better than the BA version, IMO.

 

I'm beginning to feel as if I'm compiling a distressingly large mental catalog of your dietary preferences. It troubles me a little that I now know your feelings on pizza crust, eggplant, meat, coffee and strong dark beers, but I might as well run with it and ask you about your thoughts on cilantro? Also, do you have any nut allergies we should know about?

I'd ask you about your lactose tolerance, too, but your stated affinity for the fantastic Breakfast Stout from Reuben's would seem to put that question to rest. The only flaw I've been able to find in that beer is its bottle format, but I understand @reubensbrews is doing what he can to get that sorted out in the future.

(P.S. @vurt - you were right on the money about Rhino Suit. Following your glowing write-up, I shelled out for a bottle on Friday, and cracked it last night during the second half of the MLS Cup. I was aware I could have been tempting fate by opting for an Oregon brew, but it somehow made that glorious outcome, and the beer, taste all the sweeter. I hope you don't mind...)

 

@66jzmstr I've been actively searching for 3 Magnets during since early November. Most of the regular spots around town (greater Seattle region) have literally seen no new stock. I've seen a few older bottles around. During the past week or so, a few bottle shops have received some new bottles from 3 Magnets.

I have repeatedly asked different places and nobody seems to know or willing to speak on it. I'm not 100% sure, but thought Alpha Distributing had been delivering products for 3 Magnets. I also thought 3 Magnets had posted a photo of a smaller delivery van loaded with cases of beer destined for Portland or Seattle recently. Thus, I assume they are indeed self-distributing now.

The Shoreline and Mill Creek Central Markets have been trying to get fresh product for a while now.

QFC University Village has also been trying to get fresh product after numerous inquiries/complaints. You can add Whole Foods Lynnwood as another location a little confused as well. Not sure if I've ever seen 3 Magnets at Metropolitan Market in Kirkland or the Haggens in Woodinville (have you?).

 

Cheers, Jason. Yeah, it seems odd. For what it's worth, when I was at The Cave in Kirkland on Wednesday or Thursday, they said they had just gotten a case or two of 3 Magnets but hadn't had time to price it and put it on the floor yet, so hopefully it's changing.

I can't recall seeing any 3 Magnets at Metropolitan Market, and I certainly didn't see any when I was there on Friday. Hopefully they get this distro issue worked out sooner than later. Either way, it would be interesting to get the full story on this, but it seems like one of those issues that we'll probably never get the full story.

 

FULL DISCLOSURE

Cilantro: Dig it. Probably a high tolerance for it too, as newlyweds we discovered - to the surprise of both of us - that my wife was a pretty damn good cook (and me subsequently gaining 20lbs that year), she thought cilantro was the best thing in the world and threw loads of it on everything. She's dialed it back since then, but fresh cilantro on Mexican or Tex-Mex dishes is still wonderful.

Nut Allergies: None! Although I did break out in an odd symmetrical rash of hives on my limbs and torso that lasted two weeks after consuming raw mango. I would love to enjoy fresh mango, but I can't risk it again.

Lactose: The more the better!

TOPIC RE-RAIL

Reuben's Breakfast Stout in 12oz cans??? That would be amazing. To be honest, I did actually enjoy another strong dark beer only two weeks prior, and it was a tallboy of Imperial Biscotti Break. I'm a sucker for marzipan, and that beer had it in spades, chocolate-coated, nonetheless.

I too was wary of going the OR route with my beverage choices last night during the game with two crowlers of Boneyard, knowing full well that our neighbors to the south were probably supporting TFC almost as hard as any true Ontarian. All worked out, though.

 

Good Lord, you might as well just publish your official medical records for all of us to see.

Seriously, this helps to, um...understand you better. You're an amusing chap, if even more peculiar than me. Cheers!

 

You asked, fer cryin' out loud!!!!!!

 

the bottles I got clearly say "Bourbon Barrel Aged" and come in a black and orange label.

 

For some reason I remember reading New Holland retired the "oak-aged" recipe (10%) in favor of "bourbon barrel" (11%) as the year-round release (with many variants). On their website they have the bourbon barrel version listed as their year-round release. I think bourbon is the only kind I've seen, at least in the Portland area.

 

I posted about it here:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/commun...-washington-update.443718/page-3#post-5155322

 

Haven't tried it yet (coffee is not my jam), but swung in yesterday to grab a couple bottles for another BA. Everyone I've talked to that's tried it seems to like it a lot.

 

This thread seems an appropriate place for this breaking news: http://www.silvercity.beer/blog/timetraveller

 

Not a Pacific NW Stout, but wanted to give the heads up on some Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stouts for those interested.....

As of December 13th, 2016 at QFC 4570 Klahanie Dr SE, Issaquah, WA. the following was available:

• 20-24 bottles of Regular BCBS
• 8-10 bottles of BC Barleywine

Everything is just sitting there on an eye-level shelf at the end of the soda isle. Each bottle is individually marked/priced at $12.99. BUT, the bottles were ringing up at only $11.99 with no limits!

Only grabbed one bottle of each, since I already had a case of regular and some varietals from Black Friday. Surprised someone hasn't bought all the bottles to use for trades etc.

Also saw plenty of unlimited Barrel Aged Ten FIDY at a couple Total Wines and Central Market Shoreline last weekend.

Yes, the regular Reubens Breakfast Stout is delicious! For me personally, this is one of the biggest surprises I've encountered. There is plenty available all over town in Seattle. In fact, Metropolitan Market was running a dollar off special which made it $5.99 or $6.99 (can't remember). Regardless, it's worth every penny.

 

Glad to hear you enjoyed it, cheers John.

 

In case anyone is still looking for pFriem's Scotch Barrel-Aged Imperial Brown Ale: The SE Portland Growler Guys had bottles on the shelf yesterday.

 

They have the greatest beer names.