MORNING FOAM FOR FRIDAY, NOV. 4 2016: A seven-taster flight of craft beer news, from the fluffy head all the way to the bottom Louis C.K. rant. …
Ah, South Sound beer faithful, polish your tasting glasses and prep your palates—this week’s craft beer dispatch is frothy with hometown pride, historical rebrews, corporate acquisitions, and at least one comedian telling the truth about moms. First up: Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall plays host to the South Sound Craft Beer Festival, where 11 of our local brewing heroes—from 7 Seas to Wingman—will pour alongside 39 breweries from across Washington, turning the Dome into a temple of regional fermentation. Pike Brewing is resurrecting its OG Pike Place Ale (now with local Skagit Valley malt), Two Beers Brewing celebrates nine years with a cellar raid and fresh winter ales, and Pyramid goes full Snow Cap with a 30th anniversary triple-drop, including a bourbon barrel-aged version that could double as a holiday gift to yourself. Meanwhile, The Hop Concept’s Tropicaland Juicy IPA is about to make your November taste like mid-July, and somewhere in a gleaming boardroom, Anheuser-Busch InBev swallows yet another independent brewery, this time Texas-based Karbach, because nothing says “craft” like a billion-dollar parent company. Also, Louis C.K. says moms rule. He’s right. So does beer. Let’s begin.
Eleven South Sound brewers will pour at Saturday’s South Sound Craft Beer Festival in the Tacoma Dome exhibition Hall: 7 Seas, Gig Harbor Brewing Co., Fish Brewing, Harmon Brewing Co., North 47 Brewing Co., Northwest Brewing Co., Odd Otter Brewing, Ram Restaurant and Brewery, Top Rung Brewing, Wet Coast Brewery and Wingman Brewers. The 39 other breweries will be from all over Washington state. For more details, click here.
Pike Brewing invited its alumni to the brewery to re-brew Pike Place Ale of 1989, although not on the original four-barrel system. It’s a slightly reformulated version of Pike Place Ale as the new version makes use of locally grown, delicious, farmer-direct Skagit Valley Alba malted barley instead of grain imported from Europe as it did back in the day.
Saturday, Nov. 5, Two Beers Brewing Co. invites craft beer lovers to join them as they raise a glass to nine years of brewing. Celebrating their anniversary at their SoDo tasting room — known as The Woods — the team at Two Beers Brewing has dug into the cellar and opened the barrels for a tap lineup you won’t want to miss. In addition, Two Beers Brewing’s winter seasonals — Jive Espresso Stout and the new Tipsy Toboggan Winter Ale — will make their debut on tap and on the shelves.
Pyramid Breweries announced the launch of not two, but three special releases in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of Snow Cap. Snow Cap, Super Snow Cap and the limited release, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Snow Cap. The anchor of the seasonal trio, Snow Cap, is Pyramid’s full-bodied winter warmer and is brewed in the spirit of British winter ales.
Tropicaland Juicy IPA, the fourth beer to be released from the Hop Freshener Series by The Hop Concept, will be heading to tap lines and bottle shops in mid-November. First brewed in 2015, Tropical and Juicy IPA will once again garner its namesake flavor profile by concentrating on Mosaic, Galaxy, Vic’s Secret and Citra hop varietals.
Anheuser-Busch InBev has inked a deal to acquire Texas-based Karbach Brewing Co., the ninth craft beer acquisition by the giant beer producer in a move meant to boost the company’s “craft” portfolio.
Louis C.K., beloved stand-up comedian, talked politics with Conan O’Brien this week. According to Louis, moms rules, which they do.
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
