The Buffalo Theory

This one landed in my inbox the other day. Diana, who will be leaving us soon sent it my way, I think it was passed to her from her mother. hurray for mom....

In one episode of “Cheers”, Cliff is seated at the bar describing the Buffalo Theory to his buddy, Norm. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the concept explained any better than this:

“Well you see, Norm, it’s like this. A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. When the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at th back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest numbers.

In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Now, as we know, excessive intake of alcohol kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. And that, Norm, is why you always feel smarter after a few beers.

Blanche de Mensonge, the belgian wheat beer is excellent, it looks like it brought the summer weather for a few days at least.

Artemis, the organic pale made with Cascade and Columbus hops is tasting great. It should be flowing sooner than later. It is after all Diana's last weekend with us, and she kind of has to be on hand when the beer goes on tap.

Also this weekend is the release of Old Sol Wheatwine. I expect to see you all on Saturday for some fine adult beverages. Bill has been working overtime to get the beer in bottles and ready to head out the door. Apply the Buffalo Theory and come on in, get rid of those weaker brain cells, we could call it getting smarter.....ha ha. Hope to see you all soon for a pint or two. It looks that summer is on the way, school is out and we are a bit more mellow all summer long.

just a quick one.....

The Biggest Beerfest in Washington is this weekend out at St Edwards Park in Kenmore. Those of you that haven't yet joined WABL should. One incentive, other than supporting great Washington Beer, for joining is at this festival is you get a larger, glass tasting cup, and access to a special keg of beer provided to the festival by one of the many quality Washington Breweries. We have tickets to this fantastic event.

I can not believe that I am writing this, it snowed last night at the Summit, but the following weekend is the Summer Solstice, the arrival of summer? Old Sol Wheatwine will be flowing, if this weather holds it will be the sunshine in a glass that you need to make it through until summer really arrives. I expect to see you all there snifter in hand.

We should have a few new beers on draft shortly, one should already be flowing but our friendly sign makers spelled the name wrong delaying its release.

We still have growlers available, they are very cool and since it is the first time we have ever done one everyone should be coming down to get their hands on this piece of history. Thanks so much and hope to see you soon enjoying a tasty pint or two in Seattle's Original Brewpub.

beer and gas....

There you have it folks. This landed in my inbox this morning and I thought it was only appropriate to pass it on. With the hop crisis it looks like the hop heads and the motor heads will be competing for at least the next year for which is cheaper. I am sure that gas will win this race as I have heard it is supposed to creep up to the 5 dollar mark this summer, and I don't see pints, at least in our establishment hitting that yet.

In other news the Trombipulator is all gone, if you got some you were one of the lucky, if not you really missed out. It was one of the best batches I have ever tasted.

The organic pale ale, Artemis, was brewed a few days ago, look for it in the near future. This is another first for the Big Time. The growlers are selling fast, they are beautiful. Stop in and get one.

We plan to put out a new design for the Old Wooly shirts, right now we are trying to figure out if we are going to do long sleeve shirts, zip hoodies, or pullover hoodies. Sound off with what you would like to see. Zack, the ave rat artist designed them and they are super cool.

Old Sol Wheatwine comes out on Saturday the 21st, I expect to see you all there. Come on in and celebrate half a year of rain with us, maybe it will bring the sun out of hiding.

We still have tickets to the Mother of all Father's Day, Brewer's festival out at St Edwards park in Kenmore. I expect to see you all there. Click here for more information.

Just a reminder beer is cheaper than gas, so drink up. For those of you that must know a gallon of gas is 4.25 a gallon of beer is 16.00 at our establishment so maybe beer really isn't cheaper than gas, but I do think that it has more social value than gas. On that note I will sign off, and if you drink don't drive.

What a sucess...

The Mother of all Father's day festivals was very well run and attended. Thank you Lisa. Thank you Arlen. WABL had somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 new members sign up just before the event. They did get a really cool larger tasting glass for doing so. I really wanted one, they were pretty damn cool. While my mission was to get lots and lots of pictures it just didn't happen, there was just too much good beer to be had. That and who really wants to see a large crowd of people drinking beer. We have all been there at one time or another. Not always too much to see. I did snap a few pictures of the keg toss and a few of the attendees. I will make an effort to take more pictures at upcoming events.
Bill will be adding to this post real soon, so I won't go on and on about all the good beers what I liked, or didn't. Decade was a big hit, of course, as was the Big Dance Oaked Imperial Ale. More than once people came asking for it by name and say "it was the best, they heard and the wanted to get some before it was gone."
I am in the process of getting a flickr account up and rolling, after running around and getting the Old Sol shirts approved. They are outstanding. With help from the guys at Destee Nation, they really know what they are doing, so flexible, samples etc. If you ever need shirts these are the gentlemen to go to. Old Sol comes out in two days. I am sure I will be seeing you all there.

Awhile back I mentioned that Teri was the inspiration Kevin needed to make the Old Sol, well recently I found out that she is on a cross country journey, a vision quest of sorts, brewing her way across the country. She is documenting it here. It is worth the read, talk about having some fun.

I will leave you with a few pics from the festival, remember when attending a beer festival in the northwest, beards and utilikilts are part of the uniform.

Drew and Arlen MC the Keg toss. I don't know if you can see it but Drew is wearing his Kilt.

The last contestant in his windup for the Keg Toss.

The Trophy

The man himself Kevin Forhan


Like I said, I really didn't take many pics. Next time, next time. Hopefully Bill will grace us with his words real soon. See you Thursday for the Old Sol release.

Coming soon....

It's that time of year again, can you believe it. It is almost the Summer Solstice and you know what that means.... Old Sol Wheatwine, oh and the longest day of the year, they tell me its all downhill from here.

This beer is brewed on the Lunar New Year and aged until its release on the Summer Solstice, which is Thursday June 21st this year. I hope to see you ordering one or more from me. Rumor has it that it is tasting rather hoppy this year. In 2003 it won a gold medal at the GABF in the Other Strong Ale or Lager category. This year Wheatwine's have their own category, we are tossing around the idea of sending it to Denver again.

It was originally brewed in 2002 by Kevin Forhan, the inspiration was provided by Teri of Steelhead fame. This tasty beverage is brewed with 46% Wheat, mostly Simcoe and Amarillo hops with a bit of Warrior hops as well. Here are the specifics for those of you that like to be in the know: OG 23.6 Plato, 1.100SG, 9.75% by vol., 7.75%by wt.

Right now we are in the end stages of tweaking the t-shirt design with our very good friends down at Destee Nation in Fremont. If you ever need t-shirts made these are the guys and gals to go to. I know you will like it. They will be ready for the release date. We will also have 22oz bottles available upon it's release. I hope to share the evening with you all.