just a quick one

The Old Sol is flowing, the bottles are flying out the door, and it is one super tasty beverage, that arrived just in time for summer.

The Artemis Organic Pale ale is a real hit. Come on in and wish Diana the very best on her new journey to who knows, I don't even think she does.

For all of you that keep coming in and asking for it, your wish has been granted....on the longest day of the year we brewed the darkest beer we make, thats right Old Rip Oatmeal Stout will make an appearance in the next couple of weeks.

Bill brewed another Hopfest, our single hop pale ale. He used Autanum hops throughout this time. Look for that real soon.

We are coming up with ideas for the 20th anniversary shirt as well as how to properly celebrate 20 years of doing business.

That is all for now.

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.

Drum roll please!!!!!!!!!!!

They finally arrived. After all the talk and then the planning, which consisted of drinking a few beers at a certain friends house, while "playing" with ideas on the computer. Then there was the hashing and re hashing of ideas with Bill and Armon. Yesterday they finally arrived in the almost 20 years that we have been around we have never produced a 1/2 gallon growler, what better way to celebrate 20 years than with a commemorative beer holding vessel. They are on clear glass so the color of the beer exposes or hides different parts of the design. We did a limited number, and I anticipate that they will be a hot commodity. Come on down hoist a pint or two, fill a growler and head home with one of the few Big Time growlers. Here's to seeing you sooner than later.

In other news....

Trombipulator is almost done.
Summer is on the way...i hope.
Stay tuned for the 20th Anniversary plans.

Upcoming Beers.....

Yesterday I arrived to work, a bit sweaty and late, and was happy to see that we had added a new/old beer to the lineup, Paxton's ESB. Originally brewed by Drew Cluley now of Pike fame. Many years ago he was the bar manager, and guess what he also knows how to brew beer, so he did. I think Kevin was on vacation at the time or maybe they even collaborated. The name, well Paxton is Drew's middle name, there the secret is out. Now on the details. It is a Northwest Style ESB, using Columbus, Goldings and Mt Hood hops. It has good hop character with a solid malt backbone, the original recipe has been altered a bit, Bill likes to tweak things now and again, but the namesake stays the same.

A new beer was brewed yesterday, we are keeping the details under wraps a bit, look for something that we haven't done in the past. I'll leave it at that.....

Diana, our resident hippy, has decided that she needs to leave, it appears she is over the city life and needs to go to greener pastures, think Northern California. In sticking with the theme, that a beer is named after you upon your decision to leave i.e Firecracker Pale ale, Serrano Puzzano, Bill is brewing an Organic Pale Ale and naming it in Diana's honor. A note on the Serrano Puzzano, Sarah tried to leave and then didn't, somethings are just too good to quit, but she did get pink boots and a beer named after her, so it looks like she played it right. Back to this Organic Pale Ale, it will be brewed early next week, look for it on draft in the upcoming weeks. The name will be Artemis, which Bill tells me is the Greek Goddess of the forest and the hills, the counter part to the Roman Goddess Diana, the Goddess of the Hunt. If you know Diana and you followed the links, it all must make a bit of sense, the name that is. Our hippy returns to the forest. I'll leave it at that.

We have almost exactly one month until the release of the Old Sol Wheatwine. It will be released on the Summer Solstice which this year falls on Saturday June 21st. I'll see you all there, snifter in hand.

The weekend before that is the Mother of All Father's day Festival out at Saint Edwards State Park. A three day celebration. We will be bringing the Ave Rat Malt Liquor, the Ryenoceros Amber Rye ale, Paxton's ESB and maybe one of the above mentioned beers.

What a success.....

Street Fair was a success, thanks to all who joined us for the first truly sunny weather in years. Usually it rains at some point during the weekend, making the beer garden a nice thought. This year it was the exact opposite, it was "too hot" for people, instead of too windy and rainy. I stayed clear on Saturday, with one day off I had no desire to show up, I figured I would get my share of the crowds and the madness on Sunday. We had some unfortunate breaks, of all things to break this weekend the ice machine went out, which meant many trips to Safeway to get bags and bags of ice, talk about irony. I won't bore you with more details, some of my favorite moments and sightings were.

An old man wearing a shirt that put it all in perspective..."got dates?"

Little dogs in the purses of woman in high heels and jeans, should we thank Paris Hilton?

More tie die than I have seen in years.

The familiar smell of caramel corn.

Kids with face paint, adults for that matter, maybe I should have gotten my bald head painted in spirit.

I was also confused at certain points in the day when I saw more than a few people wearing jackets, or long sleeves. I ask you Seattle are we that afraid to shed our winter armor? What is that bright ball in the sky anyways?

I brought my camera which died as soon as I turned it on, or I would have a photo gallery for you all. Lets face it a picture is worth a thousand words. Thanks to all who came and joined us on this fine weekend.