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Full Throttle Bottles

I love highlighting people who get us the great beer. Seattle has great places including today’s entry…
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“Full Throttle Bottles is a specialty beer and wine shop located in the historic and industrial Georgetown Neighborhood. We specialize in unique and unusual alcoholic beverages from across the country and around the world. With over 600 types of local and international beer in stock (with more coming every week), we provide a selection from pale lagers to extreme IPAs.”

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News from The Bruery

If you like joining clubs and getting special benefits…
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“Memberships on Sale Soon!
The Bruery Reserve Society is a revered group of beer enthusiasts who wish to gain access to the most esoteric beers The Bruery has to offer. In this inaugural year, we’ll be offering 400 memberships to the Reserve Society. Reserve Society members will have first pick at special releases. There will be releases that will only be available to Reserve Society members. As an inaugural member, you’ll also have the first right of refusal to join in 2011.
Reserve Society registration will begin in person on Tuesday, October 27th at 6 PM. In person registration will continue during tasting room hours (Friday & Saturday, 4 PM – 10 PM, Sunday, 12 PM – 6 PM). Registration through our website (www.brueryprovisions.com) will begin Friday, October 30th. The registration period will close on December 31st, 2009, or when all memberships have been sold.
Cost: $195
Benefits:
– At the time of signing up, the first 250 to join the Reserve Society will receive Barrel Aged Partridge in a Pear Tree (only 290 bottles produced), White Oak, and Saison Rue. The last 150 to join will receive Barrel Aged Autumn Maple, White Oak, and Saison Rue.

– Reserve Society Zip Hoodie (available in early January)
– Reserve Society Zip Hoodie (available in early January)

– Entrance for two to the Reserve Society Initiation Celebration (scheduled for early January)

– Access to Reserve Society-only events (barrel tastings, release parties; additional charges may apply)

– Access to purchase special bottle release allocations (in person or through our website; allocations only for Reserve Society members. Bottle limits will vary from release to release.)

– Shipping of allocated beers (shipping cost not included, will ship only within CA)

– 15% off all tasting room and Bruery Provisions purchases (Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts)

– Access to special growler fills

– First right of refusal for 2011 membership
– A nifty Bruery Reserve Society ID card
Anticipated 2010 Special Bottle Releases:
– Oude Tart – Flemish Red
– Melange #1 – Flemish Red / Imperial Stout Blend
– Melange #3 – Barrel Aged Strong Ale Blend
– White Zin – Sour ale with Zinfandel Grapes
– White Oak – Blended Barrel Aged Wheatwine / Golden Strong Ale
– 100% barrel-aged Coton – Barrel Aged Old Ale
– Black Tuesday Imperial Stout – Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
– 100% barrel-aged 2 Turtle Doves – Barrel Aged Holiday Beer
– Perhaps a few other releases up our sleeves”

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Weyerbacher Brewing

Shifting to the East Coast. Here is another brewery on my list to visit or sample beers from…
First some background, “Weyerbacher History
Weyerbacher Brewing Company was founded in 1995 by Dan and Sue Weirback. The company name is the original spelling used by the first immigrants from Germany about 200 years ago. The spelling has morphed slightly over time, but we thought the original sounded best for the brewery.

How it came to be!

In the beginning, Dan was an avid homebrewer and microbrew connoisseur. One weekend, late in 1993, while vacationing in Vermont, Dan and Sue toured the Long Trail brewery, back when it was in the basement of an old mill. Dan was looking for a new business to get into but it was Sue who suggested he start thinking about starting his own brewery. As they say, the rest is history!”

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LA Beer Week – Suggestions

As you may have noticed, I really enjoyed LA Beer Week. Great events all over the southland with something for everyone.

But here are my humble suggestions for next years celebration of all things craft beer.

1. Signs – I think that each venue that is hosting an event should have a big LA Beer Week sign with a listing of what is happening at that particular venue and it should be put up a couple weeks before the start. There should also be a large banner for the kick-off that could be used for the big festival at the end of the week. It would be much better than a hastily made sign with arrows on it. It also gives a more professional gloss to each event and might bring in some foot traffic as well.

2. more beer premiere’s – As I was scanning the beer blogosphere, some events seemed to be commented on a bit. But what really got the beer geeks tails wagging was the release of Black Xantus. I would ask a couple brewers if they have any seasonal or special release beers that they could “hold” until LA Beer Week. I also think it would be worth exploring having a collaborative LA Beer Week beer. Maybe something called SigAlert or something catchier. Would be a great way to get some publicity. You might even get it into the LA Times Food section the week before.

3. Beer maps – It would be great to have a PDF on the website that showed all the participating bars and breweries. It could even be on a coaster. Also the final event could have used a “you are here” type of map as well.

4. Media Beer and dinner pairing – Again, all about publicizing what is going on here. It doesn’t have to be fancy but you could invite people as far ranging as humble bloggers like myself (hint-hint) to Jonathan Gold at the Weekly, the Good Food people at KCRW.

All nitpicky things. But I think it might increase participation and reduce questions and maybe problems.

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LA Beer Week – Descanso Gardens

This capstone event to LA Beer Week did not have the look or the feel of a first year attempt. This was very classy. From the location of Descanso Gardens to the music being played to the great selection of beer and cider.

It was a chance (at a very reasonable price) to sample old favorites and try some of the hotly anticipated beers that are new to the market. Nectar Ales had some Black Xantus on hand. Gentleman Scholar was pouring their Espresso Stout. Telegraph brought down an excellent Harvest Rye that was brewed primarily for the vintners of Santa Barbara. Duvel had their “Green” on hand and Craftsman brought a wet-hop ale that was quite tasty. There was a good mix of styles and regions represented.

The one thing that I worried about was the crowd. Usually the unlimited pours brings out the beast in some people who are not their to expand their palates but rather to wreck them. But that was not the case. It was a friendly and fun atmosphere.

Thanks to Jay, Scott, Dennis, Ryan, Brandon and to all else who volunteered and took time out to make this happen.