Washington State Brewery Tour # 2 – Human People Beer

Our second stop in Washington State is a little town named Seattle where we will find Human People Beer. There is a Modern Times lineage and hop farm experience in the trio behind the brewery.  

Tim Kamolz and Andrew Schwartz come from Modern Times while Mallorie King has the agricultural background. 

Human People Beer will be tenants in a project called the West Canal Yards in Seattle, Washington with a hopeful summer 2024 opening.  First beers may be available before then as is often the case.

Washington State Brewery Tour # 1 – Dalliance Beer Project

Dalliance Beer Project is a unique brewery start-up in the hop country of Yakima, Washington. Led by Andrew Pytel and Tristan Karosas of Single Hill Brewing with artist Jamaica Zoglman.  Art will be the driver and the beer will be made to match.  

There will be no core beers, everything will be one and done starting with their Tarot Project.  (beer and tarot are a trend, as will be my confusion with tarot)

First pulled from the deck will be The Fool, a German-style Pilsner, and Five of Wings, a hazy IPA. The release schedule is two beers at a time until all the cards are done.

Holiday Season 2023 – Day 21 – High Camp from Bale Breaker

Staying on the West Coast for a bit longer but climbing to a High Camp

“Named for the ski lodge atop our local White Pass Ski Resort, this apres-ski sipper warms from the inside out with aromas of caramel, coffee, citrus, pine, and spice. Taking Bale Breaker’s signature hop-forward style to the dark side with the addition of chocolate and rye malts, this balanced IPA is dry-hopped with Mosaic®, Simcoe®, and experimental hop HBC 630 hops.”

Fruit and Staves

Not all cider is apple centered and not all cider is just light and sparkling. Tieton Cider has a pair of bourbon barrel ciders that focus on other fruits to pair with that note of bourbon, they have a peach version as well as …..

Beer Review – London Lager from Machine House Brewery and Lowercase Brewing

I have been jonesing to try a beer from Seattle’s Machine House Brewery. It seems to be a brewery where the best is draft but thanks to some Lowercase Brewing beers sprinkled into Los Angeles, I get to try the collaboration London Lager from the can.

“A traditional base of Simpsons Lager malt and Crisp Floor Malted Maris Otter with some of the finest East Kent Goldings. We decided to recruit some Hallertau Mittelfruh hops from Germany because Lowercase are Mittelfruh Children.”

To me, this is a classic watch Premier League highlights beer. Light orange in color. Lovely malt aroma on the nose. Soft and delicate mouthfeel. Nothing really dominates. All subtlety. Some potpourri and orange pith with a tiny metallic clang.

Washington State Brewery # 3 – El Sueñito Brewing

Our last stop in the Evergreen State is dreamy, El Sueñito Brewing in Bellingham.

Founded by Dennis Ramey and Osbaldo Frelard of Frelard Tamales in Seattle. The couple have visions of an inviting space for queer and BIPOC beer fans.

Here are some beers to taste from a recent tap list:

Alemania – “A Kolsch-style ale, this beer is based on the traditional beer style from Koln, Germany. While not *technically* called a Kolsch unless brewed in Koln, this beer sticks to the traditional style with additions of Vienna malt, giving light bready malt notes. German noble hop additions in the kettle and whirlpool give a balanced grassy/resinous aroma. Fermenting on the cool side with German ale yeast gives a unique ester profile that compliments the style.”

Cerveza Blanca – “Belgian style Witbier, brewed with lots of malted and unmalted white wheat. Unmalted wheat provides a higher protein content than malted wheat, which helps keep Cerveza Blanca nice and hazy as intended. Oats smooth out the mouthfeel, but this beer still finished fairly dry and crisp. Hopped with Pacific Jade, a New Zealand variety that gives notes of melon, lime, and orange. Whirlpool additions of ground coriander and dried orange peel play well with the hops to give a little extra boost of citrus notes. Best served with an orange slice!”

Güerita Blonde Ale – “This is a simple, no frills, crushable light beer. Biscuit and Toast notes from Vienna malt provide sweet, bready flavors that are balanced by light-handed additions of Chinook and Cascade hops, that provide some slight bitterness and notes of pine, grass, and grapefruit.”

New Friends Pale Ale – “Being a hoppy, American Pale Ale, Cascade hops couldn’t be left out of this brew! Complimented by Citra, Mosaic, and Idaho 7, this beer has lots of citrus and tropical fruit notes. It has a distinct and balanced hop aroma and flavor, but more subdued and less bitter than a typical IPA.”

Washington State Brewery # 2 – Hildegard Ferments and Botanicals

Stop number two is at Hildegard Ferments and Botanicals. Co-owners Rosa Vissers and Howard Kuo have created half herbal remedy shop with a brewery that follows the seasons.

Here are some beer choices to consider…

Lux Table Bier – “A well hopped golden table bier fermented cold with a touch of dry hop that is endlessly drinkable and balanced with an unexpected depth. Lux exhibits a fine bitterness and lightly warmed ciabatta bread downwind from an herb garden.”

Tula Saison Batch # 2 – “With the cold snap we experienced back in November, our little brewery got cold. As all of our ferments slowed to a crawl, we had to get creative in order to brew a saison to our liking.”

Viriditas Jun Nettle – “Our newest recipe, this one is a keeper. Tastes like lemonade, sandalwood, a little earthy, some fresh pine. Picture yourself taking a stroll outside on one of the first sunny spring days…the sun kisses your face, the air smells amazing, the birds are singing, and you are feeling yourself. That’s how this Jun tastes. 

In addition to Stinging Nettle (ethically gathered by us), there’s Lavender and Geranium from our Hildegarden. Inspired by our recent trip to Baja California Sur, we also added Damiana, which is indigenous to BCS.”

Washington State Brewery # 1 – Uprise Brewing

We head first to Spokane where long ago Bert Grant was one the craft beer pioneers. Today we are e-visiting Uprise Brewing.

Vienna Amber Lager – “Munich malts highlight this beer to create a biscuity, crisp amber lager.”

Steady Juicy Pale – “Loaded with Strata, El Dorado and Mosaic for a bright malt character with huge notes of grapefruit, and tropical fruit resulting in a juicy, easy drinking pale ale.”

Saison Farmhouse Ale – “Notes of coriander, pepper, candied orange peel and a hint of clove create a complex, dry and effervescent farmhouse ale.”

Color Theory Cold IPA – “A perfect blend of styles taking an American IPA and cold fermenting it like a crisp lager. Citrusy, fruity and dank with a clean, bright bite. Dry hopped with Citra & Strata.”

Take Care of Yo’ Self

Or treat yo’ self to a N/A beer from Three Magnets Brewing under their Self Care line.

Their IPA won a recent Oregonian newspaper N/A taste test AND they have a bubblegum glitter beer. You do have to buy two packs minimum so there you go for your first order.

Coming to PDX in 2023

In a patented Beer Search Party move, read THIS about 2023 Oregon and SW Washington breweries about to open first, then you can see below my picks and if you agree with my choices as the most interesting newbies.

Oak Union – hey, hey might be landing in my hometown of Milwaukie

Breakside – big plans for three locations including Astoria

Upright – adding a second location in a former corner gas station

Little Hop Brewing – a brewery and a mobile Tiny Hop House truck