image of Collins Pub's Happy Hour Pulled Pork Sliders courtesy of our Flickr page As we at the Northwest Beer Guide endeavor to make visiting the site more enjoyable we would like to introduce a new feature.

Starting next Monday, as we travel from event to event we will be recording the experience via camera. As a way to show you what’s in store, here is a taste.

Sunday March 28th, 2010

image of Airways Brewings' taphandles courtesy of our Flickr pageWhile many people were getting out to enjoy the sunny weather, we took a drive to Kent to visit Airways Brewery. By the time you are reading this you will no doubt be visiting them (Grand Opening Thursday March 11th at 4PM). We had a great time talking with Jameson Gesford and Alex Dittmar, and wrote our thoughts in a separate column.

(WA) Airways Brewing soars to a bar near you, courtesy of Alex Dittmar and Jameson Gesford

Wednesday March 3rd, 2010

image of Collins Pub's Real Strong Beer menu courtesy of our Flickr pageAt about 5PM as people began to leave from work and make their way home or out for a sip, we visited The Collins Pub. As previously mentioned The Collins Pub was hosting their annual Real Strong Beer Festival. Featured at this event was truly unique and rare beers.

As we looked at the list ended settling on Firestone Walker Abacus, Full Sail Boardhead vintage 2005, and Lost Abbey’s Angel Share. As each beer was tasted, we took the time to enjoy the three hours that were there, sampling the beer as the temperature within the glass rose.

image of Collins Pub's Real Strong Beer lineup courtesy of our Flickr page

By far the most balanced of the three beers tasted, was the Abacus with just the right amount of oaked and bourbon character. The second one on our list was the Boardhead which despite being five years old held its own and without any oxidation (a side affect common with beers that are aged over time, as oxygen seeps in). Finally we night capped with the contents of the Lost Abbey Angel Share.

If you would like to know more about Abacus, Angel Share, or Boardhead, we have included links to their websites.

Saturday March 6th, 2010

image of Brouwer's Cafe menu courtesy of our Flickr page

On a sunny and almost 60 degree afternoon we visited Brouwer’s Cafe to sample of the Brouwer’s Cafe Anniversary India Pale Ales, produced by local breweries.

We settled on Schooner Exact's Imperial India Pale Ale and then after an enjoyable plate of Frites, we sampled a Skagit River Bourbon Barrel Aged India Pale Ale. Special thanks to the brewers of Washington for dedicating time to honor Brouwer’s Cafe, and their support of craft brewing.

image of Tako Truk's offering at the Two Beers' Haitian Relief fund raiser courtesy of our Flickr pageAfter leaving Brouwer’s Cafe, we elected to check out Two Beers Brewing’s fund raiser for Haitian relief. Featured at this mini-festival was a limited edition Brown Ale (Port a Prince) that had a slight flavor of tobacco, ‘Takos’ by Tako Truk, and a beer can toss with buy-in tickets generating additional money for the fund. All in all Two Beers raised $3,000 which will be used towards purchasing temporary housing for victims of the earthquake.

Attached are a few additional photo highlights from the event. Congratulations to Two Beers, and Tako Truk, for helping improve the conditions in Haiti.

image of Tako Truk's Coco Piggy at the Two Beers' Haitian Relief fund raiser courtesy of our Flickr page image of a participant of the Bad Beer Can Toss at the Two Beers' fund raiser for Haitian Relief courtesy of our Flickr page

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For more photos from that week as well as other please feel free to visit our Flickr photostream. Have a great rest of the week and enjoy your weekend.

Cheers

About the photos’ author
Paul “Fruit Trees” Orchard, is an amateur craft beer enthusiast and amateur photographer. Throughout the many years in craft beer he is always carrying a camera (smartphone, digital, traditional) and is invites you to see that beer can also be exciting even if you can’t drink the photo.