Brouwer's Cafe host the 2019 Sour Fest, May 16th. Our picks from their (attached) draft list.
image courtesy Brouwer’s Cafe
This Thursday, should you need a bit of incentive on where to go, Brouwer's Cafe is hosting their annual Sour Fest. One of the largest showcases by an alehouse, Brouwer's Cafe has consistently demonstrated why they are one of the region's pre-eminent draft houses with events like Sour Fest. Whether you are new to 'sours' or a fast-favorite of Geuze, there is definitely something for everyone.
Taking a moment from their day, Brouwer's Cafe forwarded us a tentative draft-list for Thursday's Sour Fest. After reviewing it we have elected to include it and our picks.
Our Picks (aka, what we’re having)
Engine House #9 Genus Rubus Wild Ale with Raspberry & Blackberries. Located in Tacoma, Washington, Engine House #9 continues to create complex, fruited-ales. If you're too lazy to drive to Tacoma and visit the brewery, this is your next best thing.
Floodland Bottleworks XX. A brewery that neither has a taproom or capacity for retail, Floodland remains a brewery obscure to all but those who have an exclusive membership. Recognizing talent, Bottleworks owner Matthew Vandenberghe sought out owner Adam Paysse. If last February's record sale of BWXX is any indication then you'll want to show up early to get a chance to try this beer for the first or second time.
North Fork Electric Blueberryland. Unless you are heading to hike, ski, or 'board Mount Baker then you've probably never heard of North Fork Brewing. With 20 plus years of brewing under his belt, Eric Jorgensen has created both the familiar (with his IPA, Barleywine, and ESB) and the unusual with beers like Electric Blueberryland and Cherryland. Definitely worth your time.
Alesong Kind of Blue Oak-Aged Sour w/ Blueberries. Having visited the brewery's taproom, we can confirm there is nothing like it. Add to that their status as a several-time, award-winning brewery, and you can see why so many have signed up for their quarterly beer club.
Breakside Ziggurat Wood-Aged Sour Ale. Blended from 13 casks, the beer remains one of the areas more creatively organized releases. If you’ve not been able to track this down or need a refresher, this might be a great time to be at Brouwer’s Cafe.
The Ale Apothecary Ralph Mixed Fermentation Ale with Fir Tips on Cask. Honestly, we’re just excited to see this on cask.
The Ale Apothecary UNVRSL Fresh Hop Farmhouse. Consider us curious as we have yet to try this but we have heard good things.
Burial Death and the Miser Wine Barrel-aged Sour with Cherries. True story but did you know the owners of North Carolina’s Burial Beer once lived in Seattle and managed a beer blog? Aged with Cherries and resting in Wine Barrels, this beer has received a fair amount of praise and is definitely one we wish to try. After all, it’s not every day you get to enjoy a Burial Beer.
Boon Oude Geuze 2018. Call us old-fashioned but there is something fun about a well managed Oude Geuze. Sometimes it’s best not to mess with over-perfection and instead enjoy the classics.
The List *tentative
Local
Bainbridge Island Viognier ’17 Blonde Sour w/ Viognier Grape Juice
Engine House #9 Genus Rubus Wild Ale w/ Raspberry & Blackberry
Finnriver Chimicum Kriek
Floodland Bottleworks XX Oak-Ferm. Ale w/ Cherries & Blackberries
Garden Path The Patient Fish the Sea Barrel-Aged Wild Ale
Matchless Blackberry Gates
Mirage Raon Lùtha Bbl-Aged Sour Blend w/ Hibiscus & Rosehips
North Fork Electric Blueberryland
Propolis Apricot Ostara ’19 Vat-Aged Saison w/ Brett & Apricots
Reuben’s Brews Aeir Spontaneous Wine Bbl-Aged Wild Ale
Stoup Barrel-Aged Flemish-Style Red Sour Ale
Structures Skagit Blend Saison w/ Raspberries & Blueberries
Three Magnets Blueberry Dance Bbl-Aged Sour Ale w/ Blueberries
Tin Dog Book of Hours Wine Bbl-Aged Sour
Urban Family Forbidden Sorcery
Varietal Goldwave Bbl-Aged Sour w/ Blackberry, Raspberry & Mango
Wander Raspberry Champagne Toast Oak-Aged Berliner w/Raspberry
Regional
Block 15 Cardinal 2, The Krieken ‘14 Flanders Red w/ Cherries
Boneyard Peach Gooze Cruze Belgian-Style Oude Gueuze
Culmination Kriek Mythology ’17 Sour Red w/ Cherries
Deschutes The Dissident w/ Marionberries BA Flanders-Style Brown
Ex Novo The Cherry Tree BA Mixed Culture Sour w/ Cherries
Great Notion Key Lime Pie Gose w/ Lime, Vanilla, Corainder & Lactose
Mazama Monks Gone Wild Bourbon BA Sour Dubbel
The Ale Apothecary Ralph Mixed Fermentation Ale w/Fir Tips Cask
The Ale Apothecary UNVRSL Fresh Hop Farmhouse
National
High Water West Meets East Bbl-Aged Golden w/ Kiwi & Kumquat
Modern Times New Atlantis BA Sour w/ Cranberry, Persimmons
New Belgium La Folie Grand Reserve PX Sherry Bbl-Aged Sour Nitro
OEC (Ordinem Ecentrici Coctores ) Tempus Blend #10 ’18 Old World Sour Saison Blend
Rare Barrel Pop’t Art BA Red Sour w/ Cherries, Blue & Boysenberries
Rare Barrel Summer’s Gonna Hurt You BA Golden Sour w/ Peaches
Import
Alvinne Kriek Van Mortagne Sour Ale w/ Cherries
De Proef Reinaert Flemish Red Ale
Brouwer’s Cafe is located at 400 North 35th Street in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood. For more information, including Seattle Beer Week and non-Beer Week events, visit https://www.brouwerscafe.com/
About Brouwer’s Cafe
We have 64 craft beers on draft, a selection of over 400 bottles from both the U.S. and abroad, an exceptional selection of Scotch and American Whisk(e)ys and a full service bar, and Belgian-inspired cuisine.
Our Belgian-inspired cuisine includes our versions of Belgian classics such as pommes frites (true Belgian fried potatoes), stoofvlees (a thick Belgian stew served on Frites), and the Belgian staple of moules-frites. We also serve a variety of sandwiches, such as our very popular lamb burger, which is ground in house. We also have a selection of salads, desserts, and a rotating specials menu.
We serve Seattle's Fremont neighborhood seven days a week, opening at 11 am. Our "Power Hour" is from 3 pm to 6 pm everyday and boasts a delicious selection of small plates and $1 off all draft beers and well cocktails.
