twenty-three

The August/September issue of Northwest Brewing News has a great cover story: Coffee & Beer – Northwest Over-the-Counter Culture. Of course I was excited when I saw this sitting at the Archer a few weeks ago. I finally picked up an issue while we were at the Snoqualmie Falls Brewery this week. It’s a great article about how the Northwest is continuing to produce great coffee shops on every corner and a growing number of alehouses and microbreweries.

"Both the coffee and beer revolutions trace their roots to the rainy
coast of the Pacific Northwest. Driven indoors by weeks of solid rain,
a few beverage revolutionaries began concocting better things to drink
while spending hours in the pub or coffee shop. The airy brewpub and
comfortable coffee shop both evolved from dingy taverns and harshly lit
diners, along with the return to more flavorful beers and coffees."

So true. The great thing this article talks about is the general
excitement and passion that backs these small micro-breweries and
-roastaries. It really makes the dream of quitting your day job to stir
coffee beans in a roaster or pour hot water over a bed of grain really
sound enticing. And for a home brewer like myself, it makes me very
excited to develop my craft and continue to make better beer.

The coffee beers are a unique Northwest creation that also deserve
noting. The article talks about Redhook’s "Double Black Stout" which
uses Starbucks coffee in the ingredients. Other smaller breweries
around the region have incorporated their local roast into a stout beer
recipe, with varying results. Even Savage Brewing has tried a couple
rounds of coffee-in-beer experimentation. Our very first recipe, out of
a little kit was most likely ruined by the addition of coffee grounds.
We also tried adding freshly brewed espresso shots into our
pre-fermented beer. It’s very hard to resist including the good ‘ol joe
in a recipe, especially when you love it so.

The article’s worth reading, so next time your in your local pub or
microbrewery, check to see if they have a copy of the Northwest Brewing
News. Maybe someday you’ll see Savage Brewing featured in there!

***
Brian, we got an extra copy of this for you. I know you’ve been missing this little paper.

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