News, Cellar Reviews, and a Hiatus (Addendum)

Happens every time: I no sooner get a blog out than another piece of news comes in that really should be included. Plus, I somehow totally forgot to mention the winners of the NorthWest Brewing News' Reader Choice Poll [Insert forehead slap here].

First off, Baranof Island Brewing in Sitka just released a new beer. Also, when I was in Anchorage last week, I saw six-packs of their Silver Bay IPA in cans at La Bodega.  Here's how they describe their new brew:

Baranof Island Brewing is proud to announce the return of MC's Black IPA. This dark, hoppy and slightly sweet ale is 6.65%ABV with 60 IBU's. This is a seasonal winter ale that is a holiday favorite in Sitka.

This dark ale has a coffee-chocolate aroma. “It is the perfect balance of dark malt along with Nugget and Zeus hops, to give it a bitter mouth feel with a dry clean finish that makes you want to take another sip” says Head Brewer Mike DesRosiers. This ale is only available for a limited time in Sitka, so swing by Alaska's favorite brewery and grab yourself a glass.

Photo courtesy of Baranof Island Brewing Company.

Second, here are the winners of this year's Reader Choice Poll. Congratulations to you all.

Best Beer Store-

Alaska La Bodega, Anchorage

BC Brewery Creek, Vancouver

NorCal The Good Hop -Oakland

Washington Special Brews, Lynnwood

Oregon Belmont Station, Portland

Best Brewery-

Alaska Alaskan, Juneau

BC Central City, Surrey

NorCal Russian River, Santa Rosa

Oregon Deschutes, Bend

Washington Elysian, Seattle

Best Nano Brewery-

Alaska  Baranof Island, Sitka

BC Powell Street Craft Brewery, Vancouver

NorCal Humboldt Regeneration, McKinleyville

Oregon Three Mugs, Hillsboro

Washington Foggy Noggin, Bothell

Best Brewpub-

Alaska Glacier Brewhouse, Anchorage

BC Steamworks Brewing, Vancouver

NorCal Six Rivers Brewery, McKinleyville

Oregon Ecliptic Brewing, Portland

Washington Maritime Pacific, Ballard

Best Homebrew-

Alaska Arctic Brewing Supply, Anchorage

BC- Dan’s Homebrew Supply, Vancouver

NorCal Humboldt Beer Works, Eureka

Oregon Brew Brothers, Hillsboro

Wash Mountain Homebrew, Kirkland

Best Pub-

Alaska Humpy’s, Anchorage

BC Alibi Room, Vancouver

NorCal Toronado, San Francisco

OR Horse Brass Pub, Portland

Wash Beveridge Place Pub, West Seattle

Best Bartender-

Alaska- Larry Lowrey - Lavell's Bistro,Fairbanks

BC Nigel Springthorpe Brassneck Brewery,Vancouver

Norcal- Tals Nachson- Six Rivers Brewing, McKinleyville

Oregon- Finnegan Jennings 3 Mugs Brewing, Hillsboro

Washington- Matt Bonney- Toronado, Seattle

Best Beer-Amber Lager (Märzen, Oktoberfest, Vienna, etc.),
       Chuckanut - Oktobersfest

Best Beer-Barleywine
       Thor’s Hammer, Central City

Best Beer-Barrel-aged Beers
       The Abyss

Best Beer-Belgian-Style Ale
       Sound Monk’s Indescretion

Best Beer-Bock/Doppelbock/Dark Lager
       Occidental Maibock

Best Beer-Brown Ale/Amber Lager
       Foggy Noggin Butch's Brew

Best Beer-Cascadian Dark Ale/BIPA
       HUB Secession

Best Beer-Cream Ale/Kölsch Style Ale
       Foggy Noggin Cream Ale

Best Beer-Fresh Hop Ales
       Snipes Mountain The Nooch

Best Beer-Fruit or Herb or Spice
       Foggy Noggin - Cranberry Frost

Best Beer-Imperial IPA
       Central City Red Racer Imperial IPA

Best Beer-Imperial Stout
          North Coast Brewing Old Rasputin Russian Imperial

Best Beer-IPA
       Barley Brown's Pallet Jack

Best Beer-Organic
       Fish Tale Organic IPA

Best Beer-Pale Ale
       Foggy Noggin - Diablo del Sol

Best Beer-Pilsner
       Chuckanut Pilsner

Best Beer-Porter
       Deschutes Black Butte

Best Beer-Red Ale/Amber Ale
       Central City Red Racer India Style Red Ale

Best Beer-Scotch Ale/Strong Ale
       Boundary Bay Scotch Ale  (Foggy Noggin Kastrated Dog won)

Best Beer-Sour Beer
       Breakside Passion Fruit Sour Berlinerweiß

Best Beer-Stout
       Elysian Dragonstooth

Best Beer-Wheat Beer
       Three Mugs- Mein Schatz Hefeweizen

Best Cider
       Tieton

We now return you to your previously scheduled blog hiatus...

Until next Time, Cheers!