Late Show at Boundary Bay Brewery

Join us right here at Boundary Bay Brewery this Friday, November 6th (at 10:30pm) to raise money for the Evergreen AIDS Foundation.  The Holy Tailfeathers and antenna eleven will be rocking our tap room and all the money raised by your $4 cover will go directly to the Evergreen AIDS Foundation to help their incredible work in our county.

The mission of Evergreen AIDS Foundation (EAF) is to foster a healthy and hopeful community response to HIV/AIDS in Northwest Washington through education, prevention and direct client services. EAF started with some friends sitting around in a bar talking about what they could do to help a close friend with AIDS. And help they did — with food, with chores, with money (AIDS was, is, an impoverishing disease) and, most importantly, with care and support.  One, became two, became dozens, as HIV disease came to Bellingham (like everywhere else, not spared). More volunteers, too, and with them organization and a name: Evergreen AIDS Support Services.

Evergreen AIDS Foundation is the largest community-based agency providing services to those affected by HIV/AIDS in Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and San Juan Counties. Services include case management, chore services, transportation, housing support, food assistance, emergency financial assistance, psychosocial support, mental health counseling, resource library and database, Internet access and referral services. Evergreen AIDS Foundation (EAF) began in 1985 as a grassroots community effort to meet the needs of people in Bellingham living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) and is one of the oldest continuously operating AIDS service organizations in the country.

The holiday season is upon us…a time of celebration and of feasting.  With all the special meals being planned we thought it would be a perfect time to talk about how you can choose craft beer to complement any of your holiday feasts.  Not sure quite how to do that?  Want to learn more?  Well, this year, you can join us right here at Boundary Bay Brewery for a Holiday Pairing Dinner.

On Sunday, November 22nd, we’re closing down the back of the bistro and hosting a private four course dinner for 10-20 people.  Each course will be expertly paired with a handcrafted brew from Boundary Bay and will serve as an excellent example of how the flavors of traditional holiday meals and craft beer can enhance and complement each other.

Our chefs here at the brewery are putting together a special menu for the event.  We will be serving an appetizer of Roasted Mushroom Tart made with local mushrooms, followed by the infamous Roasted Butternut Squash Soup from our very own Soup Dude!  Next, our main course will be Prime Rib served with horseradish mashed Yukon Gold potatoes, Creamed Spinach and a Wort and Stout demiglaze.  Then the feast will be finished off with a Cranberry Pana Cotta with Sweet Potato Shortbread.  Aaron Jacob Smith, our head brewer here at Boundary Bay, will be matching up each of our courses with the perfect Boundary brew and providing tips on why the flavors work so well together.

Leave our dinner armed with information that will make your own holiday menu and beer pairings much easier…plus you’ll get our recipes for each of the courses so you can replicate your experience here at the brewery and impress your friends!  It’s cool…we won’t tell anyone!

October is already over and cold weather seems to be upon us.  But don’t despair!  Our Cabin Fever will officially be on tap Friday, November 6th. This winter warmer has a dark red-brown color and a rich malty flavor that will complement your favorite spicy dish or any rich, hardy meal.

Specially brewed and bottled for the Pacific Northwest winters, this beer has been cold conditioned for a smooth, dry-hopped flavor.  Made with Mt. Hood, Warrior and Crystal hops, this big beer has a 7.2% alcohol level and is deceptively strong!  Just the thing to ward off the dark nights and cold weather. Our Cabin Fever has won a number of medals including a silver medal at the 2008 World Beer Cup (also won a bronze medal at the 2006 WBC!), the gold medal at the 2004 NABA, a bronze medal at the 2002 GABF, and a silver medal at the 1999 GABF.

Hurry down to the brewery on November 6th to grab yourself a pint of the long-awaited Cabin Fever.  Try it with our Mac and Cheese (everyone’s favorite!), our Hummus plate or one of Ralf’s soft pretzels if you’re looking for something a little lighter!

And, if you just can’t wait for the OFFICIAL release, join us for our Thursday Cask Night Happy Hour on November 5th.  We’ll be tapping the very first keg of our Cabin Fever for a little pre-release party!  Cheers.

Luckily, for those who don’t have the luxury of hanging out at the brewery as much as some of us, Cabin Fever will be available in 22 oz. bottles on Wednesday, November 25th!

It’s time for the 10th Annual Alpine Safety Awareness fundraiser!  This Saturday, in the Boundary Bay Brewery beer garden, for dinner (all you can eat fish tacos!), live music by Bentgrass and a silent auction/raffle from 5:30pm to 10pm. Pay attention all you winter sports lovers: this is a great opportunity to get some great deals on winter gear AND raise money for a cool organization at the same time. Plus, our winter seasonal beer Cabin Fever will be on tap so you can celebrate the coming of winter RIGHT!

The Alpine Safety Awareness Program (ASAP) is a community-based effort that uses local resources to teach alpine safety skills to children and adults throughout the Pacific Northwest. We aim to save lives and reduce injuries by proactively increasing alpine safety awareness. Since 1999, we have reached more than 30,000 students and adults through our programs. Our goal is to make safety a habit among all winter outdoor enthusiasts. The Alpine Safety Awareness Program was founded in Bellingham, Washington in 1999 by a local ski patroller after several preventable deaths occurred in the backcountry of the North Cascades mountains. The curriculum is based on the Canadian Avalanche Association and their Snow Smart program with the goal of saving lives by preventing future avoidable accidents from happening.

Bentgrass is a Bellingham string band that plays traditionals, originals and unusuals!  They play superb bluegrass loaded with quick-picking songs and energetic, fun original tunes and, somehow, the sound that Bent Grass achieves really brings you back to a time when things were a little slower and simpler.

Join us this Saturday for great local music and IN support of a wonderful local nonprofit organization founded right here in our own community! This is an all ages, family friendly event. Tickets $10.00 each, $30.00 for families. Dress warm (you’ll be in the beer garden)! If you can’t attend Saturday’s fundraiser, but would still like to help, donate here!

If this isn’t your first time to the Boundary Bay Brewery blog, then you probably already know about our Soup Dude here at the brewery.  We’re very very lucky to have one of our great chefs whip up daily soups for us.  And, for those who like to plan ahead, life has just gotten even better since our Soup Dude has posted his soup schedule for November. Plus, if you find that you love our Carrot Ginger Soup or our Chili Con Carne, don’t forget to get the recipes off our blog!

Halloween 2009 at Boundary Bay Brewery promises to be a most rocking all hallows eve!

I know; I work here so I am kinda  obligated to make such statements.  But SERIOUSLY y’all.  Halloween.  2009.  Boundary Bay Brewery.  Will.  Rock.  I type it completely free of all hyperbole because of the most excellent line up of bands playing in the taproom Saturday, October 31 starting @ 10pm.  Here is the run down:

DOG SHREDDER (Bellingham, WA playing @ 10:15pm) – These townies will melt your face (in a good way) with their blistering, prog-tinged, metal maelstorm.  Now, you might be saying to yourself, “Well I don’t really care for metal music,”  But for real:  The virtuosity, intensity and energy Dog Shredder exudes is captivating and I personally guarantee that you will be blown away.

THE PASTIES (Olympia, WA playing  @ 11:00pm) – Ever wonder what would have happened if Woody Guthrie and Joe Strummer had written a bunch of songs together?  My hypothesis is that the songs would have sounded something like The Pasties:  Breakneck folk-punk jams sung with lung bustin’ bravado.  My suggestion would be to not miss these Olympians doing their thing whatever your feelings may be about folk or punk.

LOZEN (Tacoma, WA playing @ 11:45pm) – From Wikipedia:  Lozen (c. 1840-1890) was the sister of the Chihenne-Chiricahua Apache chief, Victorio (akas: Bidu-ya; Beduiat).   Born into the Chihenne band during the late 1840s, Lozen was a skilled warrior and a prophet. According to legends, she was able to use her powers(Diya) and (Inda-ce-ho-ndi = “Enemies-Against-Power”) in battle to learn the movements of the enemy.  Victorio is quoted to have said that “Lozen is my right hand… strong as a man, braver than most, and cunning in strategy. Lozen is a shield to her people.”  The preceding Wikipedia entry on the namesake of  these Tacoma ladies band should clue you in to their sound:  heavy, throbbing, fearless, melodic metal in the vein of the Melvins.

SUGAR SUGAR SUGAR (Bellingham, WA playing @ 12:30am) – The stomping, psych-jam, sex-rock of Sugar Sugar Sugar has made this Bellingham trio the hottest band in town.  Don’t miss this opportunity to see this band in it’s prime on one of the funnest nights of the year!

So throw on your costume and join the party at Boundary Bay Brewery!  Doors open @ 10pm, the show is 21+ and there is a $6 cover.

this Thursday, Oct. 29th!

Right here in Whatcom County, we are entrusted with an extraordinary natural heritage. Saltwater shorelines, forests, lakes, farms, mountains, and wildlife habitat are all part of a legacy that only we can preserve for future generations. Which is precisely what the Whatcom Land Trust (WLT) aims to do!  The Mission of the Whatcom Land Trust is to preserve and protect wildlife habitat, scenic, agricultural and open space lands in Whatcom County for future generations by securing interests in land and promoting land stewardship.

This Thursday, October 29th, our community is gathering together for the BrewHaHa at the Depot Market Square to celebrate the Whatcom Land Trust’s 25th Anniversary!  Join your fellow land trust supports in celebrating 25 years of successful land conservation. At the BrewHaHa you’ll find a performance by the good folks from Second Story Theatre, toe-tapping live music, and a silent auction…not to mention a special Stewarship Brew created by our brewers here at Boundary Bay Brewery.  This hearty, harvest beer perfect for enjoying during the darkening days of autumn with your favorite chowder, stew, cioppino, or chili…don’t miss the ‘Stew Brew’ debut!  So, gather your friends and come raise a glass of ‘Stew Brew’ in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Whatcom Land Trust. All proceeds raised support the stewardship of the 10,000 acres preserved.
October 29th, 2009
Market Depot Square
6pm to Midnight

Here at Boundary Bay Brewery, we really don’t need much of a reason to celebrate.  We love doin’ it up right!  And that applies to Halloween too!  We’ve got lots of ways to celebrate…

On Friday, On Friday Oct. 30th (from 5:30-10pm) you can kick off the festivities a little early and get your spook on in our Haunted Beer Garden put on by the Bellingham Roller Betties.  Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for kids under 12 with all the proceeds from the ticket sales going to the Roller Betties and all their roller derby madness!

From 2-5pm, on Halloween (Saturday, Oct. 31st) you can bring the little ones into downtown Bellingham where you can trick or treat at various downtown businesses…including Boundary Bay Brewery.  You can get maps of participating businesses throughout the Central Business District or by contacting the Downtown Bellingham Partnership.

And last, but certainly not least, you can join us for one heck of a party on Halloween night!  Sugar Sugar Sugar, Lozen, Dog Shredder and the Pasties are going to be rockin’ the brewery and costumes are most definitely encouraged! The show starts at 10pm and it’ll cost you just $6 to get in.  But beware, our brewery is popular on night like this, so you might want to come early and have a couple pints while you wait for the show to start!

But, best of all, our kitchen has whipped up an incredible array of spooktacular desserts that are available all week (starting today!).

Cauldron of Bones: a ghoulishly delicious chocolate cauldron filled with a ghostly white chocolate mousse covered by a bloody strawberry goo and topped with skeletal remains. $5

Caramel Apple Float: a caramel rimmed pint glass filled with sparkling apple cider with a float of house-made caramel ice cream…like a liquid caramel apple!  $5  p.s. (adults can enjoy this sweet treat with just a little more bite – try it with a spire hard cider. add $3)

Monster Mousse: don’t be afraid if you find your dessert looking back at you since this devilishly decadent chocolate mousse has eyes plucked from the sweetest monsters we could find. $6

Butternut Squash Créme Brulee: an award winning dessert created right here in Boundary’s kitchen!  The sweetness of butternut squash marries with the classic creme brulee to make a special Harvest time dessert that won the People’s Choice Award (for dessert!) in the Bellingham Farmers Market Squash Smackdown.  $6  (click here for the recipe!)

THIS Saturday, Oct. 24th!

This Saturday, October 24th, the Bellingham community is coming together to celebrate the International Day of Climate Action.  Transition Whatcom is joining up with RE-Sources for Sustainable Communities for this event in Bellingham WA, which is joining thousands of other cities on October 24 for an international day of climate action and we need your help.  Here’s what you can do:

Meet us at 1:00 in front of Boundary Bay Brewery for a group photo, an 80’s dance extravaganza and an 80’s-themed party in the Boundary Bay Beer Garden (1:30-4), with DJ Fundi and $3.50 pints.  Groups will be gathering in various locations around the city and marching to converge at the Farmers’ Market at 1pm. When we reach critical dance mass, the 80’s dance party in the Boundary Bay Beer Garden will commence!

Crank It Down! is Bellingham’s response to the call for participation in the International Day of Climate Action. This event is one of thousands around the world, calling for an aggressive carbon reduction plan to get the planet back to 350 ppm (parts per million). Since we haven’t seen that number since the 1980’s, Bellinghamsters are grabbing their leg warmers and hightops, ratting our bangs and puttin’ on the blue eye shadow.  So, put on your raddest and baddest 80’s garb, dance, see what local organizations and businesses are doing to reduce their carbon footprint and support the local community.

Groups from around the world are organizing similar creative events as they participate in the most widespread day of environmental action in the planet’s history. Every event will highlight the number 350–and people will gather at some point for a big group photo depicting that all important message. At 350.org, all the photos will be assembled for a gigantic, global, visual petition.

Alright, alright…here it is: the long awaited – and much demanded – recipe for Butternut Squash Créme Brulee from Ilana, Catering Manager at Boundary Bay Brewery.  You have now, in your hand, (on your screen?) the recipe for the People’s Choice Sweets Winner in the Bellingham Farmer’s Market 2009 Great Squash Smackdown!  So, go grab yourself some gourds and a growler of Boundary Bay brew…and get cooking!

Boundary Bay Brewery Butternut Squash Créme Brulee

1 ½ c. cream

1 vanilla bean, halved

½ c. sugar

5 large egg yolks

2 c. butternut squash*, diced

In a large saucepan, cook the diced squash in the cream and vanilla bean until the squash is soft (mixture will be about 180F)

Discard the vanilla bean. Strain the cream and squash mixture into a large mixing bowl. Put the squash caught by the strainer into a blender or food processor and puree it, then add it to the warm cream.  Strain this mixture through a chinoise or fine sieve until you have 2 ½ cups of the squash/cream mixture.

In a large bowl, mix the sugar and egg yolks until well blended.

Slowly add the 2 ½ cups of the cream/pureed squash mix to the egg/sugar mix, stirring gently.

Pour this custard mix into 6 4-oz. baking ramekins. Place the ramekins in a baking dish and carefully pour warm water around them (water bath).

Bake, covered, in a preheated 325F oven on low fan until just set, about 30-40 minutes. The crème brulee custard will still jiggle slightly, but the surface should not ripple.

Carefully remove the ramekins from the baking dish. Let them cool at room temperature for 20 minutes, then chill uncovered in the refrigerator for 8 hours.

To serve: Sprinkle each ramekin with sugar and brulee with a propane or butane torch, or put the ramekins in the oven and broil as close as possible to the broiler element for 3-5 minutes.

Enjoy with a nice Oatmeal Stout or Black IPA from Boundary Bay! Cheers

*you can use any style of sweet squash or even pumpkin – it all turns out delicious and great with a Boundary Beer!*