We’re Going to Massachusetts

The best of the Northwest is heading to Massachusetts when NW Fest comes to Redbones in October & November .  Breweries in Oregon & Washington send kegs all the way to Massachusetts to be tapped at Redbones BBQ and this year, more than 15 NW breweries, including Boundary Bay Brewery, are sending over 60 kegs, including some special casks!

The Northwest Fest Keg Parties scheduled for November 8th and 9th from 5-7pm.  Enjoy free appetizers and sample craft beer from Washington and Oregon.  All the taps at Redbones will be turned over to Northwest brews…one from each brewery sending kegs!  But don’t worry, if you miss one of the keg party nights, a selection of NW beers will be on tap from mid-October ’til the kegs run out.  Check out the great breweries participating in Redbones Northwest Fest:

Washington Brewers: Anacortes Brewery & Rockfish Grill, Big Time Brewing Company, Boundary Bay Brewing Company, Diamond Knot Brewing Company, Elysian Brewing Company, Issaquah Brewhouse, Pike Brewing Company and Silver City Brewery

Oregon Brewers: Alameda Brewing Company, Cascade Brewing Company at Raccoon Lodge, Deschutes Brewery, Green Dragon Brewpub, Lompoc Brewing Company – 5th Quadrant, Lucky Labrador Brewing Company, Rogue Ales and Track Town Brewery

Redbones is a well established, much loved restaurant located in Davis Square – Somerville, Massachusetts (click here for directions). RedBones has become a favorite for many folks over the years, most likely due to its authentic downhome-style Southern food, its unique ambience, and the genuine friendliness of its staff. Redbones also offers 24 fresh microbrews on tap and often hosts local Brew Fests like the Northwest Fest.

When Redbones opened in 1987, a BBQ restaurant of its authenticity was virtually unheard of north of the Mason Dixon Line. Years later, with BBQ joints popping up everywhere, Redbones still stands out because of the fun, the food, and the wide range of services. Customers and staffers alike share the spirit of Redbones, where community rather than commercialism is the order of the day. In the dining room, there is a constant flow of customers, waitstaff, music and food. Nostalgic photographs of BBQ days gone by, autographed photos of rhythm and blues greats, and artistic, homemade menus and signs adorn the walls of the unpretentious main room. For the curious, there are counter seats up front, where people can observe first hand the action of the open kitchen and chat with the pitmaster and crew. Adjoining the dining room is a cozy bar with more kinds of beer on the menu than food. The new 24 Tap System has an ever-changing selection of beers, and many are from microbreweries that are available in Massachusetts for the very first time. The customers are as varied and interesting as the food and beer: from fur coats to overalls, they’re all there – the young to the less so, from CEO’s to craftsfolk, from globetrotters to neighbors – southern hospitality and BBQ brings them together. And the Redbones’ team, from waitstaff to kitchen crew, is equally diverse.

At Redbones, the traditional craft of barbecue is overseen by a ‘seasoned’ pitmaster, with attention paid not only to the smoking itself, but from preparation of the food to the finishing off of ribs before serving. The pitmaster and crew take pride in their craft, pouring energy and creativity into Redbones’ kitchen. They have brunch options, a kids menu and a section of their menu for gluten sensitive diners that lists everything at Redbones that is gluten free.  This place may not be Utopia, but it is a place where the food is delicious and made from scratch using the best ingredients.

Redbones serves lunch daily at 11:30am (noon on Sundays) and dinner is served from 4:00pm ’til 10:30 (11:00pm on Fri/Sat) – there is also a late night menu every night until 12:30 a.m.

Will Travel to Bellingham for Beer!

Seattle Beer Week is kicking off on May 13th and we’re pretty sure there’s gonna be lots of brew hounds hot on the trail of craft beer!  So, if you’re looking for a little beer trip beyond the ordinary, come check out Bellingham’s local craft beer scene! Just 85 miles north of Seattle and a mere hour south of Vancouver, B.C., Bellingham is known for our friendly people, authentic communities, cultural attractions and a clean environment. There’s something here for everyone: adventure, relaxation, mountains, forests, bays, boating, hiking, biking, cycling, shopping, dining, art, culture and more!  Not to mention beer!

Beer has been brewed commercially in Bellingham since before the city officially incorporated in 1903.  Prohibition put an end to all the brewery shenanigans in the late 20’s, though, until Ed Bennett (owner of Boundary Bay Brewery) came to the rescue in 1995!  He opened Boundary Bay Brewery in a restored historic warehouse in downtown Bellingham and has never looked back!  Since then, our beer has gone on to win over 70 awards at regional, national and international levels, we’ve been voted the Best Brewery in Washington (Readers Choice Poll, Northwest Brewing News) for the last two years and named 2009 Small Business of the Year by the Whatcom/Bellingham Chamber of Commerce.  We’ve even been the largest selling brewpub in the nation for 2007 and 2008 (numbers not available for 2009 yet).  And if all that isn’t enough to sweet talk you into ditching Seattle for the day (or longer!!) you can check out these other great beer spots while you’re here:

Located just a block away from Boundary Bay,  The Honey Moon serves locally made wine, cider and mead.  Or head in the other direction another couple of blocks and find yourself at the North Corner Brewing Supply Store or Chuckanut Brewery.  And if you’re up for a little adventure a bit further from town, hop back into the car to head to the mountains to check out North Fork Brewery and their Beer Shrine or to the waterfront for Anacortes Brewery and Rockfish Grill.

So, now that we’ve talked you in to it…how do you get here?  Well that’s easy!  You can hop on the train right in downtown Seattle for beautiful scenery and a relaxing commute for under $30.  You can even put your bike right onto the train (for an extra $5) and explore Bellingham like the locals do!  Amtrak trains depart for Bellingham at 7:40 am and get you up here before 10 am!  Or if 7:40 in the morning just sounds too darn early for you, you can catch the bus for about $20 bucks (still through Amtrak!) at 12:20pm and get up to Bellingham by about 2:30.

If you’d rather drive, we definitely recommend Chuckanut Drive (Route 11)…a beautiful and slow paced alternative to I-5!  Going North, the exit is just north of Burlington and marked on exit sign #231. Chuckanut Drive takes you through gorgeous farmlands, in and out of the towns of Allen & Bow, with some of the area’s best restaurants, bed & breakfasts and antique & art galleries. The Drive continues along the rock shoulder of the Chuckanut Mountains and from here you overlook the San Juan Islands from any of the many viewpoints along the way. There are also many spots for picnics or just getting out and stretching your legs. Try one of the many hikes, either to lakes on Chuckanut & Blanchard Mountains or to the beaches at Larrabee Park or Teddy Bear Cove. The Drive continues all the way to the 1880’s brick town of Fairhaven, now a suburb of Bellingham. From the North you can do it in reverse by taking the Fairhaven Pkwy exit #250 at the south end of Bellingham.