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.

Boundary Bay Brewery ties for Best Brewery in Washington State!

Every year, Northwest Brewing News holds a Reader’s Choice poll.  They ask hundreds of readers to vote online or by mail for best beer, best homebrew store, best bartender, best beer store, and best brewery.

This year, Boundary Bay Brewery tied with Seattle’s Elysian Brewing for Best Brewery in Washington State!

We also won Best IPA “hands down” according to Alan Moen, editor of Northwest Brewing News.

We are honored to receive these awards, particularly because they are from the readers of Northwest Brewing News.  These are the people we make our beer for, the people who come in on a regular basis after a long day of work and sample our craft.  Boundary Bay’s continued success has as much to do with the community we are a part of as it does the beer we brew.  Boundary opened in 1995 and, over time, became such a town fixture that locals often refer to it as “pure Bellingham.”  Ed Bennett, owner of Boundary Bay, said his goals were always to brew good beer, make good food, and create a place where the people of Bellingham could be comfortable coming together.  This unexpected success just illustrates how well he has achieved his goals.  Boundary Bay, as a whole, works hard to stay connected to its customers and to support local organizations, charities, and musicians.  The brewery also offers support to the Bellingham community by employing over 100 people during its busy seasons.  “We try to do everything that we can ourselves,” says Ed, “from having an in-house bakery, maintenance department, and graphics department, to doing all of our own distribution.  It’s just how we do things.”  Bennett also recognizes the craft beer community as a strong foundation for Boundary’s growth and success.  He commented that “the brewing industry has always been supportive and I am honored to be part of that culture.  We live in a great region for craft brewing and the Pacific Northwest has a strong presence in craft beer.”