Kayaks, Brews and The Time Of Your Life

Once again, we’ve teamed up with Outdoor Odysseys to give you an experience you’ll never forget!  Join us August 23-25 for a three day Beer Tasting and Kayaking Excursion in the San Juan Islands. But get this, Boundary Patrons can now recieve 25% off the entire trip!!!

You’ll spend three days paddling around the beautiful San Juan Islands with an expert sea kayaking guide and two nights enjoying Boundary Bay beers paired with delicious camp cuisine cooked FOR you.  You’ll camp overnight at Jones Island State Park, a boat-in campground known for it’s beautiful waterfront camp sites and scenic hiking trails.

Adam, one of our employees here at Boundary Bay Brewery, went with the first group on this beer and kayak adventure last summer.  Here’s what he had to say about his experience:

“Kayaks, Camping, Beer & Dinner or is it Kayaks, Beer, Dinner & Camping?  Either way, all of them made my recent trip with Outdoor Odysseys epic.  I don’t know how many people are as lucky as Mike & Kim Dave & Pat, Jon & Lakota and I to experience the San Juan Islands in such a memorable way.

Kayaking from San Juan Island to Jones Island to camp and have fresh organic food paired with local Boundary Bay beer prepared for you isn’t exactly roughing it.  It’s perfect.  Chatting with Sarah, our kayak guide and chef, I had a good idea of what beers to pair with the food.  Along the motto of “Be Prepared” there was enough beer and ten different styles for all to enjoy, Blonde Ale, Pilsner, IPA, Maibock, Oatmeal Stout to name a few.

Seals and pups, bald eagles, fish, star fish, jellies, big horn sheep and deer were everywhere.  The one elusive mammal and perpetual joke among the group, where are the whales?  Well let’s not forget, whales live under water.  That makes them hard to see, from a kayak.

After stunning paddles to Jones, Henry & Spieden Islands, beer paired meals, sunsets, campfires, and a great group of people; it didn’t take long to fully chil-lax!”

Adam, Lakota, Jon, Pat, Dave, Mike, Kim and Sarah (guide)

To receive 25% off your trip: If you’re booking over the phone, just mention you’re a Boundary Bay fan and heard about the offer. If booking online, enter BBAY25 in the “comments” section and the discount will be applied at the time of transaction.   

Husky Season Again!

If you know us at all, you know that here at Boundary Bay Brewery we are big fans of the UW Huskies!  For a number of years now, we’ve partnered up with the College Inn Pub in Seattle to offer Huskies fans a great way to celebrate Home Game Saturdays!

The College Inn Pub was established in 1974 and is located at 4006 University Way NE. It’s a great place to drink whomever you are.  They’ve got pool tables (free on Sundays), real darts, vintage pinball and a rockin’ jukebox…not to mention sweet deals on Boundary Bay Brewery beer during these Home Game Saturdays.  During each Huskies home game, a different Boundary beer will be featured for just $3.50 a pint – through the duration of the game.  Come early for the special pre-game prize drawings too!

The first of these special events is this weekend, September 3rd as UW goes up against Eastern.  We’ll be featuring our Pilsner, so come try this light, honey colored lager with a beautiful hop aroma and flavor that’s always a favorite brew for summer!

9/3 – Pilsner (our summer seasonal)

9/10 – Single Hop (Sorachi Ace)

9/24 – Fresh Hop ESB

10/15 – Harvest Ale (our fall seasonal)

10/29 – Scotch Ale

11/5 – Cabin Fever (our winter seasonal)

CDA vs. Black IPA

There’s a new beer style emerging currently, and brewing right alongside it is an argument about whether this new style should be called Cascadian Dark Ale (CDA) or Black IPA (or one of the many variants of the latter).

This new beer is basically a dynamic duo of malt and hops – it is characteristically dark or black in appearance, due to roasted malt, but still retains the big, bold hop flavors and aromas more traditionally found in an IPA.  There are claims that the style originated in Vermont and there are those who insists that homebrewers in the Pacific Northwest were making it first.  But, wherever it started, the style is finally hitting the mainstream.  As brewers across the country were experimenting with making this new beer style, a variety of names popped up because no one was quite sure what to call it:  Black IPA, Black Ale, Dark Ale, India Dark Ale, India Style Dark ale, India Style Dark Ale, Cascadia Dark Ale, etc.  In 2010, the Brewers Association added the style to the Great American Beer Festival guidelines and officially designated it as American-style Black Ale, but the debate about just what to call this beer rages on.

There are many who believe strongly in naming the style Black IPA, but a whole lot of us here in the Pacific Northwest are fighting for the name Cascadian Dark Ale.  Yes, the style is dark and yes, it still tastes very hoppy, so we can see why the early brewers used terms like Black IPA to try to explain what they were brewing.  But, it really bears little similarity to the historic IPA’s and paring the terms black or dark with pale ale in the same style name seems more than a little confusing!  So our vote is for Cascadian Dark Ale.  Not just because Cascadian hops are used in this beer style (and in a vast majority of all beers produced in the United States) and not just because there are those who trace the roots of this emerging beer style to our region.  We are championing the name Cascadian Dark Ale because here, in the Cascade region, we have embraced this style while it was still a gimmick for most of the rest of the United States.  The Pacific Northwest is where this new beer style is emerging, being embraced and being defined!  Perhaps it’s just that it’s a natural fit for us.  Those of us here in the Northwest seem to have a pallete all our own where big, bold flavors are appreciated – intensely roasted coffee and big, hoppy, bitter beers.  Naming this style Cascadian Dark Ale is about honoring this region and the styles and hops that come from here and that have helped to shape this industry.

Those who argue against the CDA name say that it shows regional favortism and that we’re poised to go the route of champagne if we allow this (only Champagne comes from Champagne region of France – everything else must be called sparkling wine).  But, brewing with Cascade hops or brewing the beer HERE in the Cascade Region is not a requirement for the style.  The name is more appropriately seen as an homage to where this beer style came into it’s own.  We don’t think this is any different from other beers named for specific regions:  Pilsners from Pilsen in the Czech Republic or Scotch Ale from Scotland.  Pilsners and Scotch Ales are now brewed everywhere, by all kinds of brewers…and yet, the names remain and they honor the roots of those beer styles.  Just as we hope Cascadian Dark Ales will honor the Cascade region and it’s part in brewing history.  Cheers – from all of us here at Boundary Bay Brewery!

You Be The Judge Of Our GABF Beers

The Great American Beer Festival is happening this weekend and we know that not everybody can take a week off and fly to Denver to take part in this holiest of beer festivals.  So, for those of us left behind, we’re pouring our GABF beers this weekend here at Boundary Bay Brewery!  We’ll have Pilsner, ESB, Imperial Oatmeal Stout, Dunkles Bock and Cabin Fever on rotating taps throughout the weekend…starting Friday morning.  Taste them all or just the out of season faves like the Cabin Fever.  Judge them for yourself and tell us which gets your vote for the gold!  Cheers.

Dawgs Love Beer Too!

Summer is wrapping up and fall is in the air.  It’s bittersweet, sure…but there’s good news too. This time of year also means the return of Home Game Saturdays at the College Inn Pub!!

The Huskies Season is kicks off September 4th and we’ve teamed up with the College Inn Pub to reward those UW fans who also just happen to love Boundary Bay Brewery beer.

Head down to the College Inn Pub, in the U District, on any day the Huskies are playing a home game.  During the game, you lucky fans can score a Boundary Bay Brewery beer for just $3.  Each Home Game Saturday will feature a different BBAY beer for the game day special.  First up, on September 11th, is our infamous summer ale: The Pilsner.

Boundary Bay Pilsner

Our Pilsner is a light, honey colored lager with a beautiful hop aroma and flavor.  We brew our lager in a traditional manner using only the finest ingredients like Saaz and Gr. Hallertau hops with Munich, Pilsner an Vienna malts. This beer is fermented at lower temperatures than an ale, which creates a drier body in the Boundary Bay Brewery Pilsner with less fruity esthers.

And, as if the sweet deal on pints wasn’t enough, we’ll also be giving away stuff in special pre game prize drawings each week.  Don’t miss out!  Check out the schedule for our featured beers:

Saturday, September 11^th:  Pilsner

Saturday, September 18^th: Fresh Hop ESB (made with hops right out of our beer garden!)

Saturday, October 9^th: Harvest Rye

Saturday, October 16^th: Imperial IPA (for $3?! Unheard of!!)

Saturday, October 30^th: Scotch Ale

Thursday, November 18^th: Cabin Fever (long awaited!!)

Me, My Dad and Beer

Papa Jones enjoying Boundary Bay brews!

I took my Dad down to the Washington Brewers Festival in Kenmore today for a little bit of pre-Father’s Day celebrating.  This has been a tradition of ours for the last few years and I would definitely suggest that anyone who doesn’t have plans for their Dad tomorrow to head down to Saint Edward State Park for awesome craft beer in a family friendly environment. 

On Sunday, from 11am-6pm, you’ll find plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained.  Besides all the great beer, you’ll also find live music, a Brewers Keg Toss contest, a beer toss and a rootbeer toss for the little ones, a kids playground (complete with bouncy houses and arts & crafts!), and a rootbeer garden featuring craft root beer made by hand from Lazy Boy Brewing, Rock Bottom Brewery, Silver City Brewery and of course…Boundary Bay!  There’s even a magician juggler from 1:30-2:30 tomorrow.

The Washington Brewers Festival is a celebration of world-class craft beers made (primarily) in Washington State.  You can find nearly 200 beers showcasing the incredible talents of our regional craft breweries and help support the Washington Beer Commission by attending.  This Brewers Festival is a major fundraiser for the Washington Beer Commission who help to educate Washington consumers about craft beer, promote beer brewed in Washington State and help foster a vibrant community of craft brewers here in Washington.  We are lucky enough to have over 130 breweries here in Washington which ranks us third in the nation for number of breweries per state (only California and Colorado beat our numbers!). 

And I’ve gotta say, after spending the weekend sampling so many amazing beers, I am so proud of Washington Brewers!  I’ve gotten to sample incredible beer all weekend: the Whip Ale American Pale from Diamond Knot, Pt. Defiance IPA from Harmon, Ballz Deep Double IPA from 7 Seas Brewing, Iron Horse Brewery‘s High Five Hefe that was a Ginger Honey Wheat, and a Berliner Weisse from Dogfish Head (located in Delaware!) that was called Festina Peche and was actually pulled through hops and peaches as it was poured.  Not to mention: Manny’s Pale Ale from Georgetown Brewing, the Barnstormer Brown Ale from Flyer’s, the Solstice Summer Ale from Fremont Brewing Company, a Pilsner Lager from Snipes Mountain Brewing Co. that was called Dos Borracho’s and of course…Boundary Bay’s very own Ginger Peach Ale and German Tradition Single Hop! 

And I swear, it’s really not because I work there, but my favorite of the whole afternoon was the Boundary Bay Brewery Ginger Peach Ale!  And Dad says he really enjoyed the German Tradition Single Hop.  All in all, though, the best part of the day was when we had just arrived at the festival.  We stopped at the merchandise booth so I could show my family the new Boundary Bay Brewery cycling jersey I had helped design.  When the volunteer at the booth realized that I actually WORKED for Boundary Bay, he said “Oh, I love Boundary!! God bless you for working there!”  And you know, I feel the exact same way!  Cheers.

(written by Amy Jones, Boundary Bay Brewery’s Public Relations and Social Media Guru)

What To Do At The GABF

So we love craft beer…that’s no surprise at Boundary Bay Brewery, but even WE were shocked to learn that the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) draws more than 46,000 people to Denver, Colorado over the course of three days.  Why, you may wonder?  Well, it turns out that this festival offers up a lot more than a simple chance to drink A LOT of finely crafted beer. But, as long as we’re speaking of finely crafted beer, here’s which Boundary Bay brews you  can get your hands on in Denver:

• IPA: A style developed during the days of the British Empire, IPA‘s higher alcohol content and big hop character were natural preservatives that protected the beer during its long voyage eastward to India.  As one story goes, a shipwreck washed many cases of IPA to England’s shore and the locals tasted the beverage…the rest is history.  Original Gravity 1.070
• Pilsner: A light, honey-colored lager with a beautiful hop aroma and flavor.  This lager is brewed in a traditional manner using only the finest ingredients: Pilsner, Munich and Vienna malts and Saaz and Gr. Hallertau hops.  This beer is fermented at lower  temperatures  than an ale, creating a drier body, with less fruity esters.  Original Gravity 1.050
• Imperial Oatmeal Stout: Perhaps more than any other beer, Oatmeal Stout deserves to be called “a meal in a glass.”  For many years it was considered so nutritious that it was often served as a health tonic.  Lightly hopped, it is aged for one month to allow the medley of dark malts and oats to celebrate their union.  Try it with dessert!  Original Gravity 1.090
• Cabin Fever: Specially brewed and bottled for the Pacific Northwest winters, this winter warmer‘s dark red-brown color and rich malty flavor will complement any rich, hardy meal as well as your favorite spicy dish.  However, with it’s cold conditioned, smooth, dry-hopped flavor, Cabin Fever is very satisfying all by itself.  Original Gravity 1.072
• ESB: An English style pale ale that is copper-colored ad that emphasizes the subtle blend of imported and domestic malts.  Hops are in the background in this beer meant for everyday drinking.  Although the name is still misleading to some people, this ale is designed to capture the traditional flavor of English “Bitter,” which is a beer of great subtlety, never harsh nor particularly bitter at all.  It really shines as a beer to enjoy with friends and conversation.  Original Gravity 1.054

The Great American Beer Festival not only offers the chance to sample some of the finest beers the world; it offers multiple opportunities to learn about all things beer. You can explore the world of beer and food, learn about the brewers behind your favorite beer, understand what judges look for in a beer or pick up a few books to learn more about our favorite beverage. The Great American Beer Festival goes beyond tasting and delves into the craft beer experience.

All during the weekend, you can head to the Beer and Food Pavillion to learn about pairing beer and food, watch cooking demonstrations and more!  At this year’s GABF you can:

• Learn about the benefits of eating and drinking local.  Get handy tips on how to match local produce, meats and cheeses with the local craft beer in your town while trying delicious samples!
• Find out how to pair beer and cheese.  The pair can be humble farmhouse companions, but they can also offer some very intense and luxurious experiences. Participants will get a lesson in the basics of beer and cheese and leave with a list of can’t-fail pairings.
• Learn about cooking with beer and its numerous uses from brining to making sauces

If buying local and/or the slow food movement is more your thing, check out the Farm to Table Pavillion.  Chefs, local Colorado farmers, and small, independent brewers are joining together to add another option to learn about how well craft beer pairs with local food.  You will discover how much fresh, local foods have in common with craft beer from small and independent breweries.  You can sample craft beers paired with foods sourced from local farms and ranches; especially since the chefs, farmers and craft brewers, will serve ingredients deliberately chosen, prepared, cooked and brewed to showcase the high quality flavors available from small independent producers!  This educational focused Farm to Table Pavilion is arranged to facilitate meaningful discussions with farmers, chefs and brewers, who share similar philosophies on choosing specific ingredients to enhance their products.

Sustainability is a large concern whenever an event of this size is planned.  This year, the GABF is making every attempt to lessen its impact through innovative sustainability programs. Through their partnerships with ZeroHero, Colorado Convention Center, Centerplate Catering, Governors Energy Office, the Colorado Carbon Fun, and Renewable Choice Energy they aim to reduce their carbon footprint and come as close to a zero-waste event as possible.

There’s tons more to do at the festival too, but not enough blog space to write about all of them.  You can catch a glimpse of The Simpsons, participate in a directed tasting to learn how the pros judge beer, visit the GABF bookstore and catch one of the many book signings, sit in with professional brewers to hear what it takes to get into professional brewing,

Boundary Bay Brewery Loves Dawgs!

The College Inn Pub and Boundary Bay Brewery are teaming up for yet another year of Home Game Saturdays!  Here’s how it works: head down to the College Inn Pub in Seattle, WA on any day when the UW Huskies are playing a home game and you can score a Boundary Bay Brewery handcrafted ale for a measly $3.00!  We feature a different Boundary brew each home game and have great prize drawings before each game, so there really is no reason for you not to be there.

Boundary Bay Beer at the Beach Store Cafe

We know you love coming here to Boundary Bay Brewery to drink our craft beer, indulging in our creative Northwest cusine and enjoying the live music and community events in our Beer Garden.  BUT, if you’re looking for a change of pace, but can’t live without a pint of Boundary brew, consider visiting the Beach Store Cafe on Lummi Island…just one of the man great local establishments who always have our beer on tap. Lummi makes a great day trip or even a weekend getaway…check it out!

The Beach Store Cafe is convienently located right across the street from the Lummi Island ferry dock.  You can sit indoors or out and enjoy an AMAZING view of the bay, Mt. Baker, the ferry and Gooseberry Point.  Currently, the Beach Store has our Pilsner and Reefnetter on tap and an expansive menu sure to please everyone.  All under one roof you can find pizzas, sandwiches, soups that are all made from scratch and burgers made from Lummi Island grown co-op organic beef.  For those wanting more of a meal, belly up to New York Strip steak, pasta or an incredible salmon dinner.  And, even with a list this size, it doesn’t even begin to touch on what the menu has to offer.  If you still can’t figure out what’s for dinner, at the bottom of their menu you’ll find this statement: “If you don’t see what you want, please ask us.  We most likely can make it for you.”

the view while eating at the Beach Store Cafe

Lummi Island is a one of the best-kept secrets of the San Juan archipelago. Considerably more accessible than other islands, this pristine, rural gem is less than twenty minutes from Bellingham and a mere 10 minutes by the Whatcom Chief ferry. This half mountainous, half rural island is a peaceful, unspoiled getaway with tranquil beaches and 18 miles of country roads ideal for bike riding, walking or bird watching. Since there are no RV parks, campsites or state parks, the island attracts a different kind of holiday seeker.  The Island waters are popular for kayaking and Orca whales are often seen close to shore. Lummi Island is home to many artists and artisans who hold an Artist’s Tour open house three times each year (Memorial Day, Labor Day, and the first weekend in December).  The Island also hosts a summer farmer’s market, open Saturday mornings from May through September and within walking distance of the ferry. The market is an excellent source for both live crab & prawns plus organically grown fresh produce.  Come visit this unique community and grab yourself a Boundary Bay Beer a little farther away from home.  For hours, directions and more information call the Beach Store Cafe at 758-CAFE (2233)

out back at the Beach Store Cafe

Local Food, Local Biz

Did you know that locally-owned restaurants create 51% more local economic activity per dollar than chain restaurants?  And, of course, you know that we here at Boundary Bay Brewery are locally owned and run…providing jobs for over a hundred people right here in our own Bellingham community! Those of us lucky enough to live and work in Bellingham know that food plays an important role in this region.  We are surrounded by fertile lands that offer us fresh and local seafood, meats (including local bison!), produce of all kinds and dairy products a-plenty!  We are rich in agriculture…and just plain culture in general.  Here at Boundary Bay Brewery, we are continually working on finding ways to honor our local food industry.

We have pledged to source 20-25% of our food budget from local vendors and to buy consistently from local producers to help support Washington agriculture.  We are fortunate to use ingredients from local businesses like Ralf’s Bavarian Bakery, K & M Farm, Breckinridge Farm, Barlean’s, and Avenue Bread, All items on our menu that include local ingredients are marked with a “Think Local. Buy Fresh” logo so our customers can make informed decisions with their dollars and their forks.  We try to strengthen our local economy through responsible management of our resources as well.  Our spent grains go to local farms for livestock feed, the oil from our Beer Garden fryer is converted to Biodiesel by a local company and we have committed to move Toward Zero Waste within our business.

Within our local food industry, 32 participating farms, food producers, restaurants and retailers make a big difference by composting food scraps, collecting recyclable items and using recycled and compostable to-go containers. You can see real and substantial changes like these when you support Toward Zero Waste participants throughout Whatcom County. To find other local food businesses working Toward Zero Waste, check the Whatcom County Food and Farm Finder for the TZW icon.

This week, the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the Washington State Farmers Market Association (WSFMA) are celebrating Farmers Market Week here in Washington.  There are 140 farmers markets in our lovely state of Washington and our brewery is fortunate enough to be located directly across the street from the Bellingham Farmers Market!  Statewide, farmers markets reported $55 million sales in 2008, up from $38 million in 2006. Most of these dollars go directly to Washington family farmers. According to the WSFMA, farmers markets are located in more than 30 counties in the Evergreen State.  “People are watching their budgets today,” said Jackie Aitchison, executive director of the WSFMA. “They are getting value at farmers markets near their homes as farmers bring fresh, nutritious local foods directly to consumers.”

This week, come down to the Saturday Farmers Market here in Bellingham and support this rich community we are a part of.  Stop in to the brewery and enjoy locally handcrafted beer with menu items containing fresh, local ingredients!  Doesn’t a nice cold Pilsner and a Pesto Salmon Sandwich (with LOCAL wild salmon and LOCAL foccacia!) sound good?!? Celebrate Farmes Market Week by enjoying the best that our state has to offer!  For more information on Whatcom County’s farmers markets, visit bellinghamfarmers.org