Sunday, November 15, 2009

The Universe IS Listening

This past Thursday, Laura and I embarked on our first attempt to distribute our beer outside the Methow Valley.  We loaded up the van with 9 cases of beer and headed to Lake Chelan which is a lakeside community a lot larger than Winthrop.  Our first stop was Bear Foods, a natural food store in downtown Chelan.  When I stuck my head into the office, Theresa, co-owner with her husband Nick, jumped out of her chair to greet me after I told her I was from Old Schoolhouse Brewery.  She said they have been wanting to get our beer in their store since they visited the pub a few months back.  I unloaded a case of Ruud Awakening IPA, Rendezvous Porter, and Blazing Amber.  Nick gave us a tour and we ate terrific crêpes for lunch in their small adjoining cafe.  It was the best crêpe I have ever had - hands down. 






Our next stop included the Red Apple Markets in Chelan and Manson.  Both store owners seemed delighted with the concept of carrying our beers - and they liked the free samples we left them.  We evenr met an Odom beer distributor who told us to try The Vogue, a wine/beer specialty store, and Local Myth Pizza, both in Chelan.

After leaving a couple samples with the nice bartender at Vogue, we went to Local Myth Pizza.  Clearly known for great pizza, they are becoming known for their quality beer selection.  The staff and friendly owner, Art, are beer connoisseurs.  Art loved that we are a small family-run business, like his, out selling our own product.  They bought the extra case of Ruud Awakening IPA we had and ordered the other beers as well.  Laura and I spent at least an hour chatting and getting to know our new friends we made there.

We then stopped at Lone Pine Fruit and Espresso on the way to Wenatchee and received another welcoming reception from Jim, the owner, and Jenny, the manager.  For a small, side of the road fruit stand, they had an amazing selection of 22 ounce premium beers.  We left samples and headed to Wenatchee.

We stopped at the restaurant McGlinn's and left samples there too.  Then we went to the large West Coast Hotel and The Roaster's Ale House, located on the 9th floor.  We met the bar manager who said he only deals with the two big distributors, Odom and Columbia.  I told him we were only interested, at this time, in self-distributing our beer in the Pacific Northwest.  I don't know why he softened and then said he could make an exception.  We went back to the van and brought him some samples which he gave to the bartender, David, who said he would like to buy some beer by the case for himself!  The bar manager (ironically named  Mr. Beers - no kidding), bought me a beer and gave us his business card with his personal cell phone number scribbled on the back.  The funniest part was when we looked at his card, his last name is "Beers" - Mr. Beers - no kidding.

Lastly, we stopped at Joe's Log Cabin in Wenatchee and left the happy crew there with samples.  Ironically, the only place we hit a solid wall was Safeway.  The clerk said all decisions on beer are made from headquarters in California.  When we checked the aisle titled with a large signed "Microbrew," we discovered that there wasn't a single microbrew in the cooler.  Everything was from large craft breweries - good beers but not microbrews.

Overall we were a little shocked with the response.  We got two new customers and probably 5 to 7 more after they taste the samples.  Now we're trying to figure out how to increase our beer production!  Be careful what you wish for - the Universe is always listening, even to mere thoughts.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Wow! Dogfish Head Samples Some Old Schoolhouse Brews

As noted in our previous blog, we took a tour of the Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton, DE last week.  We left them a few of our beers to sample, and guess what???  The news is GOOD!  Today we heard back from one of their employees and here's what he had to say...

"Anyways, this past Friday the whole staff was able to have a small taste of each of the three beers you left. First off, thank you so much for leaving them! The porter was the most popular amongst us Dogfishies... My personal favorite was the Amber...it was pretty well balanced. And the Ruud Awakening....WOW!....what a hop-forward beer. That caught even the biggest hop-heads here by surprise. Again, thank you so much for coming on the tour and of course for leaving those beers. Keep brewing!!!"

It's incredibly rewarding to have positive reviews from a giant in the industry.  Thanks Dogfish Head!!!

Monday, November 9, 2009

The Road Towards Distribution

On our trip back east, Laura and I stayed at her brother David's house in Severna Park, east of DC and just south of Baltimore.  We went to the most awesome beer store I've ever been to - Dawson's Liquor.  They carry 600 different beers from all over the world.  They had the best selection of west coast hoppy IPA's I have ever run into anywhere.  We bought several beers and the Rogue Yellow Snow IPA got our unanimous, enthusiastic approval.  Even though we live in the northwest, I had yet been able to taste the Yellow Snow myself.  Blaze, our brewer, told me it was great beer.  As usual, he was right.  Dawson's even had the Yellow Snow in growlers.

If you are looking for great beers and are anywhere near DC, drive to Dawson's - it will be worth your time.  Matt, Danny, and Nick know their beers and can fit you to the beers best suited for your taste.  They're also interested, after trying a bottle of our Ruud Awakening IPA, in getting our beer back there.  Thanks, guys!  Great beers!

The West Ventures East

Laura & I just returned from a trip to visit family back in Maryland and Virginia.  Our first few days were spent in Washington DC going through the Smithsonian museums.  One night we hung with Laura's brother David and went to a couple of clubs.  In the area of DC called Adams Morgan, we saw a bluegrass band in a club called Madam's Organ.  It was cool and funky.  Then we went to the Bohemian Caverns, a club in the basement in the U Street District that looks and feels like you're down in a secluded cavern.  It was open mic night and the band and singers combined to create a spontaneous, soulful energy that left me with tears running down my face.

Then Laura, David, and I went to the Rams Head in Annapolis to experience the Playing for Change performance that was even more moving than their DVD.  Grandpa Elliott blew everyone away.  David called it "spectacular."  Afterwards, we had a couple Fordham's beers in the old original Rams Head bar in the basement.

The next day, Laura's two brothers, Ray and David, their spouses Helen and Amy, and kids Sam and Jake piled into a Suburban and we all headed to Rehoboth on the Atlantic Ocean in Delaware.  We ate and sampled beers at the Dogfish Brewpub.  As a group (minus the kids!) we picked the 60 Minute IPA as our favorite.  The 90 and 120 Minute IPAs had a stronger sweet alcohol flavor that didn't hit the mark for us.  It turns out that 42% of all the beer they distribute is 60 Minute IPA.

Then we drove to Milton, Delaware, where the main Dogfish Head Brewery is and went on a tour.  What a huge place that is!  They brew batches up to 800 barrels (that's 1600 kegs). They had 10 or more 400-barrel fermenters.  The original brewery in Rehoboth is a 7 barrel system - just like ours.  Their Palo Santo beer, fermented in the Paraguayan hardwood, was very flavorful - a truly unique, quality brew for sure.  I left a few of our beers - the Ruud Awakening IPA, Blazing Amber, and Rendezvous Porter - with Josh our tour guide and am waiting their feedback.  Overall, a great beer day!

Our trip then continued to Norfolk, Virginia, to visit Laura's long-lost  cousin, Moana.  She loved the bottle of our Blueberry Cream I brought for her, as she is not much of a hop-head.  We had a "spectacular" trip and are now back and excited to work on moving toward more of our beer out into the world.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Casey Found Hoppyness at the Ice Harbor Brewery

I just got back from a trip down to Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Richland, Pasco) in southeastern Washington to remodel my daughter, Kelly's, main bathroom.  In addition to lots of work and hanging with my daughters, Kelly and Samantha, and granddaughter Jazmin, I got to visit Ice Harbor Brewery in Kennewick.  As luck would have it, head brewer Rob was enjoying a brew after a long day.  Rob and Blaze (our son and brewer) hooked up last spring at a brewfest in the Tri-Cities.  Blaze has raved about Ice Harbor's IPA,so I had to stop by and sample some for myself.  I hit the jackpot . . . Rob had on tap a fresh-hopped IPA new to their menu.  Rob explained the use of fresh hops picked from a field in Yakima Valley and put in the kettle within twelve hours of being picked.  This IPA had a very strong lingering aroma of hoppyness.

Rob has been working directly with hop growers that even have their own pelletizing equipment.  It was a great connection to hang with Rob who has been brewing for 20 years.  I gave him a bottle of our Ruud Awakening IPA, Blazing Amber, and Hooligan Stout.  I look forward to hearing his feedback.

Kelly and Jazmin had fun watching me enjoy the beers and my conversation with Rob.  Rob was meeting with a hop farmer and gave me a baggie of fresh hops that smelled just like its direct cousin - Mary Jane.  I thought I was getting high smelling the baggie of hops until Kelly informed me - as she drove me home - the effect was from the five pints I had just consumed.  Rarely do I ever have that much!  Good thing I had already finished putting up all the bathroom tiles.

Back home at our brewery, Blaze and I just tasted his newest brew - an Extreme IPA that wallops a solid 10.5% alcohol.  It hasn't been dry-hopped yet but it already hammers home the bitterness Northwest IPA drinkers love to bathe in.  We're still not settled on the final name of this Extreme IPA, so I challenge you creative types to help us with a few suggestions.  The person that comes up with the final name will probably end up with a few discounted beers and a shirt for your efforts.  Let us know your ideas!   We've also just tested our latest batch of Ruud Awakening IPA which Blaze believes it's the best IPA he's brewed yet.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

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Friday, July 3, 2009

Photo op at the pub!




Our local sign artist, Brad Pinkerton, created this sign for right outside the pub. It's an image of our Ruud Awakening IPA dude with the sweet Double D Blonde girl. Thanks, Brad!