Brew Blog - January 2011

2011 started with a bang here for us at Old Schoolhouse Brewery.  We are experiencing our busiest January on record - both beer production and foot traffic.

We have lots of fun and interesting brew stuff going on so far this year.  I brewed my first Barleywine in over a year and it's looking awesome ... thus far.  My first batch of Barleywine in 2009 started its life as an Imperial IPA, very hop-forward with an underlying caramel malt finish.  After a couple months the hops faded and the underlying caramel malts became a very prominent caramel, toffee-like flavor in the beer, thus making it a very suitable Barleywine.  We are still hanging on to our last keg of the 2009 Barleywine - not sure when it will be tapped.  The 2011 Barleywine I just brewed has been tweeked a bit from the 2009 version.  The 2011 Barleywine has a higher caramel malt content, more complex malt bill, and more mellow hopping scheme.  I am having a hard time waiting to drink this bad boy.  Usually a beer is drinkable 3 weeks after the brew date; this Barleyine will take at least 6 weeks.  Special thanks on this brew go out to  my dad, Casey, and my younger brother, Evan.  My dad helped me during the brew day and Evan helped look after my yeast while I was having fun at the Ellensburg Winterhop Fest.

Speaking of Winterhop 2011 - what a blast!  The Winterhop Brewfest in Ellensburg is one of my favorites year after year.  It is always sold out and offers a very diverse crowd.  In addition to my dad and me, my older brother Jason and older sister Kelly represented OSB at the brewfest.  We served Hooligan Stout, Uncle Big's Brown, and the Ruud Awakening IPA.  The feedback we received was good with  many repeat customers.

My friend, Chris, from Snipes Mountain Brewery told me about the 2011 hop shortage.  Unfortunately, we have been using the highest demand hops in both the Ruud Awakening IPA and our Imperial IPA -- in mass quantities.  We are unable to get some of these varieties and are in the process of making careful substitutions knowing the hop flavors will be a little different but still very tasty.  The first batch with the new hop scheme will be drinkable late February.  We had to get a little scrappy and stock up on some of the key hops we needed so we will be good for quite awhile.

For those of you who don't know me well, I am a die-hard steelhead flyfisherman.  Not that fishing conditions were great, but let's just say my brother Evan and I hammered our fair share of big meats so far in 2011. 

I am looking forward to some fun brewing in February 2011.  Imperial Stout will be brewed once again, so get it while you can!

- Blaze Ruud, Lead Brewer

Old Schoolhouse Music

January was a blast!  We kicked off the New Year with one of our favorite local artists RT Jr.  MLK Jr. weekend brought RL Heyer to our pub to perform solo for the first time www.myspace.com/rlheyer.  I first met RL when he came to play at OSB with his band Flowmotion.  Flowmotion is the band that introduced me (Stephanie) to the Northwest music scene and they are still one of my favorite bands http://www.flowmotion.net/music-and-video/.  Cody Beebe and the Crooks graced us with their music on the 28th http://www.codybeebeandthecrooks.com/ .  This night was so special and I'm glad I got to see everyone having a great time.  They had a very good turn out and had the entire crowd dancing, I thought the floor would cave in.  If these guys are in your area they are a must see, I truly believe this band is on the brink of greatness and I'm glad to have them as friends http://codybeebeandthecrooks.wordpress.com/.  January ended on a serious high note and I hope it sets the standard for 2011.  Please check us out on facebook and on youtube.

-Stephanie

Another happy customer!

I moved to Seattle about 4 months ago and have been on a mission to try every single IPA available.  I visited the brewery about 2 months ago and fell head over heals in love with the Ruud IPA.  Best IPA ever.  --Eben

Beer Advocate Reviews !!!

We are very excited about two new beer reviews in the November 2010 issue of Beer Advocate.  Part of the Beer Advocate magazine includes beer reviews conducted by the founders and editors (and brothers), Jason and Todd Alstrom.  These two men are widely respected for their honest (and sometimes brutal) reviews.  But our reviews are great!!!  Read on...

(The information below is quoted directly from Beer Advocate magazine, issue #46.)

Hooigan Stout
After the cascading head subsides, the curtain of lacing becomes a show of its own; Stout-black color for this brew.  Hints of coffee, charred wood, molasses, yeast, currants and carob fill the nostrils.  So silky smooth and full bodied.  Starts off a little burnt but never acrid--charcoal with iced espresso and baker's chocolate come to mind.  Small dollop of sweetness from the malt and oats.  Leafy hop bitterness struggles to even chip the maltiness, yet the flavor does compliment; the roasted flavors do most of the balancing here, and a lovely job at that.  Old school is right, a flashback to what "microbrews" were and can still be.  A big beer to wield but our trained palates embraced it to the last sip.  SCORE:  B+

Ruud Awakening IPA
The hoppiness helps dress the glass thick with lacing; hazed bronze glow in the light.  Slight pungent tone in the hoppy nose, with suggestions of grapefruit and hemp oil.  Smoothness runs deep in the medium-bodied ale.  Hop bitterness shows that it is an IPA without being so brash that the other elements are pushed aside.  Kiss of warmth from the alcohol.  Malt holds strong with a dry-ish biscuit flavor.  Citric and minty flavors from the hops cradle a subtle fruitiness and nutty yeast.  Complex and balanced, drinkable and true to style.  SCORE:  A-

Happy Imperial IPA Drinker!

We received this nice email recently from a friend who enjoyed our Imperial IPA. Thanks, Pete!

To Laura and Everyone else,


My sister brought two cases of your wonderful beer to my 50th birthday party a few weeks ago and I have say that the Imperial IPA was the best I have had. I play gigs at a lot of beer festivals, and for almost every year over the past eight years I have played at the infamous Double IPA Festival in Hayward, CA at the Bistro. I have sampled many Double/Imperial IPAs. I'd say the only that rivals yours is the Port Brewery Hop 15. Nicely done to the Brewmaster! How do I order a case of the stuff? I need to give some to all my friends. Hope everything is well with you and the family, Laura. Take care Pete

Beer at the Winthrop Marathon

Old Schoolhouse Brewery helped sponsor the first annual Winthrop Marathon last weekend.  It was a big success and we were happy to supply the finish line beer!  The link to the marathon is http://winthropmarathon.blogspot.com/.  After the race, we got the nice email below from a runner.

Casey, Blaze, and family,


Thanks so much for your support of the Winthrop Marathon. Although I come from a family of over-achievers (as you know), this was my first marathon. A couple of glasses of your ale at the end made it just perfect. We will be seeing you more frequently over the winter for ski season. Until then, once again thank you.

David
Tri-Cities

This just in...

Old School Brews are finding their way around our nation.  Here a few comments we've received so far... Thanks Michael & Walt!  We're so glad you like our beer!

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Hello,

I just wanted to say how much I am enjoying your brews so far! You are brewing some really solid, classic brews; but with distinctive style.  I love them, and have made a point to give them great reviews on RateBeer.

Ruud Awakending, Rendezvous, and Epiphany have been fantastic.  I will be cracking into a Hooligan and a Blazing over the next couple days.  I cannot wait to try any others that I may be able to find.  I live over on the peninsula, and have only been able to find some of your brews through mailorder (malt and vine), and in-store (McPhee's of Port Angeles ... make the store owner order more!  I've actually already put in a request that they stock more of your brews 8-).

Please excuse the rambling ... I simply wanted to express my gratitude.  Hopefully my wife and I will be able to make a road trip over the summer to visit the brewery.

Thanks again, and take care.  You make Washington proud!

Absolute Best Regards,
Michael

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Hi;  I stopped at my favorite Package Store (State Line Liquors) in Elkton, Maryland yesterday to see what new brews he had....I think I have just found the best IPA I ever tasted..your Ruud Awakening IPA!!!  I also picked up a bottle of your Blazing Amber (Another Winner!!)..Hooligan Stout..now imbibing..Epiphany Pale, and Rendezvous Porter...I collect beer labels as a hobby but your labels are difficult to get off the bottle...Would it be possible to purchase a set or two of your labels for my collection?  I will be going back to Elkton, Maryland on Monday and purchase more or your IPA!!!  Truly a great Brew!!!   Wishing you the best of Everything....

Walt
Newark, Delaware