Beer! What's not to love?
I currently work in the beer world, at a brewery in North Seattle. I am currently, at this moment, drinking a beer at a brewery several friends work at in Inter-bay. Sometimes, when I have one hellacious to do list, it is helpful for me to have a change of venue. The garage door is open and a fan is helping produce a breeze. It is uncommonly hot in Seattle these days, despite the cover of smoke from the forrest fires in BC. Much to my enjoyment this establishment allows dogs, and there is a plethora of canine characters here this early evening.
During my planning of several months of travel abroad I am reminded of my neglect to this blog. Could it be intimidation, fuck yeah it could be. For all the effort I have given to learning two foreign languages at once, I could toss some this way. I ramble to strangers about nonsense all day at work, why should I spare y'all? Perhaps it's because I can drink and blog, whereas I cannot drink and work....
The beer industry in the PacNW (or if you live here, just the NW, there isn't more than one ocean it can be next to) is an incredible group and a privilege to be a part of. It is welcoming, friendly, and has quickly became family. Of all my time spent in Seattle, the beer scene is second only to the mountains. I have learned quite a bit, the main being that I have much more to learn.
The styles in this area are based off of tradition as well as intuition. The ingredients are what makes a beer here unique, as much as the brew master who decides what the end recipe will be. People, for the most part, are open and willing to try concoctions of all sorts. From intensely hoppy anythings (do not get me started on IBU's) to infused styles than run the gamut of lyrical liquid. It's all here, and it's all drinkable. Thankfully it's almost all palatable as well!!
Where collaborations in a lot of industries is rarely heard of, or hidden, it is looked upon with great intrigue and an almost Christmas Morning like expectation. A welcome rather than a deterrent. A moment forever in the minds and hearts of those who drink it. For those who drink the beer here, it can be a joyous bonus to the already amazing selection of imbibe-able brews.
There is a flavor for everyone. To someone newly adventuring away from the "light american" beers soon to be of yesteryear, to the seasoned craft drinker who delights in the opposite of mainstream. It's all here, just waiting for you to take that first sip, because once it hits your lips, it's just so good.
