Brewer’s Notebook, 2008

Stolen at Idaho Festival, Medals Return to Olympia's Fish Brewing

OLYMPIA, WA, July 21, 2008 - The thief who snatched the camera bag got more than just a Nikon. Disappearing into the festival crowd, he also carried the five medals awarded to Olympia's Fish Brewing Company just that morning.

That was June. Now, Fish Brewing again has its medals -- one Gold, two Silver, and two Bronze -- thanks to help from the North American Brewers' Association (NABA). The NABA originally awarded the medals at their annual Mountain Brewers' Beer Festival, held in Idaho Falls on June 7.

Fish Brewing beers earned NABA honors in three categories of judging. Honored were Fish Tale Organic IPA (Silver), 2008 Detonator Doppelbock (Bronze), and 2008 Old Woody English Style Old Ale (Bronze).

Also honored was Fish Brewing's Spire Mount Cider brand, earning a one-two win. Spire Mountain Apple Cider garnered Gold and Spire Mountain Pear Cider received Silver in the Cider category of judging. The medals were the first awards for the Spire Mountain line.

But hours after receiving them, the medals were gone. "At the festival's end, the brewer beside us was one of two under our big top with any beer left," explained Scott Miller, Fish Brewing's representative at the festival. "The crush at their taps spread in both directions down the line of service tables. When our table started rocking, it was time to relocate."

Having moved equipment and belongings to the safety of a back table some ten feet away, Miller returned to the service table to retrieve a banner. Turning moments later, he found the camera bag -- and with it, the medals -- had vanished into the departing crowd.

Back in Olympia now, Miller has nothing but praise for the NABA. "They were horrified to learn of the theft, and immediately committed to providing replacements. They've also provided copies of the festival judging notes for its products. The folks in Idaho Falls are just wonderful."

As for the theft, Miller declines to lay blame on the beer. "After years of worked these events, this is a first for me. Besides, if the theft had happened at a mall, I wouldn't blame it on shopping."

Fish Tale Organic Ales Star in Cooking Show

The Better Beerfood Cooking Show this month features a Welsh Rarebit to go with your Fish Tale Organic Ales.

Click here to see the Better Beerfood web site with the video and recipe.

Click here to see the video on YouTube.

The Detonator Wins Fame & Glory at Olympia's First Annual Power Tool Races

It took fewer than three seconds. In that flash of time, Fish Brewing's The Detonator rocketed fifty pine-lined feet of track to win fame and the much-coveted Miss Congeniality trophy at Olympia's inaugural Power Tool Races on April 26th.

Click here to see a YouTube video of the race.

The racer (aka The Lead Sled) received its jaw-dropping thrust from a 7.25-inch Makita skill saw mounted above twin 9-inch racing slicks. Named in honor of Fish Brewing's vintage 2008 Detonator Doppelbock Lager, The Detonator is the creation of Team Fish's Engineer-in-Chief, Diamond Dave Vitt (pictured).

Race day proved a feverish one for The Detonator's pit crew. With drive chain difficulties plaguing the racer, tension and suspense built throughout the afternoon. However, it was Team Fish pit boss Diamond Dave Vitt who had the last laugh as the mighty Detonator streaked down the track to immortality.

Cradling the trophy handsomely fashioned from truck transmission and differential gears, the president of Fish Motor Sports, Diamond Dave Vitt, stated philosophically "This damn thing weighs a ton."

Presented by Hazard Factory with the sponsorship of Olympia Salvage, the Olympia Power Tool Races were the city's first, and held in conjunction with the annual Procession of the Species and spring Art's Walk. Asked what he most enjoyed of the days events, a spectator identifying himself simply as "Dave" seemed to sum up the afternoon for all involved: "A cold one," he observed reflectively.

Shellfish SLURP & Fish Tale Brewery Bash

May 18, 2008 5 - 8 pm
Fish Tale Brewhouse
515 Jefferson Street, Olympia, WA

Check out the full size poster or the PCSGA web site for a list of participating restaurants and ticket information.

Fish Brewing's Old Woody Wins 2007 Gold

OLYMPIA, Wa., October 27, 2007 - Many consider it North America's premier brewing competition, and it considers a beer from Fish Brewing worthy of Gold. The 2007 Great American Beer Festival® bestowed a Gold Medal on Fish Brewing Company's 2007 Old Woody English-style Old Ale. The beer won judges hearts and palates in the Old Ale or Strong Ale category. The award was the second for Old Woody. The 2006 edition of Old Woody won Silver in the Old Ale category at the 2006 World Beer Cup® in Seattle.

"We are absolutely thrilled to receive this Gold Medal. It's every brewer's dream," said Jennifer Gridley, head brewer at Fish Brewing. "We've just come away from the best summer in the company's history. Our customers are telling us we make great beer, and to receive affirmation from these judges is quite an honor. "

The Great American Beer Festival® Competition is the largest national beer competition in the United States. Recognizing the most outstanding beers produced today, it awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze in 75 beer-style categories. An international panel of brewing experts selected winners from an impressive field of 2,832 entries from 474 U.S. breweries. Winners received medals at the 26th Great American Beer Festival® Awards Ceremony held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado, on October 13th.

"The Great American Beer Festival® is the premier judging event for the American craft beer industry," says Nancy Johnson, Festival Director.

Old Woody, one of six limited edition Reel Ales bottled by Fish Brewing, comes from the tradition of English Strong Old ales. Its flavor imparts hints of honey, vanilla and roasted nuts mixed in with sweet toasted grain. The hop finish is dry and accented by additions of oak chips during aging. Fish Brewing releases Old Woody in the spring, and the beer is generally available into early winter through specialty bottle shops and the brewery's Fish Tale Brew Pub.

For a full list of winners, visit the Great American Beer Festival®.

Head Brewer Jennifer Gridley models Old Woody's bling.

Photo by Sandy Berry.