Hair of the Dog - or what did I do on St. Paddy's Day??

The best way to cure the hangover from yesterday's St. Paddy's Day revelries, is just a ounce more of the same. You heard that right - give me a pint of Bitter and hand over the aspirin!!

Oh, and speaking of the "Hair of the Dog", here he is - and let me tell you, they refused to serve "his" kind yesterday. Forced to drink at home, alone, yet again.

The Eastside Firefighters Pipes and Drums Band was just one of an entire day's worth of entertainment that awaited you at A Terrible Beauty Irish Pub yesterday, I tell you - those bagplayers were hot. They can come save Lady P anytime.

A Shout Out and thanks to Robin, of the fair green hair, and Chandler Wilson for inviting The Picaroon out to play yesterday. Far Right is their mate, Jason.

 

The green beer goggles were rockin' my world yesterday. But just for the record, ladies and gents, it was the eyeware that I was enraptured by and I did go home alone.

Bill and Faye Moss celebrated 56 years of wedded bliss yesterday - and handed out long stemmed green carnations to all they met. The Moss's are shown with their son, Biff on the top right, and Bill Collins, who always manages to get into a photo somewhere. Bill and Fay were married on a Thursday it seems, and they handed out carnations on that first day of marriage as well. A tradition was born. Long live the Moss's!!

And here is my final salute to you all - a cup of the finest from the Green Isle - Guinness. Hope all of you are recovering nicely.

Eat Local and keep it all going

Here is the local restaurant news from Renton - Fin and Bone, Billy McHales and Calico Cheesecake/Lure Cafe/Tapestry Saloon closed all within the last few days. SOooo - here is the plan, people of Renton. Remember to eat and drink locally. Support the local places that we all love so that when we come out of this financially challenging time, and we will, there will be some place to go back to in the days ahead.

Pat and Jenna have put their heart and soul and flair for a great meal into A Terrible Beauty Irish Pub. It is open to the entire family seven days a week until 9pm, has an awesome brunch served on the weekend from 9am till 3pm, and has a host of wonderful specials to make each day different and interesting. For example - Fridays, all day for $10, gives you chowder and fish 'n chips. Tuesdays gives you a pint of Irish red ale brewed by Big Al and a Irish burger that has all the common trimmings plus Dubliner cheese and Rueben sauce for $9. Full bar plus 17 draft beers to choose from - with some lovely choices that include 9Lb Porter, Whistling Pig, Rogue Dead Guy Ale, O'Brien's Harvest at this moment.

Ask Jenna to receive text messages of the free cover music scene (as in good bands) that is a weekly plus occurrence at this hoppin' local hotspot. There is also Open Mike Night/Karaoke on Wednesday's with the beautiful Tara. That 's tonight folks, so you might wanna start making some plans.

Keep your eyes open for a new coupon to come out and for box lunches for people on the go who need a good meal from a kitchen that cares. This should be a welcome addition to the lunch options for working folks in and around downtown Renton. There will also be a special emailing of coupons for those who fill out a form with their email address, and if you use the one you receive, you will get another coupon as a reward and your server will get a bonus for having brought you back in once again. Family style business, here - where everyone comes out ahead.

Come out, eat enjoy and support, dear Renton

A Terrible Beauty
201 Williams Ave. S.
in the DTR
(425) 227 - 3396
Full Menu till 11pm, open til 2am
Happy Hour 3-6 Weekdays

Still time to get in some Oktoberfest moves

If you haven't thrown down a few beers for the sake of Oktoberfest - don't worry, you still have time. While I have mentioned here in The Picaroon of the DC's Bar & Grill having at least 2 tap handles reserved for the season, that The Met is featuring Big Al's Oktoberfest beer on tap right now, and it goes without saying that the Dog and Pony and the Redhouse have got to have some fine stuff on tap - if you feel like meandering today, I have just the ticket. Georgetown.

One great stop would be to the bottle shop that was opened a year ago on the main drag in Georgetown (that being Airport Way S.) - Full Throttle Bottle - A Specialty Beer & Wine Store. Erica Cowan and Michael Tedin have an excellent selection of brews for you to take home, and wine if you need it. I am always in awe of just what they carry in the many glass fronted coolers that line one side of the shop. If you haven't been by, you should take a gander. Go more than once, and you can become a card carrying member of the Full Throttle Bottle "Bottle Cap Club" and get an 11 percent discount once you have purchased over $100 dollars.

Being shopkeepers together must suit Erica and Michael - cuz they are getting hitched. Maybe today, even ( it was either the shop was open for a year to the date today or today was marriage celebration time - either way, both good news). Last time I checked, Erica and Michael were living in Skyway, so there is our Renton connection, in case you needed one.

Congratulations to the happy couple!

I have another good reason for you to consider Georgetown as a great beer destination today - Oktoberbreast. Yes, you read that correctly. Today, at Smarty Pants, just a stone's throw down the street on Airport Way S. from Full Throttle Bottle, there is a breast cancer fund raising event going on from 2pm till 10pm. Free admission with beer, brats and bands. Local Rentonite, Janelle Pritchard will be pouring. You might also know her as the Brewery Goddess of Snoqualmie Brewery. Janelle says that you will probably get to see lots of tatooed people and see a few breasts - in keeping with the reason for the gathering, mind you. Beer and breasts, and all for a very good cause. I don't think I need provide anymore enticement.

Full Throttle Bottle
5908 Airport Way S.
Seattle, WA 98108
(206) 763 - 2079

Smarty Pants
6017 Airport Way S
Seattle, WA 98108-2717
(206) 762-4777

Oktoberfest continues in the DTR

Flickr/Many Cats 4 Me

Men in Leiderhosen? Well. ladies and gents, it Oktoberfest time and this traditional garb from Germany can sometimes be seen on some avid beer goers of the season, or just those with a good sense of humor and (hopefully) a great pair of legs.

Today, at The Met you can experience your own little Oktoberfest - replete with Brats and Beer for a mere $10. It promises beer tasting and men in those leather leiderhosen shorts - here's hoping the weather still holds out nice for the guys this evening from 5 pm till 8 pm. Wouldn't want them getting too cold or knock kneed now.

Regular Glen and owner of the Met, Mike.

One exciting part of the evening's line-up will be local brewer, Big Al's Oktoberfest Beer on tap at The Met. As you can see, besides your espresso and wine needs, The Met also has 4 rotating taps of lovely beer. Big Al Brewery takes off today for the Great American Beer Festival in Colorado for their first time. Big Al (whose business is in White Center but lives in Renton) will be entering 9 of his beers and is just thrilled to be attending. Good Luck AL - and in the meantime, come in and try some of his seasonal beer.

The Met Coffee and Wine Bar
232 Burnett Ave S # 232
Renton, WA 98057-2107
(425) 687-7989

Tapestry Saloon - stroll on in

Beer has sadly been missing from the blog for awhile here, so it was time that I ambled over to the Tapestry Saloon on S. Third Street to see what, as of late, I had been missing.

I immediately saw on old friend, besides the ever charming bartender Josh Bauer , and that was the Snoqualmie Brewery's Summer Beer. This is just such a delicious drink for the summer that I just bypassed my all time IPA favorites and started right in. Good to the last drop - no disappointment there! Josh also had a sign that he was making Blue Cheese Martinis. That sounds like a meal in itself. I think I will stick with my beer, please.

I hadn't had the pleasure of eating at the saloon for awhile as well , so I splurged. You can look at the appetizers or of course order anything off of the adjoining Cafe Lure's menu. Calico Cheesecake can be had for desert. I bypassed something small, and ordered dinner. The Prawn Tempura took my fancy and it was amazing. Remember, they also serve a mean french fry here and some other great food. This is a "must try" food stop.

Beers on Tap: Alpine Pilsner Elysian Avatar Lazy Boy Amber Snoqualmie Summer Beer Lagunitas IPA Fishtail Mudshark Porter

Tapestry Saloon
(425) 572 - 5931 Corner of Main/ S. Third Street
Tues - Sat 3pm - Closing
Sundays 9 - 3pm

Brewer's night at the "Dog"

What could be tastier in this wonderful Spring climate than to throw back some totally big and bold beer from a microbrewery? The Dog and Pony will host Speakeasy Ales and Lagers, a brewery straight from San Francisco, and the largest microbrewery there, in a Brewer's Night this Thursday at 7pm. Usually what this means is that besides all of the great brews the Dog and Pony has on tap, there will be at least 3-5 brews that are especially from the brewery of choice that night, in this instance Speakeasy, and a rep from the brewery that will introduce the beers to you as well as a few give aways and free glasses.
One of my very favorite beers is in fact from Speakeasy, it is their Double Daddy - a Double IPA that is just big (ie high in alcohol content) and in flavor. Speakeasy has been brewing since 1997 and is located right in downtown SF at 119 Evans Ave. They don't do foodor have an eatery attached, so when you go down San Francisco way just look to have a tour on a Friday, if you must, or just swing by and imbibe - which is what you should be doing at The Dog this Thursday night.

Here's some beer, what's your hurry?

Here's some beer for you - fresh from the ever growing selection at The Redhouse - the beer of the moment - Northern Lights Crystal Bitter Ale. At $4.50 for a nice 22 oz. bottle, that is some lovely beer for a great price. This is out of a brewery in Spokane and the style is an English Bitter - crisp, malty and hoppy.

Redhouse Current Beer on Tap:
Leavenworth Dunkelweisse
Elysian Immortal IPA
Hales Tripel
Chimay Tripel
Hale's Pale Ale
Redhouse Red (Irish Red brewed by Big Als Brewery and named for the Redhouse)

Beer Pairing Dinner with Big Al's Brewery
5 courses, 4 Draft beers and one cask, $40 per person
April 19th, 5 pm, call now for reservations
(425) 226 - 2666 410 Burnett Ave. S. http://www.redhousebeerandwine.com

What's on Tap

Tapestry Saloon has got a fabulous ambiance that is only made better by the fact that you can get your drink on in a variety of manners. Josh Bauer, bartender with flair, can make you a great mixed drink, recommend a wine, or my personal favorite - offer you a fresh brew on tap. Sunday's are now Poker Night, begins at 4 pm - buy in is $20 - closed to just Poker, people, and should be on your roster for fun this weekend. Now, onto the important stuff:

Tap List:
Leavenworth Blind Pig Dunkelweise
Left Hand Milk Stout
Stone Pale ALe
Fishtail Organic IPA
Lazy Boy Hefeweisen\Moose Drool
Rogue Double Dead Guy (Whatt!?! - head over to get some of this!)

Tapestry Saloon will also soon be hosting a Brewer's Night with Lazy Boy Brewers- I'll keep ya posted.
Tapestry Saloon (425) 572 - 5931 Corner of Main/ S. Third Street
Wed. - Fri. 5pm til Close, Sundays during brunch - except for the Poker guys!

Beer of the Moment

Today's Beer of the Moment is brought to you by Port Brewing/San Marcos,CA and is "High Tide" Fresh Hop IPA. 6.5% alchol,$7.75 for 22oz bottle and can be had today at The Redhouse.

What's on Tap Today:

Silver City Hefeweizen
Manny's Pale Ale
Hale's Tripel
Chimay Tripel
Alasken Barleywine
Silver City "Big Woody" Scotch Ale

Jeff Andrew and Chef Frank Lucarelli

It's only been a few weeks, and the new Redhouse manager, Jeff Andrew is making his amiable and professional presence felt. Jeff was the one who was responsible for all of the great wines and beers we became so pleased/lucky to find over at Thriftway. Jeff was just there taking a breather from his restaurant/wine savvy career, to the benefit of all of us who so appreciated his good taste and finds. Some of you might remember that great happen' spot in the U District called Tommy's - that was owned and operated by Jeff himself, until the pressure of the Night Club Task Force and a tad over zealous mayor put an end to his passion for that business. Jeff, however - keeps being pulled back into the restaurant field. It could be his work at Anthony's Wood Fire Grill, or his stint at The Pacifica where he and Gene Sens, owner of the Redhouse, first met - that keeps everyone wanting to put him at the helm of a good eatery.

Go in and treat yourself- fresh daily lunch and dinner specials. Vegetarian? No problem - they can tell you right away if the Carrot Soup will do for you or not. I spied Coconut Cheesecake on the desert menu today - eat a piece for me, will ya?

The Redhouse 410 Burnett Ave. S. (425)226-2666

And about that beer..

The Dog and Pony has 32 rotating taps of beer wonderfulness - and a great burger, fish and chips, nachos or, in my meager opinion, the best Chef Salad around, to pair with your drinking. Last night it was packed, but I did get a chance to catch up with Jeannie McWilliams, writer for the Northwest Brewing News, and ask her to help highlight some of the finer brews of choice currently on tap. Jeannie is the best sharer of beer knowledge, beer love and beer lore of anyone around. She literally shares her beer with anyone expressing a true blue interest, or who just looks confused and needs a little direction. Here are Jeannie's picks of the week:
Dogfish Head Raison D'etre
Full Sail Black Gold Imperial Stout
Southern Tier Choklat
Dick's Grand Cru (we loving call this the amnesia beer)
Elysian's Hubris Imperial IPA(I drank this hoppy lovely and give it a thumbs up)

Check them out! Open 7 days of the week. Kids not allowed, but furry friends are when the weather is warm and the outside seating area is open. (click on the link above to view all of the Dog's current beer list!)
The Dog and Pony Alehouse and Grill 351 Park Ave.N. (425)254-8080

Redhouse Rocks

Look for yourself - here is the updated beer list this week for the Redhouse - with prime emphasis on the Alaskan Barleywine, which isn't that easy to score a keg of (it has a good following) so if you scurry, you'll get a glass. It's very delicious (I heartily indulged already today)and Jeff Andrew, the new manager, will be storing away a keg for next year in hopes of having some vertical tasting - yum! Truly, folks - come out and get it while you can. You won't regret trying this taste treat.

Beer of the week at Redhouse - Russian River's Pliny the Elder $5.75 A hoppy but approachable Double IPA (8.0% ABV) that those new to hops will love and old hopheads rave about - try it!

Stay tuned for more updates on the new faces at the Redhouse!!

Here's the Beer, Where Are You?

Here's a beer list of what's on tap locally - go get your beer groove on and please, remember, you are drinking locally - be proud!

Tapestry Saloon
919 S. Third Street. Renton, WA
425-572-5931

Lost Coast Double Trouble IPA
Bridgeport Ebenezer
MacTarnahan's Amber
Pike Monks Uncle
New Belgium 1554
Baron Liberator

RedHouse
410 Burnett. Ave Renton, WA

Victory Golden Monkey
Pike Auld Acquaintance
Schooner Exact 3 Grid IPA
Hale's Kolsch
Chimay Tripel
Deschutes Abyss Stout
Manny's Pale Ale

Feb. 3, Tuesday, is also Roving Renton Nite, $20 buys you lots of wine and food - yum! (This event is called Roving Renton, because it is hosted at Redhouse,Blossom,Armondos and Melrose Grill on rotating evenings). Feb. 4th, Wednesday, is Wine Tasting at the Redhouse, more yum!

What'z Up at the Redhouse

The Redhouse has been keeping busy lately and getting a little literary on us too. They hosted a book reading by an author that pens a blog called "The Sarcastic Lutheran" who stayed up for 24 hours straight watching the Trinity Broadcast Network and then found enough faith in herself still to write a book about it. "She was tall and had tattoos all over her arms, not what you'd expect, and the tattoos were of Jesus, but real old school style and cool", Aleana McMurray, waitperson and beer/wine go-to gal of the Redhouse told me, "She was very funny." The author's friend, Charlotte, a regular at the Redhouse, did the music for the event, which had about 50 people in attendance this last Thursday evening.
And now for the real important stuff - what is currently on tap there -
Deschutes The Abyss, Diamond Knot Ho Ho, Whistler Export Lager, Chimay Tripel(White), Victory Golden Monkey, Schooner Exact Hoppy the Woodsman, Pike Auld Aquaintance
Note: The Abyss a wonderful stout, had only 3 kegs in this state - so run to get some. The Schooner Exact is a brewery in West Seattle that only brews one keg at a time, so also a big find for us here in little ole Renton, wouldn't you say!
Prices: $4.10 for a pint, $5.10 for a true (22oz) Imperial Pint

When the beer finds you...

I was out of beer- a lone bottle or two of some excellent stuff I picked up at Full Throttle Bottle, but nothing I felt like quaffing anytime soon. Soooo I go to the store with me Ma, and we both pick up a 6-pack of something that looks lovely. My purchase was recommended and endorsed by two men who couldn't help but point out how tasty Widmer's seasonal "Brrrrr" was. A big beer at 7.2%, just the way ole wimpy me likes 'em. Wimpy, because they put me under in no time and I have to warn the waitstaff at the pub to cut me off after the second pint, please. Big because my favorite beer weighs in at over 10%, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Walking home my neighbor, who just avoided the unhappy possibility of unemployment by leaving the craft beer world for Miller/Coors, leans over the fence to shoot the shit and pretty soon I have 11 more beers to put in my fridge - from famine to feast. Guess I won't have to worry about my job situation too soon, when I have a fridge full of fun to look forward to this month.
PS Just in case your neighbor is not as cool as mine, check out Full Throttle Bottles in Georgetown - tell Erica and Mike I sent ya!

An Ode to Joe of Calico (Cheesecake, that is!)

When the Cheesecake sign went up at the corner of Third and Main, I began to salivate. How long we Rentonites have waited for some great deserts in our little burb. The last week in Oct. brought not only Calico Cheesecake, but it's two sister establishments, Cafe Lure and the Tapestry Bar into our midst. Now we have a new breakfast destination and a bar with eight rotating taps, apps and a full dinner menu. Whew! That's a mouth full!
Calico Cheesecake, the brainchild of owner and head chef, Joe Kennedy, began around the corner on Houser in 2003. He began with a few local accounts (Melrose,The Met),word of mouth grew, and he was doing business. But he always wanted "his own piece of the pie" (don't you mean,ummm,cake, Joe?), and so when the space became available he and sous chef, Willie Dzul, picked up their other tool set and went to work. The store front was almost completely gutted and redone into the beautiful, interconnected trinity of eateries you see today.
Calico offers Joe's renowned cheesecake and Mukilteo brand coffee, but you can wander over to Cafe Lure through the connecting door and sit down to a full menu of good ole' American cuisine with a twist/nod to such flavors as the Southwest, France and Asia. Head a little further and you can sample from a full bar (only top shelf in their well drinks!) and great beer on tap. Though the Tapestry Bar also has it's own menu of more "pub grub" fare and tasty apps like clams and mounds of garlic fries, all menus are available wherever you end up sitting.
"People are never subtle about their food here," shared David Spooner, server and Marketing go-to guy at Calico. "Their response is just over-the-top." Momentum for the eatery is quickly being built by word of mouth. Joe Kennedy has a reputation for putting together a mean plate of food - whether it be sweet or savory. "Delicious food on adorable plates" is the best comment left by a customer so far to describe the experience that awaits you at the place that Joe made right here in our little ole' town.
919 South Third Street
Hours: (425)572-5931
Calico Cheesecake Tu-Sun 11-9 Closed Mondays
Holiday cheesecake flavors: Cranberry/White Chocolate,Caramel Apple,Pumpkin, Sherried Eggnog
Cafe Lure Tu-Fri 11-3, 5-9 Sat-Sun 9-2 Closed Monday
Tapestry Bar Tu-TH 4-10, Fri-Sat4-12 Sat-Sun 9-2 Closed Monday
Current Beer on Tap!!!
Arrogant Bastard,Diamond Knot XIPA,9LB Porter,Spaten Optimator,Snoqualimie Copperhead, Alpine Pilsner,Lagunitas IPA,Scuttlebutt Amber Pints /$4.75, 22 oz Imp.Pint $6-$6.25
Cheesecakes take time to make so order your goodies in advance so no one is disappointed this holiday season.
http://www.calicocheesecake.com/home.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBVQH0DqeoM