The Abyss

About Batemans Brewery, from the SBS-Imports Web site, "In 1874, George & Suzanna Bateman decided to sell their farm and purchase a small brewery in Wainfleet in Lincolnshire. For more than 100 years and 4 generations, the Batemans continued to build their family brewery, becoming one of England's most respected producers of traditional cask ales. As the market for cask ales had nearly disappeared by 1970, the future of the Batemans brewery was very much in doubt. However the emergence of CAMRA resurrected the cask beer movement. For Batemans, the tide shifted dramatically in 1986 when its flagship Triple XB (XXXB) Premium Ale was judged Beer of the Year, at the Great British Beer Festival. Triple XB (XXXB) would continue to add multiple awards over the next several years, and become one of England's best-loved Ales. Still under family leadership, Stuart and Jaclyn Bateman have expanded the range of beers to include a wide variety of award-winning cask and bottled ales - now returning to the U.S. after a 10-year absence."

Old Stock Ale

The 2010 Vintage from North Coast Brewery has arrived! Like a fine port, Old Stock Ale is intended to be laid down. With an original gravity of over 1.100 and a generous hopping rate, Old Stock Ale is well-designed to round-out and mellow with age. It's brewed with classic Maris Otter malt and Fuggles and East Kent Goldings hops, all imported from England. The beer pours a mahogony color. It's palate is smooth and creamy. Dark ripe fruits meld with the alcohol, which is pretty hefty at 12.5% ABV, to produce a rum-raisin flavor. The malt bite and faded hop bitterness are balanced with  sweet caramel and toasted grains. Notes of chocolate, coffee, and smoke. Delicious now or in a few years, if properly cellared.

"Dark chestnut-amber hue.... Exotic winey aromas.... Shockingly vinous fruit.... Superlative."
-Beverage Testing Institute, Chicago.

Helles is the "lighter" version of the classic Santa Claus beer was made especially for the American market. The Helles pours much paler with a slightly ligher body than the Samichlaus Classic, but still has a big alcohol punch at 14% ABV. Thought less viscous than the classic, Helles is still somewhat thick, rich, and syrupy on the palate. The flavors are caramelly malts with notes of peach, mango, and pineapple...with an alcohol presence. Currently only large-format 25.4-oz bottles are being offered to our market, so be sure to share this one with a friend.

Samichlaus Classic is brewed once a year on December 6, and is aged for 10 months before bottling. It is one of the rarest specialties in the world. Samichlaus may be aged in the bottle for many years to come, as older vintages become more complex. Brilliant deep amber, complex dry toasted malt nose and huge intensely sweet palate.

Named after the oldest operating lift at Mt. Bachelor, a classic old school double that locals flock to on fresh powder mornings. This beer has been wildly popular with Deschutes pub regulars, who always seem to know when they've have hit on something special. Red Chair IPA is a bright copper beauty with a solid head and perfect lacing that typifies Deschutes ales. It has a plush body with satiny caramel flavors derived from seven varieties of malt. Despite all of this, Red Chair is still a hop- forward ale, but not in a cloying, mouth-puckering bitterness way. In its place a straight-up succulent citrus punch to the nose. May to September availability. 6.4% ABV, 55 IBU

Pair Red Chair IPA with Hot-n-Sour Soup, Enchiladas with Mole Sauce, or Thin Crust Margarita Pizza.

Washington Cask Festival
Seattle Center Fisher Pavilion
Saturday, March 27th