WE'RE TALKING FULL BEER POURS >>>

Nosh Leaguers congregated in the tippy top of Engine House No. 9 last night for the second gathering of tasty liquid libations and yummy pairings. Surprising for a warm summer day, the highest room of the building held no heat. The lucky attendees arranged themselves at two long tables; some made instant friends while others said hello to familiar faces and hunkered down to get schooled on beer.

Many questions were answered rapid fire by host - and Volcano Grocery Stories columnist - Kris Blondin, who led the tasting along with former E9 brewmaster Doug Tiede, who along with Blondin work at Click Wholesale Distributing. Tiede started with a quick three-part beer lesson on hops, malts and yeast. Blondin brought out cheese on crackers with the first of six beers explaining how and why cheese and beer ("Beer is essentially liquid bread") make a great match.

We tasted Unibroue Ephimere, Duvel, Maredsous 8 and three E9 brews: IPA, Bourbon Barrel Scottish Ale and Chocolate Stout. The Canadian Unibroue paired with goat cheese - a slightly cloudy beer with green apple flavor at the finish. Interesting fizzy Duvel was a non-beer beer. At 8.5 percent alcohol it acted similar to champagne and was great with French triple crème. "Not to sound weird, but flavors just explode," was how Blondin prepped us for Belgian-style double Maredsous 8 and Swiss Gruyere cheese - both had a punchy flavor. We were treated to the brewer's barrel of E9's Bourbon Barrel Scottish Ale (before the blending process!) - nutty with raisin; it went beautifully with soft, deep orange Pave de Normandy cow cheese.

After the previous beers, amber-colored E9 IPA seemed really bitter though the white cheddar it was paired with was the big cheese hit of the night.

Beer for dessert? Noshers finished with Ecuadorian chocolate, bourbon and vanilla accented E9 Imperial Chocolate Stout and a mascarpone smeared cocoa-iced cookie. Ooohs and aaahs were heard over this 8.5 month-aged sneak peak liquid treat - which is being released to the public tomorrow at 4 p.m. We had direct access to current E9 brewmaster Shane Johns, too. Nice.

Chris Myers, who attended the first Nosh League event at Cork! in July, feels beer drinkers are just a more lively bunch. Smiling Nosh newbie and beer lover Aja Pound, who went with friends, agrees emphatically, "Beer is just more Tacoma anyway." And new Nosh Leaguer and beer enthusiast Kate from Michigan - who doesn't care for IPAs - gave a smiling nod to E9s version.

As for September's Nosh League event, there's talk of a sushi demonstration or tequila tasting.

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