FREE PROMO BEER WE DRINK >>>

The name says it all. "Dunkel Weizen: Tall Dunkel and Handsome." Just like this reviewer. The label didn't mention that it is also single, but that is a story for another time.

A 22-ounce bottle of this dark gold of deliciousness from Red Hook landed on my desk and I drank it warm, because that is how I roll.

The brew solves the issue of lightweights complaining about the "heavy" taste of porters and their drive to have a lighter beer for the summer regardless of their next-to-water taste. Dunkelweizen fills the gap. It's bold but not over powering with a Missouri River-brown color and wheat aroma. Imagine a malt-punch porter with the smell of a full Hef. I battled the urge to jump for a lemon wedge with this bad dog.

It had full flavor with no malt-blast after taste. What was surprising is that it only comes in at 6 percent alcohol. That is about the punch of a Miller Lite, making it a great drink to down all night long without a hangover.

LINK: Red Hook Dunkelweizen stats

LINK: Tacoma Craft Beer Festival is on!

THE HARMON BREWING COMPANY'S PLAN FOR WORLD DOMINATION >>>

"We are Tacoma's brewery and we are going to be in Alaska, Idaho, Washington and Oregon," proclaims Pat Nagle, co-owner of the Harmon Brewing Company (HBC). "That's how we want to brand the Harmon. Everybody knows that Ninkasi is from Eugene, Deschutes is from Bend. And everyone is going to know that Harmon is from Tacoma."

To read Joshua Swainston's full article click here.

[Harmon Brewery & Eatery, 1938 Pacific Ave. S., Tacoma, 98402, 253.383.2739]

[The Hub, 203 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, 98402, 253.683.4606]

[Harmon Tap Room, 204 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 98402, 253.212.2725]

BANDING TOGETHER IN THE NAME OF BEER >>>

I imagine Morgan Alexander at home with a notepad, scribbling wildly as fresh ideas literally burst from his creative brain. Er, scratch that; he be banging away on a keypad so fiercely smoke should rise from his fingers. Alexander - civic innovator, community organizer, editor of The Tacoma Sun, co-founder of Historic Tacoma and Tacoma Streetcar, and owner of the Amocat Café in downtown Tacoma - has done it again. His latest bit of awesomeness is the Tacoma Beermakers Union Local 253, an organization of local beer makers with a group on Facebook totaling more than 130 members.

During his college years Morgan got into beer making; this passion has lingered. What does he hope to get out of gathering everyone up for a face-to-face? He hopes to forge a beer making co-op and followed by a homebrew home crawl (think pub crawl) for starters. Sharing resources, recipes, equipment, technique and economies of scale would be logical and to the betterment of the whole group.

"I'm looking for people doing cool innovative things - trying new combinations, new ingredients," Alexander writes via email.

With the numerous South Sound brewpubs, breweries, beer tastings and large beer festivals such as the July Lakewood Rotary Homebrew Festival, Hops & Crops at Mary Olson Farm in Auburn and the second annual Tacoma Craft Beer Fest, which has been extended to two days next month, Alexander is confident the Tacoma Beermakers Union Local 253 can be a reality.

Alexander will host an introductory meeting for the Local 253 Friday night at his Amocat Café. The meeting is open to the public and, most importantly, he carries beer.

Tacoma Beermakers Union Local 253

Friday, Sept. 24, 7-8 p.m., no cover
Amocat Café, 625 Saint Helens Ave., Tacoma
Facebook page

JUMP ON THE WAGON >>>

The Deschutes Woody Wagon will roll into to The Red Hot's outdoor beer garden tonight, if the rain holds off. The huge wooden keg transforms into a bar pouring 2009 Abyss and other Deschutes treats.

Cross your fingers. Owner Chris "Trashcan" Miller says he has a tent for tonight!

The Red Hot

Wednesday, Sept. 15, 6 p.m.
2914 Sixth Ave., Tacoma
253.779.0229

LINK: Tacoma Craft Beer Festivla is coming

POP OPEN A COLD ONE, LOG ONLINE AND BUY YOUR TICKETS >>>

There is nothing like the Tacoma Craft Beer Festival anywhere on earth. OK, maybe that's an exaggeration, but it's pretty freakin' cool nonetheless. Featuring 100 beers from more than 50 breweries, it is the largest craft beer fest in the South Sound, and a trip to the Foss Waterway Seaport Oct. 1-2 should be on the life lists of every beer lover in Western Washington.

The TCBF has added a few items for its second year run. Aside from the fact that it's now a two-day event with the addition of Friday night, the festival will spotlight cask ale with their "Firkin Friday at the Fest" booth Friday night featuring a dozen fresh firkins of cask ale, all simultaneously tapped at 6 p.m., for one night only. Saturday, they'll spotlight the canned craft beer movement with the "TCBF Canned Craft Beer Garden for those wishing to imbibe more than 4 ounces at a time.

Tickets are currently available online for $18 here, which is $7 less than the door price. Military with ID will only pay $20 at the door. A two-day pass is $35. Admission includes a souvenir taster glass, plus five six tasting tokens. Additional 4-ounce pours are $1.50.

CERVEZA SISTERS: THE TASTY ROAD TO THE TACOMA CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL >>>

The Tacoma Craft Beer Festival will host 44 breweries (it grew by one) Saturday, Oct. 3 at the Foss Waterway Seaport in downtown Tacoma. In terms of breweries represented, it will be the third largest beer festival held in this state.

The presale ticket price of $18 ends tonight at midnight. Jump on it folks.

[Foss Waterway Seaport, Saturday, Oct. 3, noon to 9 p.m., $18 advance, $20 day of, 25 percent military discount at door only, 705 Dock St., Tacoma]

LINK: Tacoma Craft Beer Festival

LINK: Weekly Volcano's Tacoma Craft Beer Festival cover story

There's simply no need to dump sub-par "beer" down your throat. It's just not cool, bra. ...

CERVEZA SISTERS: THE TASTY ROAD TO THE TACOMA CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL >>>

The Tacoma Craft Beer Fest will host 43 breweries and 88 beers Saturday, Oct. 3 at the Foss Waterway Seaport in downtown Tacoma. Here is another beer that will be poured at the festival:

Full Sail Lupulin Fresh Hop Ale
This beer is a veritable hop loverâ��s delight. Named for those tiny lupulin glands inside hop flowers, they are packed with sticky resins and essential oils that provide bitterness, flavor and aroma. This beer â�" which was released mid-September â�" is all about hops: itâ��s wet hopped, kettle hopped, hop back hopped, wet hopped and dry hopped in the fermenter with 135 pounds of hops per 24 barrel batch.

It�s tasty, clean and flowery with a super long finish that keeps our mouths watering long after the empty glass. The fresh combo of crystal and cascade hops no doubt work out the citrusy, flowery, clean taste.

Hey stats!: The ABV is 5.8 percent; the IBU is 70.

Yay for the Lupulin gland in every hop flower, bursting with the resin that makes this a new favorite for us!

[Foss Waterway Seaport, the Tacoma Craft Beer Festival, Saturday, Oct. 3, noon to 9 p.m., $18 advance, $20 day of, 25 percent military discount at door only, 705 Dock St., Tacoma]

LINK: Full Sail Brewing

LINK: Tacoma Craft Beer Festival

LINK: Weekly Volcano�s Tacoma Craft Beer Festival cover story

There's simply no need to dump sub-par "beer" down your throat. It's just not cool, bra. ...

JAKE DE PAUL: SEE YOUR FUTURE, BE YOUR FUTURE >>>