7th Anniversary Ale
Foggy Noggin Brewing, Bothell
Style: English old ale
Stats: 6.8 percent ABV, 55 IBU
Available: On tap and 22-ounce bottles available at the brewery
My thoughts: It’s no coincidence that Jim Jamison picked a classic English old ale as the style of beer that celebrates his brewery’s birthday. Its simplicity highlights best the things that made Jamison fall in love with English beers: Maris Otter malt, English barley, UK Golding hops and London water.
Jamison has been brewing the same recipe for his anniversary beer each year since he opened in 2010. This year he said the only difference is he fermented the beer for a full two weeks instead of one to give it a better bottle consistency.
The beer has a solid malt backbone and dry finish. The light malt breadiness matches well with a real earthy hoppiness. Jamison said the malt characteristics are stronger because it’s floor malted instead of on conveyer belts, giving it a bigger malty flavor profile.
Jamison will have this year’s version of the Anniversary Ale on tap and in bottles at the brewery. But even more intriguing is that he’ll also have older versions of the ale available. Jamison said he’ll have a few on tap as well as all previous versions in bottles.
Jamison gave me a taste of the 2015 version and it’s a beautiful beer. The flavors are more rounded and expressive, while the hop bitterness a little more muted and the bready characteristics of the malt are turned up.
From the brewery: Anniversaries should be celebrated with rich, full-bodied ale with lots of flavor and a hoppy balance to make a memorable experience. This ale is ready to drink now, but will develop a more complex flavor profile with 1 to 3 years of proper cellaring.
More new releases:
Pot O’ Gold, Middleton Brewing: A traditional Irish stout brewed with Lucky Charms just in time for St. Patty’s Day. Available on tap at the brewery.
Here and Gone IPA, Skookum Brewing: Additions of Mosaic, Motueka and Equinox hops add flavors of tropical fruit, grapefruit and pine. Very drinkable. Available on tap at the brewery.
Uncle Buckwheat, Skookum Brewing: Brown ale brewed with toasted buckwheat and molasses, giving it flavors of toasted bread, vanilla, sesame and mild chocolate. Available on tap at the brewery.
Bavarian Pineapple Hefe, Scuttlebutt Brewing: Brewed on the brewery’s one-barrel system, this subtle hefeweizen has a big nose of pineapple and is dry-hopped with Mosaic. Available on tap at the taproom.
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