Geoffrey Middleton isn’t someone who likes his beers subtle.
If a brewer is going to put something a little different in his creation, say a little Kahlua or some Sriracha, Middleton wants it to smack him upside the tongue.
“I want to know what I’m tasting without anyone having to tell me what it is,” said Middleton, owner and head brewer at Middleton Brews in Everett.
That’s the philosophy that Middleton brings to brewing his own creations, especially this time of year as he prepares for his brewery’s annual Stout Day. The creations visitors will encounter at Saturday’s Stout Day include beers made with the aforementioned Kahlua and Sriracha, as well as with bacon, black licorice, dill and even Cookie Crisp cereal.
“It’s really a chance to be creative,” Middleton said. “It’s a time to kind of go crazy.”
Middleton starts gathering recipe ideas and ingredients as soon as Middleton’s Pumpkin Fest ends in late October. He makes more than a dozen recipes, with many of them small 5-gallon experimental batches.
Last year, Stout Day featured a dozen different stouts. Middleton said this year there could be up to 17 different stouts on the menu, depending on what he hears from a tasting panel he’ll be hosting at the brewery the day before.
Two beers that will definitely make the menu are a pair of collaboration beers returning after making their debut a year ago. Middleton collaborated with Sean Wallner and Aaron Wight at Marysville’s Whitewall Brewing on Jaywalking Grandma, a candy cane milk stout. This year, though, the beer has been aged in whiskey barrels, adding a layer of depth.
Middleton also collaborated with Grady Warnock at Snohomish’s Sound to Summit Brewing on an Oreo Milk Stout. The two brewers crunched up 15 pounds of Oreos and dumped them in the boil, creating a fun stout that anyone with a sweet tooth can enjoy.
Crucible Brewing, which is just down the street from Middleton, will have a guest tap on. They’ll be bringing their Hammer Forged Stout aged in Woodinville Whiskey barrels.
Middleton said he feels it’s his duty to keep bringing the dark beers to the hop heads.
“I’m a dark beer guy,” Middleton said. “The West Coast is known as IPA country, so this is my attempt to balance things out.”
Here’s a quick look at some other beers on the menu:
“I Hate Black Licorice”: 24 pounds of black licorice give this beer a huge nose of anise. The flavor is a little more subtle, but if you hate black licorice like Middleton, you’d be best to avoid it.
Rye Stout with Dill: Middleton used dark rye malt in this stout and added a heaping helping of dried spiced dill weed. “I was kind of going for that rye sandwich taste,” Middleton said.
“Dessert First” and “Dessert First with Coffee”: Raspberry and chocolate stout that tastes like a big rich cake. Middleton also made a version with coffee.
“Spanish Coffee”: New this year, this coffee stout has a bunch of Kahlua added after fermentation to give it a big, bold Kahlua nose and sweet flavor.
“Joe is Gettin’ Cocky”: Back again by popular demand, this polarizing beer has bell peppers added to the boil and a large amount of Sriracha dumped in as well. The beer has a huge aroma of Sriracha, but the flavor is more general spiciness than anything else.
Stout Day at Middleton Brews
Visit Everett’s Middleton Brews from noon to 10 p.m. Nov. 26 for the third annual Stout Day. There will be more than a dozen different stouts on tap, including two collaboration stouts from Middleton and Marysville’s Whitewall Brewing and Snohomish Sound to Summit Brewing. For more information, go to www.middletonbrewing.net.
Wine, brews, spirits
Ale Spike Bottles & Taps: 9300 271st St. NW, Suite B5, Stanwood, 360-386-7650. Dec. 8: Ordnance Brewing, 5 p.m.
Angel’s Tap House: 3438 Stoluckquamish Lane, Arlington, 360-474-9740, www.angelofthewinds.com. Tuesday Brewsday.
At Large Brewing: 2730 W. Marine View Drive, Everett. 425-324-0039, www.atlargebrewing.com. Open Wednesdays through Sundays.
Bluewater Distilling: 1205 Craftsman Way, Suite 109, Everett, 425-404-1408, www.bluewaterdistilling.com. Cocktail bar open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Dec. 6: Holiday Spirits, 6 p.m.
Brews Almighty: 3011 Grand Ave. Suite A, Everett, 425-252-2739, www.brewsalmighty.com. Nov. 25: Apple Cup and Highwater Brewing Barrel-aged Campfire Stout release, 11 a.m.
Brigid’s Bottleshop: 190 Sunset Ave S., Suite C, Edmonds, 425-412-3199, www.brigidsbottleshop.com. Dec. 1: 5 Ways Brewers Night, 5 p.m. Dec. 13: Sierra Nevada, 6 p.m. Dec. 20: Light Side vs. Dark Side: Breakside Brewery vs. Pfriem Family Brewers, 6 p.m.
Crucible Brewing: 909 SE Everett Mall Way, Suite D440, Everett, 425-374-7293, www.cruciblebrewing.com. Taproom Trivia on Mondays, Tap it Tuesdays, Test Pilot Thursdays and Firkin Fridays. Dec. 28: Brush and Brew: Snowman, 6 p.m.
deVine Wines: 15224 Main St., Suite 107, Mill Creek, 425-357-6200, www.de-vinewines.com. Tastings 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays, $5.
Dusty Cellars: 529 Michael Way, Camano Island, 360-387-2729, www.dustycellarswinery.com. Tasting room open the first weekend of each month or call for private tasting.
Greenbank Farm Wine Shop: 765 Wonn Road, Greenbank, 360-678-7700, www.greenbankwineshop.com; Tasting room open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.
The Independent Beer Bar: 1801 Hewitt Ave., Everett, 425-212-9517, www.theindependentbeerbar.com. Trivia Night every Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Josh’s Taps & Caps: 1800 Bickford Ave. Suite 210, Snohomish, 360-217-7221, www.joshstapsandcaps.com. Nov. 25: Black Beer Friday, 11 a.m. Dec. 13: Randolph Cellars, 6 p.m.
Port Gardner Bay Winery: 2802 Rockefeller Ave., Everett, 425-339-0293, www.portgardnerbaywinery.com. Tasting room open 4:30 to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Open mic Thursday. Live music Friday and Saturday nights; no cover.
Route 2 Taproom and Grazing Place: 19837 State Route 2, Monroe, 360-863-2036, www.roadtriptaprooms.com. Nov. 29: Deschutes Brewing, 6:30 p.m.
Skookum Brewery: 17925A 59th Ave. NE, Arlington, 360-403-7094, www.skookumbrewing.com. Dec. 6: Decibel Brewing, 6 p.m. Dec. 23: Ugly Christmas Sweater Party, 5 p.m.
Special Brews: 14608 Hwy 99, Suite 307, Lynnwood, 425-741-7049, www.special-brews.com. Nov. 30: Ecliptic Brewing, 6 p.m. Dec. 7: Bale Breaker, 6 p.m. Dec. 14: Fremont Brewing, 6 p.m. Dec. 21: Melvin Brewing, 6 p.m.
Whiskey Ridge Brewing: 116 E. 5th Ave., Arlington, 360-913-0425, www.whiskeyridgebrewing.com. Open mic Friday nights.
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