Grant's: a sad story

[Wit Memo Jeff]

According to this story on the Real Beer home page, Grant's Ales in Yakima, WA will be contract-brewed from now on.

http://www.realbeer.com/news/articles/news-002718.php

I found this sad. While I never visited Yakima or the brewery or brew pub, in the early 90's (I think) I did attend a beer tasting at DC's Brickskellar that featured Bert Grant. He was a real character and a true original. I loved his Imperial Stout, and I'm sorry that his brainchild has come to such an ignoble fate.

[chazwicke]

Yeah that is sad. I was at that tasting at the Bricks as well. He was quite the character. I remember him saying he never met a hop he didn't like and that you could never have too much hops. He would be proud to see what the West Coast has to offer in the way of high IBU beers now a days.

[Wit Memo Jeff]

I'd like to see a list of all the old Brick tastings so I could figure out just how long ago they were, and how old I thus must be.

[chazwicke]

Me too. I used to attend them all. And that was for years. I ran across a box recently in my storage area that had some of the old printed tasting notes and some of the programs. But the box is again stored away.

[MeridianFC]

Grant's Celtic Ale was one of the best session brews I ever encountered. Since ol' Bert's passed on it's been all down hill.

[Wit Memo Jeff]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Me too. I used to attend them all. And that was for years. I ran across a box recently in my storage area that had some of the old printed tasting notes and some of the programs. But the box is again stored away.

I went to quite a few Brick tastings back then, and often sat at the big round communal table near the bar. I stopped saving paper long ago, but I have a blank tasting sheet from Michael Jackson's world of beer tour on Sept. 20 & 21, 1988. Tasted that night were Liefmans Frambozen & Kriekbier, Royal Oak Pale Ale, Goudenband Brown Ale, Corsendonk Monk's Brown Ale, Thomas Hardy '87 & '83, EKU 28, Samichlaus, Rauchenfeels, and Michelob Ultra. Okay, not Michelob Ultra.

I also hung onto some souvenirs, like two small glass from the Manhattan Brewing Company, from a presentation in 1990 by their then-brewmaster, Garrett Oliver.

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by Wit Memo Jeff
Tasted that night were Liefmans Frambozen & Kriekbier, Royal Oak Pale Ale, Goudenband Brown Ale, Corsendonk Monk's Brown Ale, Thomas Hardy '87 & '83, EKU 28, Samichlaus, Rauchenfeels, and Michelob Ultra. Okay, not Michelob Ultra. Yeah, that might have been a little TOO strong and flavorful for the EKU 28 crowd... :D

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by Wit Memo Jeff
I went to quite a few Brick tastings back then, and often sat at the big round communal table near the bar. I stopped saving paper long ago, but I have a blank tasting sheet from Michael Jackson's world of beer tour on Sept. 20 & 21, 1988. Tasted that night were Liefmans Frambozen & Kriekbier, Royal Oak Pale Ale, Goudenband Brown Ale, Corsendonk Monk's Brown Ale, Thomas Hardy '87 & '83, EKU 28, Samichlaus, Rauchenfeels, and Michelob Ultra. Okay, not Michelob Ultra.

I also hung onto some souvenirs, like two small glass from the Manhattan Brewing Company, from a presentation in 1990 by their then-brewmaster, Garrett Oliver.

I usually had the table right in front of the stage. Dave and Diane would save it for us. You sat at the table with Martin? I have bent to tasting that Garret Oliver was the featured speaker at. Michael Jackson on numerous occassions. He even invited me to join him at Old Dominion on his first visit there. I recently found those pictures. I forget the name of the guy from Wynkoop (Who later fell down a stair case and died) but his tasting was great and I remember they had a very nice chili beer. Also beer writer Alan Eames had an interesting show. (I know he is now divorced from the woman who imports Xingo Black Beer.) Bruce Williams was always fun as was Chris Herteleer. The African Awooyoo tastings were fun too but their beer was strong. Great Lakes was There, Pierre Celis, Anchor lateral Xmas tastings, Uli Bennowitz from Weeping Radish had hilarious stories about his run ins with the IRS. And of course all the local brewers. Those tastings were really fun and I miss them.

[HarkJohnny]

WHAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! :mad:

that's me crying ^

what a shame.

[Jim Dorsch]

Russ Schehrer and Ann Latchis, I believe

Originally posted by chazwicke
I forget the name of the guy from Wynkoop (Who later fell down a stair case and died) but his tasting was great and I remember they had a very nice chili beer. Also beer writer Alan Eames had an interesting show. (I know he is now divorced from the woman who imports Xingo Black Beer.)

[chazwicke]

You are correct on both counts. Thanks Jim. I've been to the Latches brewpub in Brattleboro. It was just down the hill from McNiels. I wonder if both places are still open?

[Ill hophead]

According to this story on the Real Beer home page, Grant's Ales in Yakima, WA will be contract-brewed from now on.
Hopzilla will never be the same.

[quaid]

I spoke with several people in the Washington today. Unfortunately, there is nothing new to report. I even spoke to the publisher of Northwest Brewing News, Bill Metzger. He couldn't shed any light on the brewery or its recipes futures, either.:(

[MeridianFC]

This just had me wondering, what happens to the recipes when a brewery goes tits up?

[HarkJohnny]

Grant's Scotch Ale was the first beer I had that made me realize what good beer was. MANY Thanks to you Bert!

[quaid]

I tried the perfect porter on a chance one night several years ago. It cemented my feelings that the big brewers like Anheuser-Busch had no idea how to make a great beer.