Black Raven Brewery

I was told that I had to check out Black Raven Brewery before I left Seattle and I don't need an excuse to go try some beers, so I went. The brewery is located in Redmond in a business park, similar to a ton of breweries that I have visited. On the outside, the brewery was not much different than most, but on the inside, wow. The best tasting room I think I have ever been to. I'll get back to that though, first the brewery itself.

Black Raven is a production brewery, but at this point most of their sales are done on the premise. As far as I could tell almost all of their equipment was brand new, starting with the 15 bbl brewing system. I had a good talk with one of the owners/head brewer, I was able to touch on new subjects that concern me as I move forward and left with great ideas and tips. It still amazes me how different every brewery owner's story is and what they found to be most difficult in starting up. I think I am in a great position having heard so many points of view, but at the same time it is scary because there are so many different things that have slowed other breweries progress down. Here are some shots of the brewery:

New 15 BBL Brewing System

Part of the tasting room and the racking area

The most impressive part of the brewery is the tasting room. They spared no expense in building the tasting room, artistic wooden tables and Raven themed artwork on the walls. Probably seats 30 and they don't serve food, although you can bring in outside food. The tasting room extends beyond the front room/bar, has some seating along the walk-in cooler (which you don't notice is the cooler) and then there is some seating in the back essentially on the brewery floor. They did a great job of making it a nice place to come and drink a beer and not just a brewery. Black Raven, along with some other breweries, have really changed my thinking about a tasting room and there will be a solid tasting room at PBC.

Tasting Room

Of course I had to take a seat at the bar and enjoy the sampler, a nice mix of traditional styles with a specialty beer to top it off. Their IPA was by far my favorite followed by the Brown Ale. The other beers were well made beers, but didn't blow me away. The specialty beer was a Belgian Brown, which was actually my least favorite, but always enjoy new and different beers. I hope to make it out their again when I am back in Seattle and like seeing all of these new places getting started.

Step 1, Move to Boise

Not only am I writing this post today, I have a second post that will be scheduled to post later this week. I really have no excuse for not blogging any updates these days, but I haven't had many interesting things to write about. I am not a fan of blogging just to blog and like to have some material to write about. Although I sometimes feel like I am turning into the blogging equivalent of a blowhard who just likes to hear himself talk.

100% moved to Boise at this point, which means that I have to stop hiding behind the safety of the computer and get things going. I have mentioned before about getting to a point where you just need to take a jump and a lot of other things start to open up. I am at one of those points again, this probably being the biggest to date (although quitting Boeing was pretty big). Beside some minor tweaks, the plan is done and it is time to go raise some money. I should find out a lot here shortly. If I get ripped by a potential investor I know there is still work to be done, but lets hope for the best.

I had some new equipment made by my homebrew guy in Seattle, another brew kettle and a hot liquor tank. Those along with my existing brew kettle will get pieced together to make a pilot system very similar to the one I have been using at Schooner. I am going to design how I want the system to look this week and probably put together a big list of parts I need to make it work right. The good thing about the system I have in my head is that I don't need all the bells and whistles from day one to be able to brew, but everything can be added as I can get it. I hope to get another test batch brewed up later this month on the system.

Speaking of test batches, I kegged my last two pilot batches last week. I haven't had a chance to really taste them and review them, but I will share my initial thoughts. The IPA is piney and citrusy in more of an apricot way than grapefruit, it is pretty good, but my ratios for the hops are out of balance. It needs work and if I had to bet, I would say IPA will not be among the first beers offered. Not because I don't think I can make a good one, because I can, but I am such an IPA fan, I want to release one that I love, not one that is just okay. The other pilot was a Pale, I like it so far. It is more typical of a Pale with the use of a lot of Cascade hops. I think I have a good arsenal of pale ale recipes that I am ready to make 3 or 4 and put them in front of a tasting panel.

No promises, but I'll try to get back to posting regularly.