Welcome back to Sip Northwest’s Bar Tab, our editor’s weekly selection of what to drink in the Northwest now. Full transparency, there is zero rhyme or reason to this grouping of beverages, other than that we enjoyed them and think you should too. So come on in, belly up to the counter and order a digital drink on us.
Hopping Mad Cider Radler | Central City Brewers & Distillers | Because just brewing beer and distilling whiskey is too easy, this southern British Columbia maker launched cider production at the height of the surge across North America. With BC Cider Week kicking off on April 29, more and more BC cider is coming into the limelight, including Canada’s first ever cider radler made by the Vancouver suburb brewery. The off-dry fermented apple base is mixed with grapefruit juice for a tart, tangy and fruit-forward sip that is easily crushable at 4.2 percent ABV. Best consumed in sunshine, or maybe with the mindset of sunshine, and next to a salad with citrus vinaigrette or citrus-marinated chicken.
Born & Bred Potato Vodka | Grand Teton Distillery | It’s trite to say it makes sense to produce potato vodka in Idaho, but it makes sense to produce potato vodka in Idaho. Producing 14.2 billion pounds of potatoes annually, Idaho is the number one spud state in the U.S., meaning locally grown ingredients for potato vodka is abundant. Based in Driggs, Idaho, Grand Teton Distillery highlights the humble and tuberous crop here, which has the celebrity endorsement of actor Channing Tatum. After taste-testing at 25 other distilleries for the perfect vodka, Tatum announced to Bon Appetit that Grand Teton was his favorite and thus a promotion began. This special bottling is distilled 23 times, produced in small batches with “unspoiled” glacial waters from the Tetons. Clean and crisp with the rich texture only potato can provide to the spirit, this vodka pairs nicely with “Magic Mike XXL” and a squeeze of lime.
2014 Bishop’s Block | Crayelle Cellars | Cashmere, Washington, might be better known for its applets and cotlets, but in the town’s Mission District, a handful of craft beverage comes to life in a historic remodeled fruit warehouse. The husband-and-wife-operated Crayelle Cellars is one of the three warehouse-refurbished winery tasting rooms, pouring small-lot wines named for the places and people in the duo’s life (including their children). Bishop’s Block takes its title from the mixed planting southern block of Bishop’s Vineyard in the Ancient Lakes AVA, a blend of Syrah, Mourvédre and Grenache. The grapes are picked together and blended in the field before the fruit even hits the fermenter, allowing the cohesion to begin immediately. Deep, ripe blueberry is spiced with white pepper and cumin, while savory, smoky herbs fold into the juicy berry finish.
Daily Pale | Reuben’s Brews | The truth is, Reuben doesn’t actually brew any beer. As he shouldn’t — he’s a child who loaned his name to parents’ Seattle brewery when he was just a toddler. Shortly after Reuben was born, Reuben’s Brews grew from an award-winning homebrew venture to a full-scale neighborhood brewpub, now with two locations pouring upwards of 20 beers, from experimental taproom series selects to seasonals, like the Daily Pale. Originally brewed as the featured beer of last year’s Seattle Beer Week (this year returns on May 4), this thirst-quenching, sessionable ale holds on to its hop-forward profile while maintaining a lower ABV weight of only 4.9 percent. Drink a few on the patio or cozied up in the brewpub watching the Sounders.
