This will be a long one, gang, but, hey, I didn’t have to write most of it so I’m happy (and some of you might be too).
My pal Carl, the guy with too much time on his hands, sent a report this week on one of his recent visits to Boundary Bay Brewery in Bellingham, Wash. and what happened while he was there:
Went to take a walk yesterday and as sometimes happens, ended up not too far from home at Boundary Bay Brewery. It was late afternoon and thus it was packed. Could not get a seat at the bar so stood and slowly had a Cask Conditioned IPA, it being Thursday which is the day of the week that they bring out a small keg and serve it from the bar.
Eventually, a guy wandered away and I was able to seize the stool that he had been setting upon immediately in front of the keg. Also in direct line with the Seattle Mariners game on the flat screen. The world was OK.
A bit later though, I hear a ringing noise and as the bar quiets down, I am the others watching the TV turn to see none other than Ed Bennett, the owner, standing in the middle of a very busy and very crowded brewpub. You can well imagine the noise level yet Ed was trying to get everyone’s attention. Eventually, the room got quiet enough that Ed could begin to speak. As he did so, it quickly got VERY quiet. This is a phenomenon I have never seen as that place is virtually always busy and not coincidentally, also always very noisy.
Ed was saying that he wished us all to know that this day they were serving a special beer brewed *just* for today (May 1). It was an IPA., but he wished us to know that this stood not for India Pale Ale, but for IVERSON Pale Ale, in honor of Dave Iverson, a long time and now late employee and trusted friend of the Boundary Bay family. He spoke of how Dave had helped many people’s attention to Craft Beer that had not been aware of it and had opened many markets to their beer as well as Craft Beer in general. Not to mention he had apparently been a wonderful friend to all employees, top and bottom and was and would be truly missed.
The brewmaster also spoke a bit on how he had crafted this beer to match Dave’s preferences and that this was a beer that he was sure that Dave would truly like, with slightly lower alcohol content but very hoppy. He mentioned what yeast was used as well but I was on beer 3 so do not remember that detail. It was tasty though as I had a glass to conclude my evening.
There was a couple posters about Dave and also a standing folded paper flyer thing on each table with a drawing of Dave on one side with the title DAVE BEER and a short tribute on the other side. I will write it out since I do not have a scanner and taking a picture might not work.
—————————————-
ON TAP MAY 1ST - DAVE BEER
A PORTION OF PROCEEDS FROM DAVE BEER WILL BE DONATED TO WHATCOM HOSPICE.
On June 9th, 1998 Dave brought a bright, unflappable personality and past experience in beer sales to our team at Boundary Bay. He quickly became a friend to everyone. Dave loved people. Dishwasher, head brewer, or owner were all worthy recipients of his warm smile.
Dave successfully opened the door to many accounts unaware of craft beer. He truly was an important piece of our wholesale foundation in the Whatcom/Skagit area. Dave will have a permanent place in the heart of the BB Family. His “Never say never”/”Don’t say no” attitude helped salvage the Mt. Bar from the Rainier Brewery in Seattle. Once installed at our Ferndale location (To yet be opened - CP), you can be assured that Dave will have his special place at that bar. Cheers, Dave! We love you! May 1, 1973 — Feb. 4, 2008
Dave Iverson sounds like a guy I would have liked to have met.
In an earlier message Carl wrote to me about the annual Brewsday beer fest in Bellingham which was marked by a) thieves making off with over $3000 in beer and brewing equipment and b) being terribly over-crowded. He indicated that beers from Alaskan Brewing were stolen but online news stories say the hoisted brew was from Lazy Boy Brewery in Everett, Wash. Maybe it was both, I dunno.
In any case, he mentioned liking a pair of beer from the North Fork Brewery/Pizzeria/Beer Shrine & Wedding Chapel while he was there, know it would strike a memory chord. When I was out to visit Carl maybe eight, nine years ago we were driving down the road and discovered this place (or maybe he’d been there before, it was a long time ago) and it was very cool. I think it was just called North Folk Brewery & Beer Shrine in those days. The memorabilia collection inside was indeed impressive and the beer was good, but what I remember second most is that it was a two-person operation, run by the husband and wife who started the business, Sandy and Vicki Savage.
He was in the back brewing away while she did it all up front. I remember ordering a Stout and she tilted a glass under the tap and opened it to pour. Then went down the bar to handle something else, walking back to close the tap when the glass was half full and go over to wait on a table. Came back, opened the stout pour again and got another customer a beer, coming back to complete my pour just as the beer reached the rim. All the time we were there, she had never a wasted moment or motion, always getting something done. It was pretty impressive.
What I remember most, though, is that they were originally from Cherry Hill, NJ. From the land of housing developments, traffic circles and strip malls to the wide open spaces is a long, good trip.
