Pardon the mess...

If you have been to the Duck lately you might have noticed that the facelift/remodel is currently underway.  It's interesting to come in everyday and see what new things we have to deal with as employees.  Yes.  Interesting...  
We have the final goal set in our minds and I don't mind telling you that it is going to be "SO COOL!"  Our handyman/contractor Ed is working double-time to get things finished in a timely manner.  The final set up for our front room bar area has been finalized and approved by Chris, Ed and our bar consultants (Drew and Keith) and me, too!  I love it, love it, love it and you will, too.
Our consultants are an interesting part of the remodel.  They both have lots of experience in the industry and are way, way cooler than Chris or I.  Because of their input the final product promises to keep to our weird little bar vibe in the place. The crazyfunkycool ambiance will feel deliberate and thought-out and we will have pieces that will capture the eye and the, er, imagination and which are subtle enough that it won't look like we are trying too hard.  The back bar is going to be set up much more efficiently, too, which means less wait time for the you, the customer. 
We found the wood for our new bar top, but it is in it's raw state, so it might be awhile before we are able to install it due to the fact that it takes time to work wood like that properly.  I have seen pictures of the type of wood and when it's finished and it is simply beautiful.  Just one more thing to look forward to.
Lastly, if there is anything that you would like to see at the Duck, like coat hooks under the bar top, let us know.  We want your input!  
Oh, and pardon our mess... 
Jackie

Draft List 10/31/12

Stillwater... Debutant Saison

Rogue... Shakespeare Stout on Nitro

Maritime... Windfest Lager

Liefmans... Oud Bruin (Sour Brown)

Hales... Supergoose Imperial IPA

Boneyard... Hop Venom Double IPA (10%)

Everybody's Brewing... Hoe Down Brown

Scaldis... Tripel

Ninkasi... Nuptiale Cream Ale

Bridgeport... Fresh Hop Pilsner 

Green Flash... Double Stout (8.8%)

Anacortes... Porter

21st Amendment... Lower DaBoom Barleywine

Elysian... Night Owl Pumpkin

Dogfish Head... Punkin

Deschutes... Hop Trip Fresh Hop

Boulder... Mojo IPA

Het Anker... Lucifer Belgian Golden Ale

Weihenstaphaner... German Hefeweizen

Big Al... Fresh Hop Harvest Ale

Beer Valley... Oregon Berry Wheat

Tieton... Apricot Cider
Original Sin... Medium-Dry Apple Cider

PBR

Draft List 10/22/12

Stillwater... Debutant Saison

Rogue... Shakespeare Stout on Nitro

Maritime... Windfest Lager

De Proef... Flanders Fred Belgian Pale Ale (Sour)

Hales... Supergoose Imperial IPA

Boneyard... Hop Venom Double IPA (10%)

Everybody's Brewing... Hoe Down Brown

Scaldis... Tripel

Ninkasi... Maiden the Shade Pale 

Chuckanut... Pilsner

Green Flash... Double Stout (8.8%)

Anacortes... Porter

Odin... Thor's Equinox

Elysian... Night Owl Pumpkin

Dogfish Head... Punkin

Deschutes... Hop Trip Fresh Hop

Boulder... Mojo IPA

Het Anker... Lucifer Belgian Golden Ale

Weihenstaphaner... German Hefeweizen

Leavenworth... Oktoberfest

Beer Valley... Oregon Berry Wheat

Tieton... Apricot Cider
Original Sin... Medium-Dry Apple Cider

PBR

Draft list 10/15

Also, check out our Beers On Draft  page for an always up-to-date tap list!!

Stillwater... Debutant Saison

Rogue... Shakespeare Stout on Nitro

Maritime... Windfest Lager

De Proef... Flanders Fred Belgian Pale Ale (Sour)

Hales... Supergoose Imperial IPA

Boneyard... Hop Venom Double IPA (10%)

Everybody's Brewing... Hoe Down Brown

Scaldis... Belgian Tripel

Ninkasi... Maiden the Shade Pale 

Chuckanut... Pilsner

Sierra Nevada... Imperial Oatmeal Stout

Anacortes... Porter

Odin... Thor's Equinox

Southern Tier... Pumking (10%)***

Dogfish Head... Festina Peche

Deschutes... Hop Trip Fresh Hop

Stone... 16th Anniversary IPA

Het Anker... Lucifer Belgian Golden Ale

Weihenstaphaner... German Hefeweizen

Leavenworth... Oktoberfest

Beer Valley... Oregon Berry Wheat

Finn River... Black Currant Cider
Julian... Small Batch Cider

PBR

***Was going to save our second keg of Pumking so that we could have a little Thanksgiving treat, but there were so many groans when I ran out, I relented and tapped the second one right away.  So once this one's gone, that's it folks.

Draft List 10/8/12

Also, check out our Beers On Draft  page for an always up-to-date tap list!!

Stillwater... Debutant Saison

Rogue... Shakespeare Stout on Nitro

Maritime... Windfest Lager

De Proef... Flanders Fred Belgian Pale Ale (Sour)

Hales... Supergoose Imperial IPA

Boneyard... Hop Venom Double IPA (10%)

Everybody's Brewing... Hoe Down Brown

Dupont... Saison Dupont

Ninkasi... Maiden the Shade Pale 

Chuckanut... Pilsner

Sierra Nevada... Imperial Oatmeal Stout

Anacortes... Porter

Odin... Thor's Equinox

Southern Tier... Pumking (10%)

Dogfish Head... Festina Peche

Beer Valley... Tri-State Fresh Hop Ale

Stone... 16th Anniversary IPA

Het Anker... Lucifer Belgian Golden Ale

Weihenstaphaner... German Hefeweizen

Leavenworth... Oktoberfest

Beer Valley... Oregon Berry Wheat

Finn River... Black Currant Cider
Julian... Small Batch Cider

PBR

Fresh Hops!!!

Although the weather in Washington would beg to differ, Autumn is here!  This time of year is full of special release brews: Oktoberfest/Marzens, pumpkin and spiced beers and lots of fresh hopped beer.  I want to talk about the latter for a minute.

What is the big deal with fresh-hopped beer, anyway?  Hops are traditionally harvested around the world twice a year in late summer.  Once in the northern hemisphere and once in the southern hemisphere.  After the hops are harvested, the cones are very delicate and must be used in their fresh form very quickly, so shipping them in a timely manner becomes problematic and leads to fresh hopping only in the hemisphere they are harvested.  Most of the hops that are harvested are dried and pressed into plugs or pellets, which is what most beers are hopped with throughout the year.

What's the difference in flavor?  Fresh hopped beer showcases a variety of hops and their flavors which can often be more bright and fragrant. Depending upon the hop used the beers can produce a more herbal, floral, grassy and even fruity characteristics.  It's weird to say and sort of a hard to pin down quality, but these beer just taste more... fresh.

One more note, the term 'wet hopped' just means that it's a beer that has been made with fresh hops.  'Dry hopping' refers to adding hops, in any form, to the batch after the boil, during the fermentation process. This is done to add hop aroma.  So, you could actually have a 'wet hopped, dry hopped' beer if the brewer added fresh hops after the boil.  Yeah, it's a little confusing.  

Expect to see these and a couple more of fresh hopped beers in the rotation at the Duck in the coming weeks:

Bridgeport Hop Harvest Imperial Pilsner

Beer Valley Tri-Hopped Ale

2 Deschutes Special Release Fresh Hopped Ales (TBA)

Cheers!

Flanders Fred!!!

Yesterday we tapped our keg of Flanders Fred.  It's amazing!  Here is some info from the brewers:

Notes: 
The sixth edition of the De Proef Brewmaster’s Collaboration Series is our first blended beer. Legendary brewer, Alan Sprints of Hair of the Dog joins Dirk Naudts at De Proef to create this unique bottle conditioned beer. Flanders Fred is a blend of Flanders-sourced lambic with a collaboratively-brewed version of the famous Hair of the Dog Fred. 

The result is a deep golden ale topped with a creamy off white head. The nose is complex with notes of lemon, pine, tropical fruits and spice. The palate is rich and layered with toffee, apricot and almond, balanced by some green apple, a hoppy bitterness and barnyard funk. 

Please enjoy Flanders Fred with food and friends. This beer should pair very well with many cheeses, roasted vegetables and grilled meats. We believe this bottle will continue to evolve beautifully over the next few years, adding a subtle blending of the flavors. 

Cheers from Portland and Flanders! 
Alan & Dirk

Brewed by: 
De Proefbrouwerij (bvba Andelot) 
Belgium

Style | ABV 
Belgian Strong Pale Ale |  7.50% ABV 

Come down and have a pint or two... This is a one-off, so once it's gone, it's gone...

Draft List 10/4/12

Draft List for 10/4/12

Stillwater... Debutant Saison

Rogue... Shakespeare Stout on Nitro

Maritime... Windfest Lager

De Proef... Flanders Fred Belgian Pale Ale (Sour)

Mount Shasta... IPA

Boneyard... Hop Venom Double IPA (10%)

Avery... Ellie's Brown 

Dupont... Saison Dupont

Ninkasi... Maiden the Shade Pale 

Lagunitas... Czech-Style Pilsner

Sierra Nevada... Oatmeal Stout

Anacortes... Porter

Odin... Thor's Equinox

Southern Tier... Pumking (10%)

Dogfish Head... Festina Peche

Beer Valley... Tri-State Fresh Hop Ale

Stone... 16th Anniversary IPA

Het Anker... Lucifer Belgian Golden Ale

Weihenstaphaner... German Hefeweizen

Leavenworth... Oktoberfest

Beer Valley... Oregon Berry Wheat

Finn River... Black Currant Cider
Julian... Small Batch Cider

PBR

One more thing(s)...

Hey there people... Just a little update on Duck happenings.  The remodel plans are still in the works.  We want to make sure that as many of the details are planned out as to avoid being closed any longer than we have to.  We are tentatively thinking about the first few days in December, but we will let you know more as the time comes.  Exciting!  I cannot wait to show off the new Duck, when it's finished.  We may just have to have an event... I'm thinking Duck Prom!!! Formals, DJ, booze, getting lucky in the backseat of a car in the parking lot... Just like high school!  This is happening... and you're ALL coming!  

Next... In case you forgot, we have new hours!  2pm to 2am, seven days a week!  One more hour to drink a day!  You're liver is weeping right now, but your taste buds are cheering!  

Third...  We gotta new guy!  Collin Potter!  He's not new, exactly, as all the old regulars know, but he's new to standing BEHIND our bar.  Mr. Potter, we salute you and your extensive knowledge of beer and all things beer related!  Try to stump him, I dare you.

Come by and visit us...  the Duck awaits...

Jackie

Draft List for 10/2/12

The Draft List

Stillwater... Debutant Saison

Rogue... Shakespeare Stout on Nitro

Maritime... Windfest Lager

Vicarus... Belgian Tripel

Mount Shasta... IPA

Boneyard... Hop Venom Double IPA (10%)

Avery... Ellie's Brown 

Dupont... Saison Dupont

Ninkasi... Maiden the Shade Pale 

Lagunitas... Czech-Style Pilsner

Southern Tier... Mokah Imperial Stout

Anacortes... Porter

Odin... Thor's Equinox

Southern Tier... Pumpking (10%)

Dogfish Head... Festina Peche

Beer Valley... Tri-State Fresh Hop Ale

Stone... 16th Anniversary IPA

Het Anker... Lucifer Belgian Golden Ale

Weihenstaphaner... German Hefeweizen

Leavenworth... Oktoberfest

Beer Valley... Oregon Berry Wheat

Finn River... Black Currant Cider
Julian... Small Batch Cider

PBR