— FROM OUR BLOG —
Crab season is here!
The First of July marked the opening of crab season on the Hood Canal. It is one of the best things about summer. There is nothing better than warm summer evenings, out on the deck or by the fire pit, made even better with fresh crab. And now, I can relax even more...
Grand Opening, but not for us
A couple of weekends ago, there was a grand opening in Hoodsport. Somehow there was a mix-up, and many thought that it was our grand opening. Instead, the actual grand opening was for the new public restrooms, which are just across the street. Unfortunately, we had to...
Bee’s Knees® Ice Cream
We cannot sell our Bee's Knees® for its intended purpose until we get label approval from the Federal Government. The approval process for Bee's Knees® has taken on a life of its own. In the meantime, Susan and her husband Randy, who own the Hoodsport Coffee Co.,...
First Days
It felt good to open our doors and sell our products this past Memorial Day Weekend. For the time being, our products are limited to two gins, Crabby Ginny and R Gin, which can be frustrating for those who stop by to see us and do not like gin. Those customers who...
Lunar Landscape
These amazing bubbles were sighted in our fermenter. We are so inexperienced that we do not know if we should be proud of them or frightened.
Stalactites at the bar
Our bar top is Chuck's old work bench from our basement in Seattle. When he retrieved it from the basement, it was dirty and had oil stains. Perfect. Chuck gave it a quick rinse with the hose, and I was assigned the task of applying a clear, thick, hard bar coat to...
It’s the Bee’s Knees®…and it’s not
Bee's Knees® is our unique product made from honey and fruit, all from Washington State. It is in a category of its own, and is considered a "specialty" by our government (the Tax and Trade Bureau, or the TTB), as it does not fall into the usual TTB categories, such...
We’re opening Memorial Day weekend
At Long Last-- We've been working toward this day for a long time, and finally it's here! Our tasting room opens on Friday, May 24. We will be open Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (Memorial Day), May 24-27, noon to 6 p.m. Thereafter, our regular hours will be...
Hunter Farms and Spent Grain
Hunter Farms is a local farm near our distillery. They sell fresh eggs, delicious ice cream, and have fall and winter events for families. Last weekend they collected our spent grain to feed their chickens and other livestock. As I write this, I am pretty certain that...
A Few Problems with Our Slow Moving Wort
Wort (also known as beer) is used to make grain-based spirits such as whiskey, gin, and vodka.
To make wort, one must first grind the grain, and then cook it in a mash-tun. After that, it goes to the fermenter, until it is ready to be distilled.
These first steps are the brewer’s job. On the surface, this sounds simple enough, but, trust me, it is not easy, and brew masters are expected to make a much better beer than a distiller.
So far, in my few weeks of experience, I would say that brewing is more difficult than distilling. Time may change my view. These are some of our experiences with beer so far.