Spire Mountain Ciders Releases Crisp & Dry Apple Cider

Posted 5 May 2016 | 8:20 pm

In the tradition of quality and excellence, American’s oldest cidery Spire Mountain Cider, is pleased to announce the release of their latest product, Crisp & Dry Apple Cider.

“The hard cider industry has seen incredible growth over the past several years, and drinkers are embracing it as a refreshing alternative to beer or wine. As drinkers continue to rediscover the American cider tradition, they are interested in trying ciders with more complexity.  We think our new Crisp & Dry cider fits that need perfectly” says Sal Leone, President of Fish Brewing Co.

The Crisp & Dry Apple Cider is a semi-dry crisp cider with hints of green apples and acidic tartness, with a refreshing soft sparkling finish.  This cider comes in at 5% ABV and is the perfect drink to pair with crème brule and fresh berries or a smooth brie cheese.

Crisp & Dry Apple Cider will be available year-around to all of our distributor partners in 6-pack bottles, 22oz bottles, 1/6 bbl & 1/2 bbl kegs, and will be available in 16oz cans in the summer 2016.

Spire Mountain’s year round and seasonal offerings highlight the natural flavors of Washington apples. Naturally gluten free and made from 100 percent locally sourced fresh pressed Washington apples, Spire Mountain products are handcrafted with real ingredients and never from concentrate.  Look for Spire Mountain Ciders at a retailer near you.

Whistle No More

Posted 1 April 2016 | 6:39 pm

today marks the end of an era

Today we bring you the sad news that after nearly ten years of service, our Steam Whistle will be retired permanently, due to the persistent complaints to the City of Olympia. Though we felt that the 5 o’clock blast was a time-honored tradition beloved by our region, harking back to the era of the Olympia Brewing Facility in Tumwater, it just goes to show that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. And greasy it is: it’s well known that the political machine that is Olympia City Hall always pays their debts, and we have reason to believe that this recent regulatory development is only the tip of the political iceberg of reshuffling and re-positioning power. Paul Meanie, Sr, a well-known misanthrope and napping enthusiast, has campaigned tirelessly (between his naps) to shut our daily whistle down, but it was only after last year’s election that he began to get real traction. In January we began receiving notices on city letterhead, mysteriously unsigned, with only the word “STAHP!” written in sharpie. The next month, our brew system was hacked by an elite North Korean cyber-warfare team*, setting our boiler temperature to 211 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s correct, one degree below boiling! Diabolical!
Not knowing where or when they were going to strike next, we cowered, resorting to a simple, short, meek “toot” in our city’s spirit of understanding and compromise would put an end to the conflict. Alas, this isn’t a negotiation, this is war. And we are outgunned, out-witted, and out-snacked.

And so it is that we hang our heads and solemnly pledge to the new city order. No more 5 o’clock (OK let’s be honest, 5-5:20 o’clock) steam blasts celebrating the end of the work day. From now on, we’ll be happy just to brew our beer and clock out after our day is done. We hope you enjoy your new peace and quiet.

*just kidding Kim Jong-un! We’re cool, rite?

World’s Best Beer – and the Award to Prove It!

Posted 7 November 2015 | 1:52 am

Most Wednesday afternoons you’ll find the 40 barrel brew system boiling and steaming, the bottling line banging and clanging, and pallets of beer whizzing by on forklifts, but last Wednesday was a little different. Beer Educator and Judge Jay Brooks had just touched down in Seatac, en route to hand deliver an award we hardly dreamed of getting only weeks ago. Clocking in at fifteen pounds, the World’s Best Beer Award isn’t Jay’s usual carry-on luggage (“my arm became a bit sore” he said later) but when he took it out of it’s velvet case it conveyed its significance in the streaming light of the warehouse.

Mingling among the brew team were shareholders, members of the media, Washington Senator Karen Fraser and Lacey Deputy Mayor Cynthia Pratt. Chef Rick and his pub team put out a fantastic spread, including fresh oysters provided by National Fish & Oyster Company and the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association.

“This is an award of a lifetime” said CEO Sal Leone during his speech. “It’s an honor to represent this brewery”

Jay Brooks follow up with a run down of how such an expansive award is judged. As head judge of the Americas, he judges everything in this hemisphere. Beers winning in each category are sent to London to be evaluated in a final “best of show”. After the dust settled, Beyond The Pale was the one left standing.

The ever verbose Paul Pearson stated: “I’d like to thank all the members of my team for all their hard work, and all the mug clubbers for their support”. And then he added a simple shrug, for emphasis. Oh Paul!

This award has already been a wild ride. It’s garnered us international attention, and we’re getting inquiries from Brazil to Belgium. We enjoy the hell out of our beer, and it’s fantastic to hear that there are a few others out there who do as well

Photo Credit Ron Swarner 2015

Fish Tale Beyond the Pale Ale Named World’s Best Beer

Posted 20 October 2015 | 10:52 pm

Olympia, WA – October 5, 2015 – Fish Tale Ale’s Beyond the Pale Ale, produced by Fish Brewing Co in Olympia, WA was named the 2015 World’s Best Beer by the World Beer Awards. To receive this award, the beer was first judged in a regional style heat in America. Winners from all regions including Asia and Europe were then tasted against each other to select the World’s Best Style. From these world winners, the World’s Best Categories beers were selected, from which the World’s Best Beer is selected.

With over 1,000 beers from more than 30 countries entered into this year’s competition to come out on top is quite an achievement and honor.  Judges blind tasted and scored the entries over four rounds of judging. The final two rounds were held in London, where 50 international brewers, industry experts and journalists tasted and voted on the World’s Best Beers. The judges named Fish Tale Ales – Beyond the Pale – as the USA Winner, Americas Winner, the World’s Best Style Winner, the World’s Best Pale and ultimately the World’s Best Beer.

In addition to taking top honors, Fish Brewing Co. was awarded America’s Best Black IPA for their Reel Ales Swordfish Double Cascadian Dark Ale and Leavenworth Boulder Bend Dunkelweizen won America’s Best Dark Wheat Ale.

“This award is a credit to our ongoing commitment to making amazing beers.” says Sal Leone, CEO and President of Fish Brewing Co. “At a time when American brewers offer so much variety; it’s a true honor to be recognized as the World’s finest.”

Earlier this year Fish Brewing Company was awarded the 2015 Washington State Brewery of the Year Award at the Washington Beer Awards competition. Fish Brewing Co. is currently looking for distributors, if interested contact Fish Brewing at worldsbestbeer@fishbrewing.com.

About Our Award Winning Beers

Fish Tale Beyond the Pale Ale is a medium-bodied pale ale presents a rich and complex malt character derived from a bold bland of four different types of grain wonderfully balanced by five complementary varieties of hops. Leavenworth Boulder Bend Dunkelweizen is an unfiltered dark Hefeweizen, with a gently sweet character infusing its medium-bodied smoothness. Packaged in convenient 6-pack cans the Boulder Bend is great for floating down the river. Fish Tale Reel Ales Swordfish Double Cascadian Dark Ale is a beautiful balance between citrusy Northwest hops and roasted, chocolate malt or caramel notes.

About Fish Brewing Company
Founded in 1993, Fish Brewing Company is owned by over 400 beer drinking consumers, who pooled their resources to build a landmark brewery in Olympia, WA, which is known for its quality water and artesian wells. Fish Brewing also uses when possible locally sourced Washington ingredients. Fish Brewing produces hand-crafted beers and ciders under our three core brands: Fish Tale Ales, Leavenworth Biers, and Spire Mountain Cider, which can be found in 20 states and internationally, both in bottles and on draft. Fish Brewing operates a full service pub in Olympia, WA, which was featured on the Food Networks show Diners, Drive-in & Dives, and a new taproom in Woodinville, WA. Fish Brewing believes that fresh beer and cider, fine food, and enduring friendships are what life in the Great Pacific Northwest is all about. For more information visit www.fishbrewing.com.

Fish Brewing Company Wins Washington Brewery of the Year Award

Posted 7 July 2015 | 11:18 pm

Olympia, WA, June 25, 2015 –(PR.com)– Fish Brewing Company was awarded the 2015 Washington State Brewery of the Year Award at the Washington Beer Awards competition as part of the WA Brewers Festival in Marymoor Park, Redmond, WA. In addition Fish Brewing was awarded three gold medals and one silver medal during the competition; Fish Tale Organic IPA won Gold, Leavenworth Boulder Bend Dunkelweizen won Gold, Leavenworth Premium Lager won Gold, and Leavenworth Whistling Pig Hefeweizen captured the Silver. “Winning this award is enormous,” says Sal Leone, CEO and President of Fish Brewing Co. “It has always been a priority for us to constantly look at improving our portfolio of distinctive beers and company branding. This award proves that our hard work has paid off. I am extremely proud of our brewery staff, their hard work and innovation.” The Washington Beer Awards is a craft beer competition designed specifically to support Washington’s professional brewers. More than 700 beers were entered in the competition by 107 Washington breweries, spanning over 100 unique styles from the Brewers Association Beer Style Guidelines for technical and stylistic excellence. The Brewery of the Year is awarded to the brewery who wins recognition in multiple style categories. About Our Award Winning Beers Fish Tale Organic IPA is a medium-bodied beer with a rich golden color, brewed with the finest organic malts and hops. Leavenworth Boulder Bend Dunkelweizen is an unfiltered dark Hefeweizen, with a gently sweet character infusing its medium-bodied smoothness. Packaged in convenient 6-pack cans the Boulder Bend is great for floating down the river. Our Leavenworth Premium Lager proudly combines traditional Bavarian pilsner flavors with a bolder Northwest profile, resulting in a perfectly balanced full-bodied flavor. Leavenworth Whistling Pig Hefeweizen is a bright reward for days spend under the sun. Crisp yet easygoing, this unfiltered wheat bier and its classically cloudy appearance characterizes the best German hefeweizens but is born in the Pacific Northwest. About Fish Brewing Company Founded in 1993, Fish Brewing Company is owned by over 400 beer drinking consumers, who pooled their resources to build a landmark brewery in Olympia, WA, which is known for its quality water and artesian wells. Fish Brewing also uses when possible locally sourced Washington ingredients. Fish Brewing produces hand-crafted beers and ciders under our three core brands: Fish Tale Ales, Leavenworth Biers, and Spire Mountain Cider, which can be found in 20 states and internationally, both in bottles and on draft. Fish Brewing operates a full service pub in Olympia, WA, which was featured on the Food Networks show Diners, Drive-in & Dives, and a new taproom in Woodinville, WA. Fish Brewing believes that fresh beer and cider, fine food, and enduring friendships are what life in the Great Pacific Northwest is all about. For more information visit www.fishbrewing.com.