WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8 2017: Tacoma events paired with craft beer …
Pacific Lutheran University + Peaks and Pints = Science!
Tacoma Nature Center + The Defiant Goldfish = Dwarf mistletoe and Jack The Beer
King’s Books + The Red Hot = Tortilla Flat + Fall Line Russian Imperial Stout
SMART GUY FROM WASHINGTON
Dr. James G. Anderson was born in Spokane. He earned his B.S. in Physics from the University of Washington and his PhD in Physics and Astrogeophysics from the University of Colorado. He joined the faculty of Harvard University in 1978 as the Robert P. Burden Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry; in 1982 he was appointed the Philip S. Weld Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry. Anderson served as chairman of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology from July 1998 through June 2001. Dude knows Atmospheric Chemistry and he’ll prove it at 7:30 p.m. when he goes off on “The Science and Politics of Global Climate Change” in the Anderson University Center inside the Scandinavian Cultural Center on the Pacific Lutheran University campus.
PREFUNK: Peaks and Pints won’t nitpick how the Ninkasi Velocihoptor Double IPA’s label pictures a mechanical blue dinosaur. Surely the Eugene, Oregon brewery read about the archeological discoveries in China of feathered, carnivorous dinosaur fossils — for years scientists hypothesized that downy coats had covered the creatures’ bodies. Lo, Ninkasi’s Velocihoptor is woefully featherless. However, this Ninkasi double IPA has a larger-than-life hop aroma and citrusy notes, thanks to Centennial and Columbus hops. Speaking of dinosaurs and Ninkasi, the brewery recently released a mechanical gray dinosaur, Megalodon. It has a bigger bite than Velocihoptor’s 8.4% ABV and 88 IBUs. The floral and citrusy Megalodom is basically Total Domination IPA taken to the extreme — 10% ABV and 100 IBUs. Pull up some jodhpurs, pull down a fedora and head to Peaks and Pints to dig up these two beers in our cooler.
DWARF MISTLETOE
Have you ever noticed mistletoe on trees in our region, maybe even in your own back yard? Dwarf mistletoes in the genus Arcethobium are native plants that parasitize conifers of Pacific Northwest forests. Curious to know more about these unique native plants? Jim Hadfield, a retired forest pathologist with the US Forest Service, will describe the geographic and host ranges of these interesting parasites at 7 p.m. in the Tacoma Nature Center.
PREFUNK: Since starting out of a coffee shop in late 2012, Tacoma Brewing Company has doubled in size every year. Currently, brewer Morgan Alexander brews on a 2-barrel system. Later this year, Tacoma Brewing will be moving several blocks south to an old brick warehouse. Once in the new space, TBC’s goal is to expand distribution beyond the city limits within a year. In the meantime, enjoy Tacoma Brewing’s Black Cat Coffee Stout, Mo Pale Ale (Mosaic hopped), Jack the Beer Amber and, of course, Broken Window IPA at The Defiant Goldfish from 5-8 p.m.
CLASSIC BOOK
Will the Classics Book Club discuss how four of John Steinbeck’s first five books (two of which weren’t actually published until later) had each prominently featured Mexican or Mexican-American characters when the group meets to discuss Steinbeck’s Tortilla Flat at 7 p.m. in King’s Books. Tortilla Flat, Steinbeck’s first actual success, soon had tourists coming to Monterey hoping to see the paisanos drinking and carrying on. Steinbeck had grown up around the Mexican workers of Salinas Valley and admired them; his affinity for Mexico would later lead him to make films there. So, there’s that.
PREFUNK: In 2005, Joel VandenBrink found himself in a disagreement with a friend, so they headed to a local pub to talk it through. After the second pint disappeared, the two friends had an honest conversation. Before that second pint, VandenBrink was putting his engineering degree from Grand Valley State University to use at the Johnson Controls plant in Holland, when he wasn’t exploring the great outdoors. The outdoorsman eventually moved to the great Seattle outdoors, epic solo hikes and, eventually that second pint of beer. After a homebrew starter kit and an inspirational tour of New Belgium Brewing, VandenBrink founded Two Beers Brewing Co. in a 170 square foot ActivSpace facility along Highway 99 in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood in August 2007. The rest, as they say, is history. Celebrate VandenBrink’s Two Beers Brewing at 5 p.m. in The Red Hot. Expect old favorites and limited editions: 7th Anniversary Sour, Chocolate Lab Stout, Red Hotness Pale, Forester Double IPA, Kettle Sour Wonderland Trail IPA, Fall Line Russian Imperial Stout, Overhang Imperial Porter and Wonderland Trail IPA.
