Brewing A Micropak Sampler

Blain Barton knows how to hop onto a hot Northwest trend.

After graduating from Washington State University, the Spokane native (his family owns Barton’s Heating and Air Conditioning) went to work for Seattle’s skyrocketing Microsoft computer company as a project manager.

But when his position was eliminated a couple of years ago, the former “ski bum” and beer connoisseur needed a new livelihood.

“My partner (David Sword) and I sat down in a hot tub after skiing one afternoon at Mount Hood, drinking Full Sail and kicking around ideas,” explains the 31-year-old Barton.

The result: Finest Micros Inc., a Kent-based business that distributes “MicroPak” samplers of selected microbrews.

“I went from Microsoft to micro madness,” says the affable Barton.

MicroPaks have started showing up here in Rosauers, Tidyman’s and Yoke’s stores.

Along with the more familiar T.W. Fisher Centennial Dark and Nor’Wester Hefeweizen, a recent sampler included some seldom-seen labels: Steelhead Extra Pale Ale from California’s Mad River Brewing Co., the flagship Rogue Ale from the distinctive Oregon brewery and two offerings from Idaho’s Sun Valley Brewing Co., an amber White Cloud Ale and a hearty Holiday Ale.

Selections change every few months. Future ideas include a Sasquatch Pack, featuring four 22-ouncers, and an East Coast/West Coast Battle Pack, pitting microbrews from both shores against each other.

But there’s more to Finest Micros than the MicroPak. Barton plans to distribute some of our own Fort Spokane and Northern Lights products in Seattle, and bring regular supplies of such brews as Steelhead Extra Pale and Onalaska’s Red Dawg to Spokane. (Yes, it’s a different dog than Miller’s Red Dog; see last month’s column for details).

He talks of starting a bottling line for smaller, draft-only brewers such as Northern Lights, Roslyn and Leavenworth so he can include them in MicroPaks, and of expanding distribution to Denver and possibly Chicago.

Using his computer background, Barton is also marketing a “Brew IQ” trivia game on disk and setting up a World Wide Web site on the Internet to provide information about hundreds of breweries and eventually take mail orders for custom packs.

Big plans, of course, mean big bucks. “We’re to the point where we need to put more fuel into the rocket to get to the next level of our business plan,” Barton says.

He and Sword have considered a public stock offering, although a serious investor or two would certainly help. (Finest Micros can be reached at 206-854-6778.)

But if all you can afford is a MicroPak, well, that’s OK, too.

Smiling eyes

With St. Patrick’s Day just a wee bit away, it’s again time to sample some mild Irish ales from area brewers.

This year’s offering from the Fort Spokane Brewery, strategically situated along Saturday’s parade route, includes generous amounts of the spicy, slightly floral Columbus hop developed by Yakima growers (hey, wasn’t he Italian?).

And the venerable Hale’s Irish Ale is observing its 11th St. Paddy’s celebration. Both brews are lower in alcohol, allowing avid partiers to wear the green without wearing it all over their faces the following day.

Over the line

If it’s higher-octane seasonal sipping you’re after, T.W. Fisher has just released a strong spring bock. The only lager produced by the Coeur d’Alene micro was brewed on Jan. 3 and has been “sitting and waiting,” says head brewer Laurie Kraus.

Elsewhere in Idaho, the long-awaited Black Diamond Ale - “a brew with a view” - has finally arrived at Sandpoint’s Schweitzer Mountain Resort. The mediumbodied beer, brewed and bottled by Kessler in Helena, also will be available at Hidden Lakes Golf Course this summer.

Beer Baush

For those of you who survive St. Patrick’s Day, Seattle beer authority Larry Baush, publisher of the Pint Post newsletter, will preside over a beer-tasting luncheon March 18 at Hill’s Someplace Else restaurant and pub. Call 747-3946 for information.

Baush also will give an all-grain brewing class for experienced home brewers on March 19 at Jim’s Home Brew Supply in Spokane. For details, call 328-4850.

Seeing the light

Spokane’s Cannon Street Grill, known for its stylish wine dinners, is taking a step forward (just joking, vintners) into the beer business. First up is a brewer’s dinner featuring Hale’s ales on March 21.

The four-course meal includes a honey wheat ale and cheese soup with jalapeno croutons; smoked prawns marinated in pale ale; wild boar sausage on fresh herb pasta with a special bitter/pepper cream sauce and a stout float for dessert. Cost is $29.95 per person, including tax and tip; call 456-8660 for reservations.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Rick Bonino The Spokesman-Review