Specialty Brews

Big Time always has at least five rotating specialty brews available. Some of the most popular brews are:

Rainfest ESB

Rainfest is Big Time's Extra Special Bitter. It is a fairly substanial beer, with an aggressive Northwest hop character and a powerful malt flavor. Rainfest is bittered with Chinook and finished with Cascade and Centennial hops. It has 50 units of bitterness and its color is 13 srm. Starting gravity 15.5 Plato (1.062). Alocohol is 5% by weight.

Trombipulator Belgian-style Tripel

A Northwest interpretation of a Belgian tripel, Trombipulator was 1st brewed to commemorate Big Time's five hundredth brew. A very big and pale beer, it weighs in at 18 degrees Plato (1.072 Specific Gravity), and is very heavily hopped

Slam Dunkel Weizenbock

Brewed each year for the NCAA tournament, Slam Dunkel Weizenbock is a strong (approximately 5% alcohol by weight), dark, unfiltered wheat beer. It is brewed with Nothwest Klages/Harrington 2-row malt, Northwest winter wheat (25%), and Hugh Baird Crystal (70-80 L), Munich, Chocolate and Light Carastan malts. It is hopped with Centennial and Mt. Hood hops. Starting gravity is approximately 16.5 Plato (1.066), and finishing gravity is approximately 4.25 Plato (1.017).

Beam Me Up Scottish Ale

Made almost entirely with pale and Munich malts, with a very small amount of roasted barley, our Scottish ale is a copper-colored beer balanced just a touch in the direction of sweetness. It is bittered with Centennial hops; no aroma hops are used, except in the cask-conditioned version. Original gravity is approximately 15 Plato (1.060); finishing gravity 4.5 Plato (1.018); approximately 33 IBU.

Hefeweizen

Our hefeweizen contains 50% wheat, and is rounded out with Munich and Northwestern pale malt. Its hops are German--Perle in the boil and Hersbrucker in the finish, offering a nod in the direction of Germany's classic wheat ales. The hefeweizen in unfiltered, and contains both yeast and the characteristic haze of wheat beers. Original gravity 14 Plato (1.056); finishing gravity 4 Plato (1.016).

Oktoberfest

The recipe for Oktoberfest ale includes four different kinds of crystal malt--German, Belgian and English--to supplement its foundation of Northwestern pale malt. The hops are entirely German: Perle in the boil and Hersbrucker in the finish. The Oktoberfest starts at approximately 14 degrees Plato (SG 1.056) and finsihes at about 4 (SG 1.016).

Heferyzen/Mud In Yer Rye  1992

Heferyzen is brewed with approximately 12% flaked rye to complement pale and Munich malts. A darker version of the beer, Mud in Yer Rye, which has become quite popular at Big Time, is brewed with an additional 5% dark roasted rye (custom roasted by Briess), to give the beer a darker color and drier flavor to offset the sweetness and mouthfeel of the flaked rye in the recipe.

Old Wooly Barleywine
  1990  1991  1993

Anticipated throughout the fall and released on December 1st each year, Old Wooly is Big Time's biggest and rarest beer. It is always powerfully malty with a prodigious amount of hops for balance. In addition to Northwestern 2-row pale malt, English Crystal, Munich, Carastan malts are used along with just a touch of roasted barley for a slight dryness and additional color. Old Wooly is bittered with Yakima Nugget hops and finished with Cascade and Centennial. Only 7 barrels of Old Wooly are brewed each year in late June. The beer is aged in our cellar until the 1st of December and then put on tap at the pub until it's gone. Starting gravity from 22-24 Plato and alcohol 8.5 to 9.5 by weight.

Also available in a limited number of 22 oz. bottles to go.

Yulefest Christmas Ale

As a seasonal answer to the Northwest's dark and rainy months, our special Christmas Ale is full bodied, reddish brown and moderately strong. The enticing flavor combination of chocolate malt and spicy Northwest hops provide a welcome respite to a long winter's night. OG 17 plato 1.068 5.2% alcohol by weight.

The New Yardbirds American Wheat Ale

In a reimagination of an existing Big Time recipe, Chris has added a touch more malt complexity and a delicate Crystal hop finish to create a satisfying summer refresher. To paraphrase John Entwistle, “This beer’s gonna take off like a Led Zeppelin.”  O.G. 11.8°P, 4.0% ABV, 20 IBU 

Empire Sunset India Dark Ale

A big hoppy Northwest style IPA with an extra dose of dark chocolate malt. Chinook, Columbus and centennial hops all over the place. OG 15.8 Plato.(1.062) 4.6% alcohol by weight.

Buster's Brown Ale

Seven malts plus a bit of molasses. Northern brewer and English Golding hops. Complex but restrained. Sweetish up front but finishing suprisingly dry. OG 14.5 Plato (1 .058) 4.5% alcohol by weight.

Silk Purse Belgian Farmhouse Wheat

A mix of Belgian Yeast and our own yeast, 40% wheat, English Golding and German Spalt hops, a dash of ginger and coriander contribute to this refreshing variation on the Belgian "Witbier". OG 12.0 Plato (1.048) 3.7% alcohol by weight.

Octoberfest Harvest Ale

Evenly balanced between malt and hops with an appropriate orange cast for fall, this years Octoberfest features the delicious flavor of Crystal hops, a more assertive variant of Hallertau. A tribute to both the German Octoberfest and the local hop harvest. A tasty accompaniment to the change of seasons. OG 15.2 (1.061) 4.4 % alcohol by weight.

Old Rip Oatmeal Stout  1991

Old Rip is one of our most requested specialty beers. Generous portions of dark malts, a heavy hand with the hops and a secret ingredient combine to make this beer one that stout lovers shouldn't miss. Original gravity 14 plato, alcohol by weight 3.75%.

Scarlet Fire IPA   1998 2002

It's come to be known as our fifth regular beer. A little bit bolder than the Bhagwan, with a greater depth of hop character through extensive first wort hopping. It's got all the C hops stuff that we love, just more. O.G. 16.5, 6.4% ABV.

Kingfisher Best Bitter

Brewed with a special English style malted barley from Great Western Malting and from 100% English Goldings hops. This ale, as the Brits would say, is a bit "earthy and grassy." O.G. 12.5 Alcohol by weight 3.9%.

Snowmelt American Ale

A pale, crisp, hoppy refresher. Lots of distinctive, spicy Cascade hops added in several stages during brewing, fermentation and conditioning. O.G. 12.5 Alcohol by weight 3.6%.

Frosty's Spiced Winter Warmer

A first in 1997 for Big Time. Nutmeg, ginger, cloves, orange peel,cinnamon, coriander, and honey in a big, dark beer. All that's missing is the fireplace. OG 16 Plato 1.064 5.2% alcohol by weight.

Matt's Red Eye IPA

Crystal, Munich and a dash of roasted barley with 100% Northwest Centennial hops gives Matt's its color and malty-spicy balance. Big but gentle. OG 16 Plato Alcohol 4.8 by weight.

Powderfinger Rye Ale   1996

Lookout, Mama, this Gold Medal winner in the specialty beer category at the 1996 GABF is a popular brew among the rotating taps at Big Time. The addition of organic flaked rye to the grist results in a complex malt character that is smooth and satisfying. Three separate Noble hop additions help balance out the flavor. OG 13.8 Plato

Lift Ticket American Red Ale

A quick trip to the top of the slopes! Delicious Northwest Cascade hops in 5 additions for big hop flavor and aroma. OG 16.5 Plato.

Buck Mulligan's Dublin Stout

A smooth, eminently drinkable stout on the order of Guinness draft, served on nitrogen to provide a solid and creamy head. The Buck is both stately and plump, a condition achieved through the combination of a partial sour mash, a deep roasted barley backbone, and the velvety texture of flaked barley.  4% ABV.

Neighsayer Oatmeal Ale

Essentially an English bitter with about 6% oats for a distinct flavor and aroma and silky mouthfeel.  Moderately hopped with local Mt. Hoods and German Hersbruckers.  Easy drinking yet uniquely flavorful.  OG 12 Plato (1.048)

German Style Hefeweizen

A Traditional German Hefeweizen. Brewed with 60% wheat and 100% German Spatz Hops it has an authenic German Wheat Ale taste. Tart, clovey, bit of banana, distnctive and refreshing. OG 12.5 Plato (1.050)

Didgeri Dew Australian Ale

Originally brewed by our former head brewer, the notorious Dick Cantwell, who described it as "a compelling nod in the direction of the oeuvre of our compatriots Down Under. Light bodied, turbinado sweetened, the Dew tempts us to contemplate the drinkability reminiscent of a warm aboriginal forest stroll". Well, uh, you have to know Dick. OG 14 Plato.

Sunbreak Blonde Ale

Very pale, crisp and light with a clean subtle maltiness. Just a hint of wheat and the flavor of Czech Saaz hops. OG 10.5 Plato (1.042) alcohol 3.3% by weight, 4.1% by volume.

Brewer Bill's Pumpkin Ale

A light amber, light bodied ale flavored with pumpkin pie spices. People love it and are always asking about it. Goes great with tofurkey and dressing. OG 12 Plato. 4.0% alcohol by weight, 5.0% by volume.

Decade India Pale Ale  
2002  2003

Our special 10th anniversary beer is the biggest IPA we have had the nerve to make. Almost all Pale malt, with less than one percent each of Carastan and Wheat makes a beer quite pale for its size at 19 plato OG. We added Chinook, Centennial and Cascade hops just about every place and every way we could think of - giving it lots of hop flavor and aroma and enough bitterness to complement the telltale sweetness of the malt. One patron says "It makes you smile so your mouth's big enough for the beer". 6.25% alcohol by weight 7.8% by volume.

Pachyderm Pilsner

Delicate, lightly malted, with the classic pilsner flavor and aroma of Czech Saaz hops. OG 12.5 plato (1.050) 4.2% by weight 5% by volume

Hopfest

Hopfest is medium size light amber ale with a good portion of Munich malt for a firm maltiness to back up the hops. Each batch of Hopfest features a different single variety of hops. OG 14.5 Plato (1.058) 4.2% by weight 5.3% by volume

Cinco de Mai Bock

Brewed in the tradition of a classic German style that was intended for consumption in the spring. Our Mai Bock combines four local malts and several Noble hop varieties with a Bavarian lager yeast. Malty, pale yellow, big, and quite dangerous. OG 17 Plato (1.068) 5.8% by weight 7.3% by volume

Redemption Nitrogen Ale

A stylistic twist on a Big Time favorite, Redemption combines 5 separate hop additions with the smoothness of a nitrogen pour to protect even the most wayward palate from the consequences of sin.

Nemesis

Subtle background maltiness and restrained hops are no match for the complex fruitiness and higher alcohol typical of a vigorous fermentation. OG 20 plato (1.080), FG 4.7 (1.019) 6.4% by weight, 8% by Volume

Hopgoblin Pumpkin Ale

A light amber, light bodied ale flavored with spices. Goes great with ghouls and ghosts. OG 20 plato (1.080), FG 4.7 (1.019) 6.4% by weight, 8% by volume

Slugfest Wheat

With 55% wheat and 9% Vienna Malt, Slugfest is a sweet authentic German Wheat Beer. We used a true German yeast strain which imparts clove and banana esters. O.G. Plato 15.5 (1.062) 5.5% by Wt.

Paxton's ESB

Paxton's ESB is a traditional British style bitter with Fuggle Hops, one of the noble British varities. The hops are added to the boil three different times to impart bitterness, flavor and aroma. We also used 1.5 pounds of dark brown sugar in keeping with the British tradition of adding fermentable sugar to their "Extra Special Bitter." O.G. 1.056, Alcohol 4.25% by Wt.

Sabbatical Belgian Ale

Description Coming Soon

C. Brown - Brown Ale

A new, original recipe by Assistant Brewer Carter Camp, named for a Widespread Panic song. A big, hoppy Northwest-style brown ale, with Chinook, Cascade and Centennial hops. The grain bill includes delicious British brown malt and a bit of oats. Original gravity 15.5 Plato(1.062), Alcohol 4.6% by Weight

Old Sol Wheatwine Ale   2003

Old Sol Wheatwine Ale, our summertime barleywine style ale, introduced in 2002, Old Sol is available on tap and in bottles to go.

The 2003 Old Sol won a GOLD MEDAL at the Great American Beer Festival. This summertime version of Barleywine made with 46% wheat and Warrior, Simcoe & Amarillo hops will be a sure winner.

OG 23.6 Plato 1.100 SG 9.75% by vol. 7.75% by wt. Brewed on the Lunar New Year, tapped on the Summer Solstice.

Novemberfest Late Harvest Ale

A stronger version of the Octoberfest Harvest Ale with lots of Simcoe Hops accented with Amarillo Hops. Original Gravity 18 plato (1.072) Finishing Gravity 4.6 plato (1.018) Alcohol 5.6% by weight 7% by Volume

Better Off Red Ale

A Northwest Red Ale with pale, crystal and a touch of wheat. Bittered with Warrior Hops and finished with lots of the delicious Amarillo Hops to make this a well balanced beer. O.G. 14.2 plato (1.057) FG 4.4 plato 1.017

Meerkat IPA

Those fabled voyages of the British Empire supplying heavily hopped beer to their troops in India had to travel around the southern tip of Africa, home to the terminally cute meerkat. We paid homage to this often overlooked leg of the journey with this beer, a crisp, citrusy blend of Chinook and Amarillo hops.  O.G. 16.0, 6.1% ABV

Kölsch 45

A German syle pale ale brewed with Pilsner malt and a touch of wheat. Light and golden with a rich malt presence and the delicate flavor of Hallertau hops. Works every time.  O.G. 1.045 4.2% ABV

Fauxpaddy

People kept telling former Assistant Brewer Kelly Wiese that he looked more Irish than the Irish do, so he developed this session ale back in 2005 to prove them right. A smooth, easy drinking pale ale with a malt and hop complexity that matches the conversations it inspires.  O.G. 12.6, 4.7% ABV

Tinderstick ESB  2005

A more traditionally English interpretation of the style than its Big Time cousins, brewed with Maris Otter pale and crystal malts for a rich, round malt flavor accentuated by a touch of dark malt complexity, and balanced by the herbal, grassy and earthy hop character from the late kettle additions of Fuggles and Kent Goldings. A beautiful and satisfying session beer.  25 IBUs, 4.25% ABV
 

Fool's Progress Abbey-style Dubbel

Check back later - we're reformulating the recipe. . .

Emeritus Septendecennial Ale

Big Time Brewer Emeritus Kevin Forhan returned from sabbatical on the coast of Spain just in time to help brew the beer to comemmorate our 17th Anniversary. (Few people know that the traditional gift to mark seventeen years is beer.) 

Perspective IPA 

Yet another of Big Time’s signature big, bold and assertive IPAs. Simcoe and Amarillo hops dominate this one. Clinton, from the Park Pub in Seattle's Woodland Park neighborhood, famously described this beer as "this S#!% is off the hook!" O.G. 16.8, 6.5% ABV

Spencer's ESB

Description coming soon. . .

Nectar Hazelnut Brown Ale

Description coming soon. . .

Parrothead Pale Ale

A smooth blend of specially toasted pale, caramel and Munich malts, balanced with the clean hop flavors of Liberty and Mt. Hood.  Pairs well with a cheeseburger in Paradise. O.G. 14.2, 5.25% ABV

Jack Candi Belgian-style Grand Cru

"He said you would be somebody's treasure, but no one has discovered you yet."

The Big Dance Imperial Amber

A new beer brewed to coincide with the NCAA basketball tournament. We've stretched the limits of the Amber style, packing in more pale malt and balancing the crystal malt sweetness with a dose of extra hops. O.G. 21.0, 35 BU, 8.1% ABV

Firecracker Pale Ale

A hoppy, Northwestern interpretation of the style brewed to honor Aurora, one of our long time kitchen employees. Three hop varieties (Cascade, Mt. Hood, and Willamette) and a hefty dose of malts come together into a beer that, like its namesake, is feisty, full-bodied, and not to be messed with. O.G. 14.8, 5.5% ABV

Ave Rat Malt Liquor

Brewed in celebration of the U-District’s most misunderstood denizen, the “Ave Rat.” Stylistically, it’s a pre-Prohibition West Coast-style adjunct lager, brewed with Pilsner malt, flaked maize, and Styrian Goldings, which blend together into a rich, golden beer that is crisp and clean and only a little bit edgy. O.G. 16.0, 6.25% ABV 

Hop de Mensonge Belgian-style IPA

A hybrid style incorporting the best of both continents: Franco-Belgie pale, aromatic, and kilned coffee malts, Pacific Northwest Simcoe, Cascade, Chinook and Mt, Hood hops, and a blend of Belgian and Big Time yeasts. An upfront bitterness is matched by malt complexity, while yeast phenolics dance to spicy, citric hop notes.  O.G. 15.8 Plato, 6.8% ABV

666 Belgian Ale

Originally brewed in 1995 by Dick Cantwell as an nameless beer for Batch #666, we resurrected it in 2008 as part of our 20th Anniversary celebrations, but this time without the Sweet Gale in the kettle (don't ask). Let's just say that it was everything we remembered it to be. 

Brown Bombshell Coffee Brown Ale

A Northern-style brown ale, with a reddish brown hue and toasty caramel flavors. It's hop aroma has been replaced by conditioning with Stumptown Coffee's Guatemalan Finca el Injerto Pacamara varietal, which provides a dazzling bouquet of citrus fruit, sage blossoms, and maple syrup. Eternal thanks to Jennifer Prince from Stumptown Coffee. 

The Maine Thing East-coast Pale Ale

A collaborative brew with Kevin Watson from Allagash Brewing Co. in Portland, ME. A crisp, delicately balanced golden-straw colored pale ale that begins with a hit of Simcoe hops and ends with the smoothness of Liberty and Northern Brewer. O.G. 14.5 Plato, 5.5% ABV

Double Decade India Pale Ale

Brewed to celebrate the beginning of our next 20 years of brewing great beer. Debuted as the WABL beer during the 2009 Washington Beer Commission's Cask Festival, and two empty firkins later, the hopheads gave their approval. Preserving the old (Chinook, Cascade, Centennial) while embracing the new (Sorachi Ace), we look forward to hoppier times. O.G. 20.5 Plato, 8% ABV, many IBUs

Damned Spot Scotch Ale

Assistant Brewer Chris Borgia’s first recipe. Big, contemplative malt flavors swirl in a dark eddy of currant and chocolate whilst subtle Fuggle hops drift afloat. Served only in our special tulip glass.  8.2% ABV, 30 IBUs

Mary Hoppins English Summer Ale

Brewed with Maris Otter Pale, light crystal malt, and a spoonful of sugar, this beer goes down in the most delightful way, with an upfront malty roundness matched by an herbal, floral hop character from UK Sovereigns. It measures up to be practically perfect in every way. O.G. 12.5 Plato, 4.2% ABV, 30 IBUs

Dragonfly American Pale Ale

A sessionable, well-balanced Pale Ale brewed using Northwestern 2-row malt, Briess Cara-pils and 60L Crystal; bittered with Magnum and finished with Cascade hops. Fermented with (Elysian) American Ale yeast.  This recipe, from AHA Member Ryan Hilliard of Seattle, was selected from a tasting of winning homebrews in the 2009 Puget Sound Pro-Am Competition, and scaled up to 14 barrels for entry into the Great American Beer Festival. O.G. 11.8 Plato, 30 BU, 4.7% ABV

Barking Dog Scottish Ale

Description coming.
 

Malaprop 8 Abbey-style Bier

With a rainbow of different Franco-Belgie kilned malts, two different types of sugar, unmalted wheat and some flaked oats to keep things interesting, we didn’t know what style of beer this would be when it was brewed, but we like the way it turned out. Strong, slightly spicy, with warm toasty malt undertones and a European hop sensibility; it’s a beer you need to try before you decide. OG 19.6 P, 7.33% ABV.

Jeezum Crow India Brown Ale

The Jeezum Crow is the unofficial State Bird of Vermont, but it can also be a useful expression of bewilderment, as in “Jeezum Crow, there are some hops in this beer!” And there are: Sorachi Ace in the mash, Simcoe and Amarillo liberally applied throughout the lauter and kettle-time, and then dry-hopped with Columbus in the fermenter. This beer is dedicated to the memory of Greg Noonan, whose passion and pioneering spirit showed us the way to better beer. OG 18 P, 75 BUs, 6.8% ABV.

Artemis Organic Pale

Description coming.

Dark Days Black IPA

Description coming.

Wheatpaug Groove American Wheat

Description coming.

And the quest never ends. Keep checking back here to see what else we have come up with. If there is one of our beers that you haven't seen on tap for a while that you would like to request, or if you have a suggestion for a new beer, please e-mail us at comments@bigtimebrewery.com