Hey members – just a couple of quick updates:

1. We had our first open board meeting (members only) this past Saturday. It was held at the Green Bean Coffeehouse in Greenwood. The Green Bean is a non-profit, which we love, and they are big on community. I can’t decide if my favorite part of the Green Bean is that it clearly used to be a McDonald’s, which ends up being a sort of post-McDonald’s continuum – There is life after Mickey D’s!; or the piano that has clearly been loved and isn’t 100% in tune which gives it character.

I digress – we had a handful of members come out and watch what goes on at a board meeting. The best part was the Q&A at the end. Thanks to everyone that came out and listened and asked questions. It’s great to see that members are invested in the co-op, it’s great to get feedback, and it’s even better to get good ideas from members. Thanks again.

We’ll be there again on Saturday, December 17th, 10 AM for the next board meeting. All members are welcome and encouraged to attend.

2. We’re going to try to kill the new keg of Fly-PA that is going on tap at Cooper’s Alehouse! This Saturday, December 10th, starting around 6:30 PM. Come on by, maybe wear an FBCB t-shirt, drink some Fly-PA. This should be a lot of fun! If anyone wants to challenge me to a game of pool, loser buys drinks, my answer is yes! Bring your friends, bring your relatives, your neighbors, your drinking buddies – this is a wide open event and we want to kill the keg!

3. A Flying Bike membership makes a great gift for that special someone that is at least 21 years of age! What a great stocking stuffer! Buy that membership here!

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen – I’m blogging. How are you spending your Friday night?!

I’ve gotta tell ya, this getting dark early winter-y thing is pretty ridiculous, and it’s taking its toll. My energy level is way down, and I usually can’t tell if I’m going to or from work, since the sky is the same in either case. I’m also losing all track of time.

What, you might ask, gets me through? What is my plan for fighting off the demons of winter blues?

Fly-PA!

Which is available still at Pillager’s Pub, but now also at Hopvine and Fiddler’s Inn! Disclaimer – Fiddler’s has received a keg, but I am not 100% sure if it is tapped. You can always give them a call, or stop in and ask for it. We’ll update the Facebook when we have confirmation of that sweet sweet nectar flowing. You guys did a great job of drinking all the Fly-PA at Beveridge Place – but please keep asking them for it! They might order another keg!

Which brings me to my next point – how can you help? Besides making the trek to these fine establishments and drinking Fly-PA? Get it on tap at your local watering hole! How to do that: chat up the bartender(s) and owner(s) of your favorite local bar. Let them know we have ~450 members that would love to come and do their part to kill the keg. Let them know the beer is an easy-like-Sunday-morning drinking IPA that is member-sourced. Talk it up!

When the owner/beer buyer at the bar is convinced, the next step is to tell them to contact Three Skulls Ales (which they may well already have a relationship with) to get a keg. They’ve been great about handling all that, so that’s where to go. If they aren’t already in contact with them, get an email address and shoot us a message at info AT flyingbike.coop and let us know the relevant details. We’ll connect the bar to Three Skulls and see that they get their keg!

Finally, we’ll post about it here and on Facebook and point folks towards the True North that is Fly-PA.

Just like this -

For folks in North Seattle, Fly-PA will be on tap at Special Brews! We’re having an event there on Wednesday, November 30th. Fly-PA will be tapped that night! We’ll be there from 6:30 to 9. Come on out and get a pint, get a growler, and hang out with your favorite co-op members! Board members will also be there, hanging out and chatting it up. Hope to see you!

Guys and gals, I’ve had an inspirational night.

Yeah, the Sounders lost. They put on a great game though – there were so many shots you’da thought it was a basketball game!

I went down to Beveridge Place Pub to watch the game.

Beveridge Place is a beer-lovers bar. They have loads of taps, and they regularly do different beer-y events; from brewers nights to cask festivals to IPApril, they know and love their beer!

They happen to have a very good IPA on tap at the moment. Yes, I’m talking about Flying Bike Fly-PA from Three Skulls!

Anyways, the Sounders lost, I had some beer, etc etc. But what is really cool, like seriously so, is this:

Guys and Gals, we’ve sort of made it! That’s a bona-fide receipt with our co-op’s name on it! How cool is that? I haven’t felt like this since we first saw the Flying Bike logo – guys, we’re pretty legitimate!

(Oh, the 90′s. The 90′s were pretty much still the 80′s. Go ahead and have this one, I’ll wait.)

Speaking of Fly-PA, last Thursday night was the Fly-PA launch party. We were out in force at Pillager’s Pub – it was packed!

Prior to the event, we had some discussions around what we wanted to do for the party. Should we give a speech? Make any announcements? Anything? Long story short, we ended up not having any big speech or making a big production about it. And what was going on instead was truly awesome.

Members were sitting around tables, hanging out, drinking beer, talking and having a good time. It was so cool! Flying Bike is about the members – if we’re doing cool stuff that the members are enjoying, we’re on the right track – so far so good! (Killing a keg on opening night is a big plus too!) Folks were sitting around enjoying beer and good company and even convinced a couple people to sign up that very night!

If you haven’t had it yet, go try a pint or two (or a growler) of Fly-PA – it’s an easy-drinkin’ hop party in a glass! It’s on at Beveridge Place, Pillager’s Pub, and soon at Fiddler’s Inn. It will be showing up at other establishments, and we’ll be sure to let you know when it does.

We’ve got to give it up for Pillager’s Pub and the great staff there – those guys rule! If you are anywhere near Greenwood, stop on in and enjoy a pint. Don’t forget to tip your bartender, and stay tuned for more from your friendly neighborhood cooperative brewery!

Alrighty ladies and gentlemen! The announcement you’ve been waiting for! Stats from the Fly-PA competition today!

There were 35 entries submitted. You guys rock!
We gathered over at Pillager’s Pub in Greenwood at 9am this morning to setup for the judging.

The first round was BJCP-style, with bonafide BJCP judges in attendance and scores awarded based on BJCP criteria. We had members judging as well, there were ~21 folks judging! (For all of you submitters, you will get the scoresheet feedback in the snail mail in a couple weeks. With this feedback, hopefully you will win the next competition!)

The second and final round was a panel of Pro brewers from 3 Skulls and Fremont Brewing, 3 BJCP judges, 2 board members, and five members. They were voting on their favorite of the 6 top-rated beers from the first round.

The finalists were (in alphabetic order):

Shawn Becker   (PTU6G)
Aaron Birrell     (1S16N)
David Flynn      (1LTCV)
Mike Kilpatrick  (8TGO3)
Rob Lisguis       (G5LL8)
Drew Wilson     (XPXSO)

In all the excitement I forgot to add who the winner was – the winning beer is “Gasworks IPA” by Mike Kilpatrick. Congrats Mike!

Congrats to you guys for placing! The winner will be brewing his beer with Jeff Smiley over at 3 Skulls Brewing within the next couple of weeks!

I know what you are probably thinking – I should get in on the next competition! You absolutely should! Either enter a beer, or for more fun, come out to help judge! This contest was structured such that we could have had more member judges in both rounds. We hope to see you next time!