Latona Times 9/17
Elliott Ryan
From the department of “Better Late Than Never At All,” welcome back to the Latona Times!
As we mourn the final throes of summer in Seattle, there are some really important things to look appreciate. Overcast skies in the morning make the bright greens of our neighborhood pop out a bit more, while colder evenings mean that it’s time to throw some logs on the fireplace and hang out with a loved one.
If you don’t have a fireplace, don’t worry—there’s an app for that on your newfangled Smart TV, trust me.
Also—FOOTBALL IS BACK!
(Let’s just assume that last week’s head-scratching performance by our hometown heroes was an outlier, and not speak of it again.)
Of course, that stuff is all fine and dandy—and you should appreciate all of them—but there are some even better things to get excited about at the Latona this month.
First, we’ve got our Schooner Exact Brewer’s night on Monday, September 19th. While the dinner may be sold out, you should still come out that evening to try the kick ass dry-hopped IPA that head brewer Matt McClung brewed for us with Simcoe, Mosaic, and Citra hops. Matt and his wife Heather have a lot of going on right now—a newborn, a house expansion, and some exciting developments for the brewery—so it means a lot to us that they’ve taken the time to bookend our Summer Beer Series.
Second, it’s that time of year again, folks—fresh hop season is here! Fresh hop season is my favorite time for beer because, coming from the East Coast, there’s nothing like it. To that end, Bob and I took a field trip to the Gamache & Sons hop fields in the Yakima Valley, courtesy of the fine folks at Schooner Exact. It was a hell of a great day touring the fields and helping Matt brew a fresh hop beer on the very same home brewing kit he bought on Craigslist 10 years ago that helped launch the brewery.
I know what you’re thinking; “So, yeah, you love fresh hops—duh, we all do—but what’s the damn point, Carter?”
The point, true believers, is that the Latona Fresh Hop Fest will take place on Thursday, September 29th around 5:30pm. Bob and I have been working hard to get some really amazing local fresh hop beers from Reuben’s, Stoup, Cloudburst, Fremont, and Naked City. The list doesn’t stop there, but that’s a pretty damn good starting point.
I’ll be fresh off of a plane from London the night before, so I’ll be fiending for some hops after a week of room temperature, low-octane beers from across the pond.
We’ll also be switching over to our fall menu in the coming weeks. There’s a little bit of something for everyone, including the return of the Fall Panzanella Salad, the Steak Salad, and the daily Ravioli, alongside some new treats from Chef Geoff.
(Have no fear, classics like the Ceasar, Latona Burger, Meatloaf, Grilled Cheese, etc. aren’t going anywhere.)
As always, Phil Sparks is here every Friday from 5pm-7pm for our Happy Hour Jazz with his rotating cast of local talent, while Latona newcomers Alex Macleod and his Highball String Band will be here on Sunday, September 25th from 7pm-9pm.
So, if you were looking for a reason to appreciate fall, you’ve now got plenty to look forward to. Thanks again for making the Latona Pub your second home, and I hope you’ll all join us in raising a glass to the changing of seasons!