Beer Wars

Tiffany and Craig from 99 Bottles in Federal Way clued me in to a once-in-a-lifetime national event headed here to the beautiful South Sound area: Beer Wars. No, it’s not scantily clad women in string bikinis wrestling in a vat of Pabst Blue Ribbon. As awesome as that might be to some of you, it’s nothing like that.

Beer Wars is a documentary that showcases the history of small breweries and their struggle to make it in a “Budweiser” type society. It will be broadcast LIVE via simulcast from Los Angeles for one night only Thursday, April 16. The good news is that we don’t have to drive to Seattle to check this out; it will be shown this Thursday at Regal Auburn Stadium 17 at the Supermall and Century 16 in Federal Way, and Century Olympia, all begin at 8 p.m.

In even MORE good news, Tiffany and Craig also tell me that, “Ben ‘Bueller, Bueller’ Stein will host a live panel discussion immediately following the movie featuring key players in the craft beer industry, including Greg Koch (Stone), Sam Caligione (Dogfish Head), Charlie Papazian (Brewers Association president), and Todd Allstrom (BeerAdvocate.com).”

Better yet, the good news doesn’t stop there. If you bring your Beer Wars ticket stub into 99 Bottles (35002 Pacific Hwy. S., Federal Way), bat your eyelashes, and give them a “pretty please with a cherry on top,” Craig or Tiffany will give you 10 percent off your beer purchase. Beer movie, beer discussion, AND beer discount? Crap. There goes my fresh pair of pants. — Steph DeRosa

Happy birthday Doyle’s

It seems like it was just yesterday when I was asking a bunch of questions of then strangers Russ Heaton and Dave Shelnut about their brand new bar, Doyle’s Public House.

After not identifying myself in any way and launching into a Weekly Volcano inquiry, some of the first words that Russ ever said to me were, “Who are you, Lois Lane?”

Well, three years later, Lois is still on duty telling you about this great neighborhood pub, and I’m proud like Team Mom to cordially invite you to their three-year anniversary party April 17.

For those who don’t know the history of this bar, when Heaton and Shelnut first opened it, they honestly thought they were going to experience a soft opening and the two of them were going to be the only bartenders, plus a cook.

They were so surprised to find that within the first two weeks they completely ran out of food, and the bar was always full. Three years later, this three-person operation now consists of 17 awesome people who are family.

Be sure to swing into Doyle’s this Friday to raise a glass to this divine neighborhood pub that’s locally owned, and makes Tacoma proud. — Natasha Gorbachev

[Doyle’s Public House, 208 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.7468]