The death of George Floyd, at the end of May, that sparked continued anti-racism protests all over the world hit a nerve with us; we at Ghostfish wanted to do something. Some team members are protesting, others are volunteering for various organizations; but what could we do as a team? Brew beer, that’s what!
Head Brewer, Reid Ackerman brought a brewery initiative, Black is Beautiful, to our attention. What started as a single brew by Weathered Souls Brewing Co., based in San Antonio, Texas, spread to a worldwide brewery collaboration. With a Stout recipe as its base, over 1,170 breweries in 50 US states and 22 countries developed their own unique versions of Black is Beautiful.
At the root of the collaboration is fundraising for and awareness of systemic injustices that people of color face daily. Here at Ghostfish, Reid chose Social Justice Fund Northwest to be the beneficiary of our donation.
Social Justice Fund Northwest supports organizations that use community organizing to reach their goals. This develops leadership from within the communities most affected by social inequities, resulting in long-term societal transformation. For more information, visit their website.
About Ghostfish Brewery’s Black is Beautiful Imperial Stout
With a deep dark brown color and velvety chocolate-colored head, Ghostfish Brewery’s Black is Beautiful Imperial Stout is rich and balanced with notes of chocolate and raisin accented with harmonious complexities of caramel, toasty malts, and coffee. It’s full-bodied and warming with a dry finish and lingering notes of raisin and chocolate.
Grain bill: Pale millet, pale buckwheat, caramel millet, chocolate roasted millet, light crystal millet, medium roasted millet, dark roasted millet, flaked *Purity Protocol gluten free oats.
Hops: Mt. Hood, Columbus
Q&A with Ghostfish Brewing Company’s Head Brewer Reid Ackerman
Q: Tell me about the style of beer. A: Imperial Stouts are traditionally an English-style beer, with roots traced to English Porters in the 1700s. The modern craft beer era revived Imperial Stouts in England and it was popularized here in the states.
Q: Any special ingredients used in this beer? A: There’s a wider spectrum of malt roasts and flavors than what we typically use. We have not used much caramel malts, so it’s great to see the interplay of these roast styles – pale, light crystal, caramel, chocolate, medium, and dark roasts. We also sparingly use flaked oats as they are so important to achieve the mouthfeel desired in a gluten free stout.
Q: What do you hope customers take away from drinking this particular beer? A: I hope folks will consider the importance and urgency behind this initiative. Why it is so important and what/who is necessitating it. As a white person, I ask myself what are the ways I perpetuate inequality, especially in small ways. I’m asking myself what I can do to help people of color gain an equal footing not only in the brewing community but overall society. Regardless of size; incremental or sweeping, efforts towards answering these questions can be progressed through collective action, which I invite people to consider. Let’s not judge others; let’s support others.
*Purity Protocol: set of stringent standards for oats that minimizes the chance of cross-contact from gluten-containing grains like wheat, barley, rye, and triticale.
Extra! Extra! Gluten Dude is at it again! The main man behind the popular blog is launching an app and we were lucky enough to catch Gluten Dude for a virtual Q&A. Read on to find out more about what we can look forward to when you download the Gluten Dude app!
Ghostfish: What made you want to create the app?
Gluten Dude: The purpose of my app is simple: to better the lives of those living with celiac disease and anyone else who must eat gluten-free; to create a close-knit community where people in the gluten-free community come to discover, to learn, to share, and to connect, all to make their lives easier, better and healthier.
Living a 100% gluten-free life certainly has its challenges: physically, mentally, and socially. Using the Gluten Dude app will help to alleviate some of those challenges.
Ghostfish:Tell us about some of the challenges the Gluten Dude app will assist us with.
Gluten Dude: Eating out is one of the more challenging and stressful parts of having celiac disease. One crumb is all it takes to set off the autoimmune response. Everything that is fun and spontaneous about eating out can be overshadowed by the anxiety of whether you can get through your meal unscathed. [The app will provide a] directory of 100% gluten-free restaurants, restaurants that are gluten-free friendly, recommended by the community, and personally vetted by Gluten Dude, all in an effort to guarantee you a safe meal. Each restaurant includes images, a description, reviews, ratings, directions, etc. Some restaurants even include a video and their menu. The user will be able to search by their current location or another location. The app currently covers the US, Canada, Paris, Italy, London, Spain, Germany, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and Australia, with more locations coming. Eating without fear. What a concept.
The internet is littered with falsehoods, outright lies, and dangerous information regarding celiac disease and eating gluten-free. People are looking for answers to their problems, quickly and accurately, and they are not sure where to turn or who to trust, putting their health in jeopardy. [On the app, you’ll find a] forum run by the most trusted voices in the celiac community. There are a number of topics where you’ll be able to chime in with questions, answers, and advice. The forum sticks to the facts, allowing people to get the answers they need…and deserve. The forum includes Ask the Physician, Ask the Dietitian, Ask the Chef, and more, where you’ll be able to get direct answers from experts in the industry.
Ghostfish:We hear that your app will help folks find gluten free beer, we’re obviously pretty stoked about this feature. Can you tell us about it?
Gluten Dude: Beer, sadly, is not gluten-free. The most popular “gluten-free” beers on the market today are actually “gluten-removed” and are not safe for those with celiac disease. There are a handful of amazing 100% gluten-free beers out there nowadays, but because their distribution is limited, they can be really difficult to find. I can’t tell you how many stores I personally have walked into fingers crossed, only to come out empty-handed. The Gluten Dude app shows the stores, bars, and restaurants where people can purchase gluten-free beer. The user will be able to search by any location and each location will show which specific gluten-free beers each establishment carries. Cheers!
Ghostfish: What will be the primary differences between this app and others on the market?
Gluten Dude: What other apps on the market??? Just kidding. While there is nothing that offers the celiac/GF communities as much as the Gluten Dude app will (restaurants, beer, forum, videos, chat, etc.), there are one or two apps that focus on locating gluten-free restaurants. The main one has been out for some time now. Kudos to them for standing the test of time. The main difference is that my app will initially focus on only 100% GF restaurants. You will not find fast-food restaurants and any other restaurants that cannot keep the community safe.
Ghostfish: What was the most challenging aspect of creating this app?
Gluten Dude: Coronavirus!! I’m sort of joking, but not really. We kicked off development in late winter, just before the virus struck. The development team I hired all had to go virtual, which definitely slowed things up a bit.
Locating and vetting all of the GF restaurants was quite a challenge as well. For each suggested restaurant, I first had to make sure they were completely gluten free; sometimes easier said than done. Then for the ones that made the list, I had to gather the address, phone number, and URL, as well as putting together a nice one-paragraph description and a great photo. Doing this for over 1,500 restaurants…well…you can imagine.
While I’ve enjoyed the process, I will say that it’s been a challenge and a half to get it done. But it will be worth the wait.
Ghostfish: What were you pleasantly surprised by when creating the app?
GD: Hmmm…that’s a good question. I love the responses I’ve been getting from the app testers. From those in the celiac/GF community to the restaurants who will be on the app, pretty much everyone has shared my excitement. It really is a win-win for everyone.
The Big Apple… The City of Dreams… The City So Nice, They Named It Twice… NEW YORK, NEW YORK! We’re so excited to finally have our brews in one of the oldest cities in the country. From the history to the art and food, we’re happy to finally be able to offer our friends in the east a chance to enjoy Ghostfish. You can find all of our retail partners using The Beer Finder App on our Website but this blog will help you plan your trip and grab some gluten free beer along the way.
Screen Grab of Beer Finder Search Results in New York
When it comes to New York City, the first thing almost everyone thinks of is the Statue of Liberty. This symbol of Amerian Freedom and the American Dream is something you can’t miss and should truly be on your bucket list. Before or after you head to the ferry, check out Fraunces Tavern near Battery Park for a taste of Ghostfish and a moment to yourself in all the hussel and bussel.
Photo: TakeWalks.com
After checking out the Statue of Liberty and taking in the view of what thousands of immigrants saw when they pulled into the bay for the first time, wander up Lower Manhattan and check out the Tenement Museum to see where a lot of these dreamers landed between 1862 and 2011. After your history lesson head over to Top Hops Beer Shop to find some of the best beers in the city, including Ghostfish!
Tenement Museum – Photo: 6spft.com
Looking to avoid those spendy restaurants in the big city? Hit up a bodega for some grub and check out Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village. Washington Square Park is a 9.75-acre public park in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Lower Manhattan, New York City. One of the best known of New York City’s public parks, it is an icon as well as a meeting place and center for cultural activity. Once you’ve relaxed enough and are ready for some refreshments, don’t forget to visit The Half Pint nearby for another spot to grab your Ghostfish.
Washington Square Park – New York Post
What’s a trip to New York without a live show? While there are the big musicals and broadway shows, there are also plenty of affordable shows around the city with talented cast often ending up in the bigger shows. Check out the infamous STOMP, The Comedy Cellar, Webster Hall, Gramercy Theater, and Irving Plaza for entertainment. Now that your night on the town is planned, don’t forget to grab dinner and some Ghostfish at any of the three “Smith Restaurant and Bar” establishments. Trendy bistro food complimented by some of our classic brews made perfect for a night on the town.
STOMP the Musical – 247 Tickets
There are a world of things to do in this magical city and we highly recommend you add it to your #TravelTuesday list and make sure to keep an eye out for Ghostfish along the way. Here are some fun facts about the city and check the bottom of the page for a list of other retailers in the area. Don’t forget you can always search for Ghostfish near your zip code on our website using the Beer Finder App!
New York City – Fodor’s Travel Guide
From the Swedish Nomad:
1. IT’S NOT ILLEGAL TO GO TOPLESS IN NEW YORK
While you probably won’t see many topless people in The Big Apple, it’s pretty interesting to know that it’s not illegal. In 2018 there was even a “Go Topless Day Parade” where people walked around topless in the city.
2. THE FIRST PIZZERIA IN THE UNITED STATES OPENED IN NYC IN 1895
Another interesting fact about New York and the pizzas is that the price of pizzas and single ride tickets for the subway has remained pretty much equal for more than 50 years! Economists call this the pizza principle.
dollar slice – Photo: Shutterstock
3. THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS OVER 50 MILLION BOOKS
Consider yourself a bookworm? Then it would almost be a sin not visiting the Public Library which has over 50 million books available!
4. MORE THAN 800 LANGUAGES ARE BEING SPOKEN IN NEW YORK
Considering the fact that 37% of the NYC population comes from another country, you might not be surprised that there are a lot of languages spoken. Some experts claim that there are more than 800 languages spoken in the city, and some others say it’s just a little over 200 different languages, but nonetheless, that’s a lot of languages!
One of the many interesting facts about New York! It’s such a diverse and multi-cultural city.
Photo: Shutterstock
5. BROOKLYN BRIDGE IS OLDER THAN TOWER BRIDGE IN LONDON
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most iconic bridges in the world, and so is the Tower Bridge in London, but the NYC bridge can flaunt with being 11 years older.
6. THE AVERAGE RENT FOR A ONE-BEDROOM IN MANHATTAN IS US$ 3,400
Want to move to New York, namely to Manhattan? Then you need to save your bucks ahead. The average rent price is currently around 3400 USD per month. Sure, there are some cheaper ones as well, so it’s good to remember that this number is an average of the most expensive and the cheapest rentals combined.
Nonetheless, quite higher than the average price worldwide for a one-bedroom. To make a comparison, you can easily find a one-bedroom in Greece for 350-400 USD per month.
Manhattan – Facts about NYC – Photo: Shutterstock
7. NEW YORK CITY’S FEDERAL RESERVE BANK HAS THE LARGEST GOLD STORAGE IN THE WORLD
Deep down in the heart of the financial district Wall Street, sits the largest storage of gold in the whole world. More than 7.000 tons of glittering gold bars, which is equivalent to about 5% of all the world’s gold ever mined.
Want to see it for yourself? Quite remarkably, public tours are being offered.
8. THE FIRST EUROPEAN SETTLERS IN NYC WERE DUTCH
Until 1898, the city was known as New Amsterdam. That changed when the city was gifted to the Duke of York on his 18th birthday. He then decided to rename the city to New York, which has stuck around ever since.
9. SMALL CRUSTACEANS CAN BE FOUND IN THE DRINKING WATER
The reasons for this is the fact that the water is not getting filtered, but it’s still pure enough to drink, even though it’s probably best to filter the water before drinking. I recommend bringing a filtered water bottle if you’re coming as a tourist.
And don’t worry, the copepods are totally harmless and not something you notice, but vegans might not want to drink the water without filtering it first.
Photo: Shutterstock
10. HOME TO THE WORLD’S FIRST UNDERGROUND PARK
The success of the Highline gave rise to the new project and park called the Lowline. This is the first underground park in the world, and it’s located on Manhattan’s West Side.
It’s not yet completed, but the current date for the park to be fully completed is set to 2021.
When visiting the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia is a must. One of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes is located just a 2.5 hour drive from Seattle via I-5. Whether you’re going to mingle with art patrons and eat fine food or you want to get your boots muddy on a trail, British Columbia has got it all. One of the most beautiful attractions in Canada, if you like plants, is the Butchart Gardens. They house many species, are on Canadas national historic register and see more than a million visitors a year.
Richmond Night Market – Photo By Daily Hive
The Richmond night Market is a great place to browse and people watch. For a great view of the vastness of British Columbia, take the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish, just north of Vancouver. If something more active is up your alley, check out Yoho National Park, just across BC, near the border of Alberta. Visiting this area will give you the huge mountains, lakes and giant skies that BC is known for. While in this area the Lussier Hot Springs are worth checking out. If you feel like heading towards the Pacific Ocean rather than further inland, check out the Great Bear Rainforest.
Photo by CBC
This is a huge temperate rainforest that is the home to many bears, including the sacred spirit bear. If you are not comfortable or familiar with bears, do some research or hire a guide for your excursion. If you’re staying in the city and won’t have time to get out and explore the rest of British Columbia, that is not a problem. Joffre Lakes Provincial Park is located just 2.5 hrs north of Vancouver, and just west, the archipelago Haida Gwaii is a beautiful collection of islands with remnants of a centuries old Haida Nation village. The islands are full of trails, wildlife and old totem poles to appreciate all the history the PNW has to offer.
British Columbia Fun Facts
-British Columbia is the third largest and most westerly province in Canada and it is four times the size of Great Britain. The length of BC’s coastline is over 27,000 kilometres.
-Half of all British Columbians live in the metropolitan area of Vancouver.
-BC has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, six National Parks and over 400 provincial parks, recreation and conservation areas.
-Two-thirds of British Columbia’s land base (we’re speaking of an area larger than France!) is forest land, and more than half of that area has had little or no human contact.
-Among all provinces and territories of Canada, British Columbia has the mildest climate. It has the longest frost-free periods of Canada and flowers often start blooming as early as February.
-British Columbia is one of the top 3 producing regions of cranberries and blueberries in the world.
-Did you ever wonder what the BC flag stands for? We have the answer: On the top part there is a Royal Union Flag, reflecting British Columbia’s British heritage. It is marked by the King Edward crown in the centre, which represents the Royal Family. The lower half shows a setting sun, representing the western location of the province. The blue and white lines behind the sun symbolize BC’s location between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains.
-BC is home to the world’s largest hockey stick! It was originally created for the Expo 1986 and then acquired by the city of Duncan, BC, where it is on display today. The stick is 62.48 metres long, weighs 28.12 tonnes (62,000 lb) and is therefore 40 times the size of a regular hockey stick. Make sure to take a look on your next trip to Vancouver Island!
Where to Find Ghostfish in British Columbia – Link Here
Thanks to Beer Thirst for making our BC distribution possible!
Ghostfish Brewing Expands Distribution to Vermont
December 12, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Seattle, WA (December 12, 2017) — Ghostfish Brewing is excited to announce its new partnership with Vermont Beer Shepherd to bring its boundary-pushing craft beers to Vermont, expanding Ghostfish’s distribution from the Pacific Northwest to the Northeast. “VT Beer Shepherd is proud to partner with Ghostfish to bring their award-winning beers to Vermont,” says VT Beer Shepard co-founder Indy Ewald. “Ghostfish is a wonderful addition to our gluten free offerings, as well as appealing to the most discriminating craft beer drinker.”
Ghostfish Brewing Company
2942 1st Ave. S.
Seattle, WA 98134
Ghostfish Brewing Launches in Northern Oregon
and Earns Two Medals at the Best of Craft Beer Awards 2017
Seattle, WA— After recently expanding its distribution to Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho with the Odom Corporation, Ghostfish Brewing Company is excited to announce its launch into Northern Oregon.
Ghostfish Brewing’s draught and packaged beers will be distributed by General Distributors Inc. (GDI).
Ghostfish Brewing Company
2942 1st Ave. S.
Seattle, WA 98134
Ghostfish Brewing Celebrates its 2nd Anniversary with a Limited Release and Party
Seattle, WA— Ghostfish Brewing has brewed a limited amount of a very special anniversary beer for their upcoming celebration.
This Wood-Aged Imperial Brown Ale has an intricate grain bill featuring a veritable rainbow of rice and millet malts, giving it a complex nutty sweetness and full-bodied taste. Wood-aging on hard maple staves for two months softened the alcoholic sharpness of this sturdy brew, and contributed mild tannins and woody aromatics to help balance the malt character.
Ghostfish Brewing Company 2942 1st Ave South
Seattle, WA 98134
Ghostfish Brewing Extends Reach
Seattle, WA – Ghostfish Brewing Company recently expanded its distribution footprint throughout Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho.
The Odom Corporation will distribute draught and package versions of Ghostfish Brewing’s flagship beers including Grapefruit IPA, Vanishing Point Pale Ale, Shrouded Summit Belgian White Ale, Watchstander Stout, and Peak Buster Double IPA, as well as seasonal and limited releases as they are available
Ghostfish Brewing Company LLC 2942 1st Ave South
Seattle, WA 98134
Ghostfish Brewing Releases Special Beer for Emerald City Pet Rescue
Seattle, WA – While you sit inside Ghostfish Brewing’s taproom you are bound to look out through the expansive wall of glass windows to see a parade of cute and adorable dogs stroll by. Led by volunteers, these dogs are out stretching their legs from their cozy stay at the nearby Emerald City Pet Rescue shelter. Emerald City Pet Rescue (ECPR) was established in 2013 in Seattle, WA as a non-profit dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating neglected animals. They predominantly pull animals from high-kill shelters from around the country and place them in loving forever homes.
