Beer tastings at Seattle Farmer's Markets?

The Seattle Times reports that beer and wine samples may be available at farmer's markets in the Seattle area, if state Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-Seattle) is successful in getting Senate Bill 5029 through.


If approved, the bill would create a tightly controlled pilot project where the liquor control board selects 10 farmer's markets to host one microbrewery or winery per market per day. The project would begin in July 2011.


In these increasingly nasty political times, perhaps a delicious, high quality craft beer is enough for some to cross the aisle. 


Politics in the great Northwest does have a history of beer and good will leading to positive compromise. 

Bolivia's El Inca Dark Beer

Name: El Inca

Served at: Restaurant in downtown La Paz

Brewer: Cerveceria Boliviana Nacional

Type: (Style / mode of delivery) Schwarzbier

ABV: 3%

Label (5): 3

Look-Cs (color, clarity, carbonation, cap, and constancy) (20): 9

Snout (15): 9

Texture (20): 10 

Flavor (30): 8

X-Factor (10): 8

Total: 47

If this beer were a protest, it would have gone awry

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Nastay.

The shifty eyed reaction of the waiter when I ordered it should have been more heartily noted. Overly sweet aroma to match a syrupy sweet taste. No complexity. Not worth drinking, or reviewing extensively. 

Cusqueña Negra

Name: Cusqueña Negra

Served at: various spots around Peru, notably some hot springs outside Aguas Calientes after a day long hike

Brewer: Cusqueña

Type: (Style / mode of delivery) Schwarzbier

ABV: 5%

Label (5): 3

Look-Cs (color, clarity, carbonation, cap, and constancy) (20): 15

Snout (15): 10

Texture (20): 13

Flavor (30): 17

X-Factor (10): 7

Total: 65

If this beer were a dog, it would be a Peruvian hairless.

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"They've struck at our most sacred inheritance. This is an affront to our ancestors."

 - Archaeologist Federico Kaufmann Doig

Around 1400 AD, the strongest empire of the Americas began to build Machu Picchu. The construction was eventually abandoned, during the Spanish conquest. However, the Spaniards failed to discover the site, and it was saved from the pillaging suffered by other Incan properties. It is currently the most well known Incan site in the world.

In the heart of Machu Picchu lies Inithuatana -- the "hitching post for the sun" -- which was believed to hold the sun in place. These sundials were destroyed in every other Incan site, but Intihuatana remained completely intact-- until recently.

The missing piece

In 2000, Cusqueña beer was filming a commercial when a  crane they snuck into the premises smashed into the granite of the sundial, leaving a long gash. "Machu Picchu is the heart of our archaeological heritage and the Intihuatana is the heart of Machu Picchu" Peruvian archaeologist Federico Kaufmann Doig explained. 

When they aren't busy dropping things on UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Cusqueña works on turning out some pretty decent beers.

Cusqueña Negra is a very sweet, malty beer which pours nice and dark with dirty foamy head. The nose is toasty and sweet with some caramel notes. The syrupy beer has tastes of chocolate and dark cherry, but the sweetness is dominant. Much like Peru's hairless dog, people tend to love this beer right away, or despise it. It was a nice option to have, but I ended up drinking far more pisco sours than Cusqueña Negras.